She sighs. “Very.”
Okay, he’s in. He’s about to toss all his chips on the table. She needs to be his. Now that he has confirmation that she is interested in him, his guard drops. The overwhelming protective instinct he has been experiencing since she arrived crash down around him like a landslide. Yup, he has officially fallen head over heels for this woman, and it scares him half to death.
The smell of apples fills his senses. Its intoxicating warmth spreads down to his toes. He is thoroughly enjoying this half-awake, half-asleep time next to her—until he hears someone clear their throat. His eyes flutter open to a grinning Abigail.
“Morning.” She beams, her eyes shifting from him to his side.
He rubs his eyes then looks down at Savannah tucked into him. He isn’t sure exactly where to go with this and gives Abigail a silly grin. His brain takes a moment to remember all the details of the night before.
“I’ll just leave your breakfast here.” As she places the tray on the table, he notices there are two servings. “I’ll be sure not to let anyone bother you this morning.”
“Abby—” he mumbles, trying to make his brain function properly.
“No, no.” She holds up her hands and walks backward toward the door. “Just stay put.” She continues to grin widely.
Oh, thank God it was Abigail.He knows he can trust her to keep his confidence. Well, actually, who is he kidding? He shakes his head. No doubt she’s calling his mother right now, filling her in on all the details.
Savannah shifts next to him. Her hand moves to his stomach, and her head falls on his chest.
He waits until her breathing is smooth and even, and then wraps his arm around her back, holding her a little closer to him. He loves the way she molds to him. He knows he should slip out of bed before she wakes—she’ll probably freak out if she wakes in his arms—but he can’t seem to move. His brain and heart are having a battle. Finally, he flips off his brain and basks in her warmth, falling back to sleep.
His vibrating cell phone brings him out of his groggy state. He starts to move but realizes Savannah is still draped over him. He snakes the phone free and checks the ID, seeing it’s a text from Mark wondering where he is. He switches the cell to silent and places it quietly on the nightstand.
“Cole?” Savannah says softly.
“Yes.” His stomach sinks.Oh, God.
She shifts and tries to sit up, but can’t.
“It’s all right, Savannah,” he assures her. “It’s not what you think.”
“Why am I in this room, in bed with you?”
His brain mentally slaps him.Ass!He decides to go with the truth.
“Because you asked me to.”Because I can’t leave you alone.
She moves again, this time managing to lift herself onto her knees.
He experiences a loss at the sudden lack of body contact. He instantly misses her.
“What happened?” She looks down at the t-shirt she is wearing and gasps, quickly tucking it between her legs—not that she needs to. It is like a dress on her. “How did I get in this? And why is my head pounding?”
He sits up and leans against the headboard. “You’re in my room because it’s the safest room in the house. Plus, there are two ways to come and go. Do you remember anything from last night?”
She looks around and takes in her surroundings, her hand holding her stomach. No doubt she still feels awful. “I remember getting sick, and Keith.”
“You were poisoned, Savannah. We think someone may have spiked your lemonade.”
Her expression changes, and all the color leaves her face. She’s remembering. Tears pool in her beautiful dark eyes, breaking him in two. “What? Who would have poisoned me?” she cries as she tries to understand what happened. She wipes the back of her hand across her cheek, catching a tear. “I—I have to go.” She moves to the other side of the bed.
Cole jumps to his feet and catches her as she loses her balance and tumbles forward.
“No, you’re staying here.” He scoops her up and places her back on the bed.
“No, you don’t understand—” She fights him, but he pins her to the mattress with his body.
She tries to push him off, but she’s too weak to fight for long.