Page 26 of Enticed
She scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. “Says who?” she challenged.
“Says the ankle that’s black and blue and twice the size of the other one,” I replied incredulously.
She rolled her eyes. “Stop being dramatic. It’s not that bad.” I let out a derisive snort, and she pinned me with a glare. “I just need to keep icing it, take my medicine, and make sure it’s wrapped real good in the morning, and it’ll be just fine.”
I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest, standing my ground. “You can’t even walk. How are you going to mount your horse?”
“That’s where you come in.”
I chuckled. “I’m not carrying you around on my back all day.”
“I’m sure I could catch a ride with the Butlers again. I’d just need a boost to get on my saddle.”
I released an exasperated breath. There was no changing her mind. She was going to do what she wanted regardless of what I said, and I wasn’t interested in trying to control her or tell her what to do. “Fine,” I relented. “I’m going to go take care of Juniper.” I’d been too worried about Jasmine to go through her horse’s post-race routine. I hoped the man who returned her to her stall at least gave her food and water.
“Okay, I’ll get the next episode ready while you’re gone,” she said with a satisfied grin.
“You better not start it without me,” I warned, and the sound of her laughter followed me out the door.
“How does your ankle feel?”I asked when Jasmine limped back from the bathroom after our fourth straight episode. She’d refused to let me help her, instead holding on to anything she could as she hobbled across the trailer.
“It’s a little better.”
“You gonna be able to race tomorrow?”
She glanced away and shrugged. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her confidence waning. I didn’t see how there was any way she could compete, but I had to trust her to do what was right. She continued to ice her ankle and took some more medicine as we watched one more episode before deciding to turn in for the night.
“You can take the big bed this time,” Jasmine offered as I pulled out the sleeper sofa and flattened it into what barely passed as a bed. “I’ll sleep here.” I started shaking my head before she could even finish her sentence.
“No. This is your trailer. You take the bed. I can sleep here again,” I insisted, nodding to the sleeper sofa.
“You don’t even fit on this thing. That’s probably why your back has been hurting so bad. I’m surprised you were even able to carry me back from the arena,” she added with a smirk.
“Oh, really?” I asked in challenge.
“Really,” she affirmed.
“I fit just fine,” I proclaimed, dropping onto the sofa bed on my back and folding my hands under my head. “See? Perfect fit,” I declared smugly.
“Umm, your feet are hanging off the end,” she said, pointing to where my boots dangled completely over the edge.
I glanced down as if I hadn’t noticed and toed off my boots. Shifting my body, I laid diagonally across the mattress. “There, now I fit.”
“Not even close, cowboy,” she said, giving me a flat look.
“Close enough,” I countered with a shrug.
“You’re ridiculous,” she declared, trying not to laugh. “Just sleep in the big bed. I need you in tip-top shape to help me with Juniper.”
“Nope. I’m sleeping right here.”
She released a dramatic sigh. “You leave me no choice.” She climbed over the arm of the sofa, careful not to put too much weight on her injured ankle, and wedged herself between me and the wall. “Get out of my bed,” she demanded, planting her knees into the mattress and pushing against my side in an attempt to roll me off. I chuckled but didn’t budge. “This bed is made for kids. You’re going to break it, sasquatch,” she grunted as she tried again to roll me over. I just laughed harder.
“I guess it’s a good thing you’re only five feet tall then,” I retorted. She gasped in mock offense and momentarily halted her efforts.
“I’m five two and three quarters, thank you very much,” she replied haughtily. Now I was full-on belly laughing. She tried so hard not to smile, but her lips twitched as though the sound of my laughter brought her great pleasure.
“Not a chance. You’re five one at best.”
