Page 10 of Trial By Fire
"No problem. I—I don't want to rush you, but I thought you girls might be ready to go?"
Lindsey is dead on her feet, I realize, remembering when Dani's mom was pregnant and how that first trimester left her a zombie. She'd fall asleep in the weirdest places, physically unable to keep her eyes open. "Visiting hours aren't over yet. Why don't you grab a seat on the couch and watch the show with us?"
I can't say I want her driving with my girls right now. Behind the wheel? Navigating traffic? No.
"Oh, um?—"
"Please, Lindsey? I'm not done," Dani says, smiling at Lindsey with her adorable grin. "I can't leave now. I have to finish my princess carriage."
I watch as Lindsey's gaze shifts to my cast and love how her eyes twinkle with amusement when she gets a good look at the array of colors. Despite her visible fatigue, her mouth drops in an O that turns into a grin that softens her beautiful face.
"I suppose I can't interrupt an artist at work," she murmurs, her gaze landing on mine and sparkling a bit more.
I reach a hand behind me and snag one of the pillows propping me up and toss it to the loveseat, ignoring the pain in my back from the healing burns. "Get comfortable. She could be a while."
I watch as Lindsey sinks her teeth into her lower lip and hesitantly steps deeper into the room. Pure exhaustion drags at her slumped shoulders and guilt gnaws at me for noticing more than the fact she looks one step from collapsing in exhaustion. She needs rest, and the couch is as close to comforting her as I can offer. She needs it far more than my salacious thoughts.
Dani continues with her masterpiece, swapping pink for silver, and Mads and I go back to watching the show in silence. Lindsey makes it all of four minutes before she nods off the first time. She shifts on the couch, sits up and surreptitiously glances my way to see if I noticed. I lock my gaze on Jennifer Aniston and pretend I didn't.
It takes a minute before Lindsey relaxes back into the cushions. Another before she squirms to get more comfortable. And one or two more before she nods off again. Mads opens her mouth as though she's about to say something, but I catch her gaze and shake my head, tilting it toward Lindsey.
My niece follows my cue and then smirks before going back to her favorite show.
Lindsey shifts again, her head propped on her hand, but this time, her lashes lower and stay down as she drifts off to sleep.
The Friends marathon continues for the next hour. Dani pipes up a time or two before I hush her with a head tilt, but Lindsey is so exhausted; she doesn't so much as flicker an eyelash at the noise.
A while later, Mads takes Dani to the snack machine and to see a fish tank somewhere in a waiting area, and I find myself watching Lindsey sleep. She's stirred a few times like she's coming out of her nap, but she hasn't woken yet, and I like being able to observe her without her guard up.
I noticed Lindsey the first moment I set eyes on her, but out of respect for Gabe and the fact I've got my hands full with a kid plus one, I kept my interest to myself. Especially since Lindsey was only visiting.
Then to find out she's pregnant? That just makes her more off-limits and takes a bad idea up a few notches. I honestly thought she'd have headed back to California by now. The bookstore is open, a week has passed. But no one has mentioned anything about Lindsey's plans.
My gaze is drawn back to her dark hair, and I picture her greenish eyes sparkling the way they had at the sight of my cast. The pretty color makes me think of pine trees with a dusting of ice or snow sparkling in the sun.
Like her eyes, she's winter pale despite the fact it's the middle of summer. I know she hasn't been in town long, but hasn't she gone to the beach once? Caught some rays on Bronwyn's balcony? Or has she felt so bad from morning sickness that she hasn't even considered it?
I'm still watching her and pondering my questions when she blinks a time or two and then shoves upright with a gasp.
"You're okay," I rush to tell her in a soft tone. "You just took a much-needed nap."
Lindsey looks dazed when she glances my way before shifting her attention to the rest of the room.
I clear my throat and try again. "Madi took Dani to see the fish tank and get a snack so you could sleep off the fatigue."
"I can't believe I did that. I am so sorry."
"Don't be. You needed the rest, and I'd prefer you do it here rather than fall asleep behind the wheel. You didn't snore, if that's what you're worried about."
She runs a hand over her face before shoving her dark hair back with an embarrassed laugh.
"Would you tell me if I did?"
"Oh, yeah. Make a video and everything," I tease.
Her cheeks go rosy pink, and she fusses with her shirt to straighten it.
"It's embarrassing. Earlier today, I fell asleep while on hold with my roommate in California," she mutters, covering a yawn with her hand. "And then I went downstairs to help Win…Bronwyn—I'm still getting used to the name change. Anyway, I fell asleep at the desk."
