Page 21 of Caring for Cailin

As Memphis draws closer, his features come into focus. Everything he’s feeling is right there, on display.

If I ever wondered how he felt, the proof is right there.

His arms come around me as I crash into him. He lifts me off my feet and clutches me to his chest. “Cailin,” he gasps. “Ah, shit.” He buries his face in my hair. “Shit, sweetheart. I was so scared.”

I cling to him like a koala, my arms around his neck and my legs, his waist. If I could burrow inside him, I would.

“Cailin,” One hand cups the back of my head. “God. What happened?”

Before I can answer—partly because I’m still crying too hard to speak—he sets me down and holds me away from him. His gaze skims up and down my body before settling on my face. “Tell me where you’re hurt. I’ll get you to the hospital right away.”

I take a deep, shuddering breath. “I’m not hurt. Other than from falling while I was running.” I hold my scraped hands up for display. “That’s it, though. But… How did you find me?”

Memphis looks at my hands and winces. Then he takes them carefully in his. “You’re not hurt anywhere else? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

He hesitates. “What happened, Cailin? Your car… your phone… what happened to them?”

“On my second delivery, a man robbed me. He had a gun and he made me give him my phone, money, and my keys. He said he’d shoot me?—”

“What?”It’s a dangerous growl. “A man threatened toshootyou?”

“Yes.” Even though Memphis is with me, I can’t resist taking a quick look around. “I got this bad feeling he wanted…something else. Something really bad. So I got some dirt from a planter on the porch and I threw it in his face. Then I ran. But I don’t know if he’s still?—”

I let out a surprised yip as Memphis sweeps me off my feet and starts running back to the helicopter.

“Memphis,” I bleat. “What—you don’t have to carry me?—”

“If he’s out there, I’m not taking any chances,” he retorts. “Making sure you’re safe is all that matters.” A beat later, he adds darkly, “For now.”

In less than a minute, we’re back at the helicopter. As soon as we’re inside, he slides the door shut and pulls me back into his arms. Then he just holds me, curving his body around mine.

A trembling hand strokes down my hair. “God, Cailin,” he breathes. “Shit. When I realized you were missing…” His voice catches. “I’ve never been that scared. Ever.”

I press closer to him. “I was really scared. And… I wanted you.”

“Cailin.”

This time when his gaze meets mine, it’s tortured. “I’m so sorry. About tonight. What you went through. I should have been there.”

“You couldn’t have known.”

Memphis shakes his head. “I should have done… Shit. Something.” His hand comes to my cheek, gently cradling it. “And last night. If that was the last time… I fucked up. And I’m so sorry.”

“You fucked up?”

“When you kissed me… I shouldn’t have left. It was stupid. I had this idea in my head that I was doing the right thing. That you were vulnerable and I was taking advantage?—”

“You could never take advantage of me. I kissed you because I wanted to. I’ve wanted to for a long time. If you don’t feel the same?—”

“I do.” His gaze burns into mine. “Fuck, I do. I’ve wanted you—” He stops. “I love you, Cailin. I have. But I thought I wasn’t the right man for you. I’m too old and jaded and I like living in the middle of nowhere with my cat. I thought you needed someone different. Better.”

“No one could be better than you,” I reply. “No one. And I don’t want anyone else. I love you. I want to be with you. I don’t care if you’re older. And I’m jaded, too.”

“But your life,” he protests. “Your career. I could try to be more social. I could move. But I’m not sure I’ll ever be the man?—”

“Youare.”