Chapter 241: Chapter 241 Hot Spring
Author
About ten minutes later, Nancy decided she was done.
The heat was starting to mess with her head. Lightheaded. A little nauseous.
Time to get out before she passed out and gave everyone a story to tell at pack gatherings for the next five years.
She stood up carefully and reached for the stone ledge to pull herself out.
Her foot slipped on the wet rock.
She gasped and grabbed for the edge, but her knee slammed hard against the side of the pool.
"Shit—"
Pain shot up her leg. Sharp. Hot. White. She sucked air through her teeth. Her eyes started watering.
"Nancy?"
A warm hand caught her waist. Steady. Solid.
She blinked through the tears and looked up.
Yardley.
"I’m fine," she said quickly, trying to pull away. "I got it. I’m good."
She took one step up the stone ledge. Her knee buckled. The pain was worse than she thought. Way worse.
Yardley’s jaw tightened. Without a word, he bent down and scooped her up like she weighed nothing.
Nancy’s face went red. "Yardley, put me down—"
"Not a chance."
"I can walk—"
"Your knee just gave out. You’re not walking anywhere."
Her cheek pressed against his bare chest. Warm skin. Hard muscle. He smelled like chlorine and pine and something that was just him. She forgot about the pain for a second.
He carried her over to a lounge chair and set her down gently. Then he crouched in front of her and inspected her knee like he was looking at a car he was thinking about buying.
Her swimsuit was still dripping. Water pooled on the stone under the chair.
Nancy pulled at the edge of her towel, suddenly very aware that she was sitting in front of her husband in nothing but a wet bikini. "Can you grab my robe? It’s over there."
Yardley looked up. His eyes lingered half a second too long. His jaw flexed. Then he stood and walked over to get it.
He moved slow. Real slow. Like he was enjoying making her wait.
When he came back, he held it open for her. She slipped her arms through and pulled it tight around herself.
"Thanks," she muttered.
Yardley crouched down again and touched her knee gently. It was already swelling. Red. Angry. Starting to turn purple at the edges.
"Can you move it?"
She bent her leg a little. Winced. "Yeah. I think so."
"Good. Probably just soft tissue. Nothing broken."
He looked up at her. "I’m sorry. I should have stayed with you."
Nancy shook her head. "It’s not your fault. I wasn’t paying attention. I was thinking about wine."
"You were thinking about wine and fell into a hot spring."
"Don’t judge me."
Yardley stared at her knee for a moment. Then, without warning, he leaned down and pressed his lips to the swollen skin.
Nancy froze.
His lips were cool against the heat of her injury. Soft. Careful. It sent a shiver up her spine.
"Yardley—"
"Daddy! Mommy!"
They both looked up.
Orion came running down the path, holding the hand of one of the resort staff. His face lit up when he saw them.
"Daddy, are you proposing to Mommy?!"
Nancy’s face turned bright red. "No! Orion, you got it all wrong. Your dad just... he tripped. He fell."
Orion looked at Yardley with big, worried eyes. "Oh no. Are you okay, Daddy?"
Yardley glanced at Nancy. His lips twitched. "Yeah, buddy. I’m fine. I tripped and your mom tripped too. We’re a clumsy family."
He stood up and turned his back to Nancy. "Come on. I’ll carry you back to the room. Orion, watch your step. Ground’s slippery."
Orion’s face went serious. "Mommy’s hurt? Where?"
He started to reach for her knee, but Yardley stepped in front of him. "Don’t touch. You’ll make it worse."
Orion looked offended. "I was just checking!"
"Yeah, well, if you make her cry, you’re the one dealing with her."
Nancy and Orion both stared at him.
Nancy’s heart pounded. Her ears burned. She could feel the heat spreading down her neck.
Yardley crouched down in front of her. "Get on. Piggyback."
Orion pointed at him. "Mommy, let Daddy carry you! It’s his fault you fell anyway!"
"It’s no one’s fault—"
"Do it, Mommy!"
Nancy hesitated. Then she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Yardley’s shoulders.
He stood up easily, hooking his arms under her thighs. Her chest pressed against his back. She could feel the warmth of his skin through the thin fabric of her robe. His muscles shifted under her as he adjusted his grip.
"Thanks," she whispered.
Yardley’s lips curved into the faintest smile. "Anytime."
He started walking. Orion skipped alongside them, chattering about something he saw near the main lodge. Something about a frog. Or a lizard. Nancy wasn’t really listening.
She rested her chin on Yardley’s shoulder and closed her eyes.
