Carly’s head whipped around just in time to see Garrett falling toward the ground. As her downward motion stopped, he hit the ground and lay there spread eagle. For the space of several heartbeats she just stared.
“Garrett! Garrett, are you okay?” she yelled, praying for a response. Any response, just to know he was alive. Nothing. He didn’t even move. Turning back to the rock, she adjusted her ropes and descended as fast as she could.
When her feet touched the ground she unclipped the ropes from her harness with shaking fingers. Her heart in her throat she rushed to Garrett’s side. He moaned and she wanted to jump for joy. Instead, she pressed her hands against his shoulders. She didn’t want him to move suddenly and cause more damage.
“Garrett, talk to me. What hurts? Is anything broken?”
He reached a hand up to his head. Carly pushed it back down and investigated his head herself. The feel of blood registered immediately. Pulling the bandana from his head, she folded it and applied pressure. “It doesn’t feel too bad, but we’ll need to get it looked at. What else? Can you move your feet?”
“What?” he mumbled a second before his eyes popped wide open. “What the hell?”
He turned, grabbing her arms before she knew what was happening.
“Carly, are you all right?”
“Me? You’re the one lying on the ground,” she said, trying to ease him back down.
“You were falling.”
“And my gear caught me. You on the other hand --” she left the sentence unfinished as he winced and grabbed his left side. “What?”
Taught lines creased his brow and bracketed his mouth and eyes. He clenched his jaw so tight she thought it might crack.
“Nothing, just a twinge,” he said, releasing his side and reaching for the bandana she still pressed to his head.
God save her from proud men. “That was not a twinge. Is it your ribs? Did you crack one?”
He didn’t answer, but tried to stand. Carly leaned over him blocking his upward motion. “Stop right there, buster, you just fell over twenty feet. You aren’t going anywhere. I’ll call for help.”
“Don’t bother. I’m fine. I’ve had worse falls.”
“Not with me around,” she said. He might be saying he was okay, but his lack of real physical resistance told her something else. “What is it going to hurt to sit here and rest for a few minutes, huh? If you promise not to move, I’ll go get the first aid kit and more water from my SUV. You have to admit, if nothing else, you need a bandage on that hard head.”
He stared into her eyes for a moment before answering. “Fine, but don’t you dare call 911 or anything. I’m not going to any hospital.”
“Promise, no 911,” she said, standing. “You don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
Carly was amazed she could actually walk her legs were trembling so much. The sight of Garrett hitting the ground kept flashing in front of her eyes. She tried telling herself all the positives of the accident. He was talking and moving, both good signs. His head’s bleeding, not a good sign, she thought as she tried to manipulate her keys with shaking hands.
Come on, girl. Pull it together. This is no time to fall apart. He needs you.
Right, she had dealt with climber falls before. This was no different. Actually, this didn’t appear as bad as some she’d witnessed.
This is Garrett.
Carly closed her eyes for a moment. She held her hands close to her chest trying to force the pain that thought gave her. His welfare wasn’t more important than anyone else’s. He was just another fellow climber, nothing more. She pushed harder. The empty words weren’t working. Disgusted with herself she yanked open the door. First aid, she reminded herself. She needed to be thinking first aid. Grabbing the emergency bag she always carried, a blanket, and a jug of water she kept in the SUV she headed back.
When she rounded the corner she almost screamed. Garrett had gotten up and walked to where the Harley was parked. He was half leaning, half sitting on it. “I told you not to move.”
“I never did take orders well. Ask my boss,” he said.
Okay, getting angry wasn’t going to work. “You don’t honestly think I’m going to let you ride that thing, do you?”
“I don’t remember asking permission,” he said, but didn’t make a move to straddle or start it.
“Yeah, well, I imagine you customized it yourself like William did his. My guess is totaling that would hurt more than this fall did.” Carly hoped he cared more about the bike than he seemed to care about himself. She walked over to him.
Setting the first aid kit on the gas tank, she took out a sterile pad and some ointment. The sweaty bandana probably wasn’t the best thing to hold to the gash on his skull. “Here,” she said, reaching up to switch with him. “Hold this while I figure out something better.”
“If you have some alcohol, rinse off the bandana and I can tie it back around to hold the bandage.”
Great, even with a head injury he could think more clearly than she could. What was her problem, she wondered, while doing as he suggested. Glancing over she saw him wince as he leaned forward a bit. He immediately sat up straight again. He probably had a cracked rib. They really needed to get him to the hospital for an x-ray. Turning back with the bandana refolded, she started to put it around his head.
“I can do it,” he said, trying to take the bandana from her.
Carly didn’t let go. Her face was barely an inch from his and she glared straight into those blue pools he called eyes. “Could you please stop acting like a child and just accept some help?”
He glared back.
Raising an eyebrow, she waited for his response. He released his hold, but not the glare. Inside, Carly grinned. Outwardly she fought for the control to keep a stern look. As she tightened the bandana a quiet hiss escaped his lips. She felt it like a stab to her heart. Why did his pain hurt her so much? Without thinking she let her hands stroke down the side of his head rather than just pull away.
The stubble on his jaw abraded her palm, sending tingles of awareness through her body. She studied his mouth, every sensual line of it. Her mouth went dry. Her gaze moved up to his eyes. Those damned blue eyes. They were studying her. She was about to lean forward and tempt fate when reality hit.
His eyes weren’t studying her, they were losing focus.
“Garrett?”
“I need to sit down.”
“You are sitting,” she said, leaning closer as his body seemed to lose its starch.
“Closer to the ground,” he breathed.
Carly took most of his weight as he tried to move from the bike. She eased him to a sitting position on the ground, but he started to fall sideways. After helping him lay down, she reached behind her and pulled her bag and blanket over. She rolled the blanket and put it under his feet.
“I’ll be okay in a minute.”
She frowned at the typical macho comment then shook her head. What did it matter? She moved from his feet to beside his shoulder and stroked his forehead. “Of course you will. But I really don’t think you’re up to driving the Harley.”
“I can’t leave it here.”
“I’ll call Meg’s brother to come get it. He owns a bike shop. He’s the only one William will let touch his Harley. I promise, he’ll treat it with the utmost care,” she said, knowing how much men cared about their motorcycles. She pulled out her cell phone and prayed for a signal. Thankfully God didn’t seem to hold her earlier grumbling against her and she saw three bars light up on her phone. “It’s not a problem,” she said, while dialing.
“I’m not leaving--”
Carly held up her hand to stop him as Meg’s brother answered the phone. “Hi, Dave. I need you to pick up a Harley for me. My friend took a fall and I need to take him to the hospital.” She tried to ignore Garrett’s slit eyed glare while she listened to Dave’s response, and then gave him directions. She flipped the phone closed.
“He was already on his way up with some friends. He’ll have them drop him off and take your bike back down. They should be here in a few minutes.”
He was still staring at her, but hadn’t continued arguing. Carly wondered if that were a good or bad sign. She tried smiling. Why not? Getting angry wasn’t going to help right now, and he seemed to be accepting the fact he wasn’t okay.
His hand reached up. He brushed his fingers over her cheek. Every nerve cell in Carly’s body went on alert at his touch. This couldn’t be happening. She couldn’t still want him.
“I thought you were going to fall,” he said.
His voice cracked when he spoke, twisting her insides. The concern seemed so real. She shook her head. It was just the injury. He didn’t really care about her. Well, not anymore, than because she was his best friend’s sister. That was it. Nothing more.
God, she wished it were more.
No you don’t!
That snapped her out of it. “Nope, I’m the smart one, remember? I had safety equipment. You, unfortunately, did not. So, I need to call for help, because you need an ambulance.”
“No, ambulance.”
She rolled her eyes despite her decision to give him the benefit of the doubt. “Garrett, you obviously have a concussion, and probably cracked, if not broken ribs. You need to go to the hospital.”
“Okay, but no ambulance. You go to the hospital in those and you don’t come out. I’ve seen it too many times. I won’t get in one.”
Her shock at his explanation had her accepting his request. “Alright, against my better judgment, I’ll drive you. That is, if I can get you to the car.”
He rolled to his side and pushed up on one elbow. When she reached to help he held up a hand. “Give me a minute. Just like climbing, slow and steady. I’ll get there.”
# # #
Garrett listened to the doctor make his arguments. They were all sound and reasonable, but Garrett wasn’t in a reasonable mood. “I told you, Doc, I’m not staying.”
The man shook his head and his lips were moving but Garrett wasn’t really listening. All he heard was, I’ll have the release papers something, and then the man left the curtained area. Without the distraction anymore Garrett’s mind returned to its previous activity, figuratively kicking himself in the head.
What the hell had he been thinking? He was supposed to be watching out for Carly, not causing her a heart attack by falling off the side of a rock. The ride to the hospital had been a study in pain, physical and emotional. Every time he started to drift out of consciousness the image of Carly falling toward him jerked him back awake. The thought of her hitting the ground instead of him made his heart clench so tight in his chest he thought he might have a heart attack.
Then there was the compassion and concern he saw every time she glanced at him. He didn’t deserve it. He was a jerk of the highest order. He’d almost taken her at seventeen for Pete’s sake. Thankfully he’d come to his senses before he had done something they would both regret. The humiliation he’d seen in her eyes as she misunderstood his retreat had probably caused as much damage. If fate were kind, he’d have died in the fall instead of having a bush cushion it enough to save him. Too damn bad it hadn’t cushioned his head as well. Then he could have driven back to town by himself.
He sat up on the exam table. His head throbbed like a bass drum after a touchdown. He reached up with his right hand and felt the bandage over the stitches in his head. Butterfly bandages probably would have been fine. He could have done that himself.
Grabbing his jeans from the end of the table he slid his legs off the side of it. Slipping his feet in the jeans, he slowly slid down until his feet touched the ground. When he felt steady, he released his one-handed hold on the table and pulled the jeans the rest of the way up. Each movement sent shocks of pain throughout his body. He swallowed the groans that wanted to accompany them. They were nothing more than he deserved for his stupidity.
No more climbs without equipment, he silently vowed.
Picking up his dirty t-shirt, he started easing it up one arm when he heard a gasp from behind him. Turning he saw Carly’s pale face. Her eyes were wide and staring at his back. He knew there were scratches and probably bruising visible by now.
“It looks worse than it is. I’m fine,” he said, trying to pull the shirt over his head. “Aghhhh,” hissed between his lips as his left side screamed in pain when he tried to lift that arm high enough. Carly was beside him in an instant. She took hold of the shirt and eased it over his head and his other arm.
“Fine, huh?”
Glaring at her, he turned his back to her, so he could tuck his shirt in and zip his jeans. Even in pain having her body that close had his responding. He didn’t need her to see that.
“Okay, fine might be pushing it, but there aren’t any major injuries. The doctor said I could go home and take something if I felt the need.”
Actually the doctor had said he should stay overnight in the hospital because of the concussion. No way was Garrett staying in the hospital. When members of his family stayed in hospitals, they never left. At least not alive. The thought made him shiver as he started to walk over to a chair so he could put on his shoes and socks. Halfway there the room started to spin. Again Carly instantly appeared at his side, holding him up and guiding him to the chair.
“I highly doubt that’s what the doctor said. He had a sour look on his face and was shaking his head grumbling when he left you. My guess is he wanted you to stay here and you told him where to go. Right?” She was kneeling in front of him, working a sock over his foot.
Garrett had wondered how he was going to get them on. With a cracked rib and a myriad of bruised bones and muscles, bending wasn’t a lot of fun. “No, I told him I’d hit my head harder and survived without a night in the hospital, and so didn’t plan on staying for this little bump.”
Her head whipped up when he finished talking. “Little bump? Garrett, it took ten stitches. I can’t believe it didn’t bleed more than it did.”
Cocking his head, he met her gaze. “How do you know how many stitches it took? The doctor shouldn’t have been talking to you about my treatment.” The color rising from her neck to her face told him she hadn’t expected to get caught.
“He didn’t,” she said, looking back down. She started on his other sock. “I know one of the nurses. She told me.”
“Son-of-a--”
“Oh stop,” she cut him off. “Everyone here saw me bring you in. She figured I’d need to know how to take care of you.”
Garrett pulled his foot from her hand. Snagging his shoe with his toe he pulled both up and rested it over his other knee. “I can take care of myself,” he said, grinding his teeth against the pain working his shoe on sent through his torso.
“Look, I know I’m the last woman you want around, but--”
Dropping his foot to the floor he stood so fast she fell back a step. Garrett caught her by the arm, pulling her to him as he fell back against the counter. The room was spinning, but he wasn’t sure it was caused by his concussion. Their bodies were pressed together where his arm had automatically gone around her as she fell. Every word he’d been about to say flew from his head as he looked down into those startled moss green eyes.
His hand moved from her arm to tunnel in her hair of its own accord. It lifted her a bit as he dipped his head. The first touch of her lips to his sent him back ten years to his first taste of her. His body reacted much the same as it had then. His heart pounded in his chest. Blood rushed to his groin. His tongue brushed her lips, and then, she opened to him. God, it was like coming home to taste her again. He wanted to explore every sweet bit of her.
Against his chest, her hands fisted in his shirt. Her body slid up his increasing the connection, allowing him to deepen the kiss. He lost himself in the warmth and taste of her. His bruised body was screaming from the pain caused by holding her close, but he didn’t care. It had been way too long since he had felt so totally alive. He pulled her even closer. A soft mewling sound shocked him back to reality.
Reluctantly breaking the kiss, he pulled his head back from hers. Watching her eyes open slowly he was sorely tempted to take her mouth again. Instead, he met her gaze straight on. “That is how much I don’t want you around,” he said. “And that’s the reason I keep my distance.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” she said, still staring up at him.
God, he was so tempted to kiss her again. The undeniable passion in her eyes shone bright, and he wanted to taste that passion even knowing it would lead nowhere. His desire dropped a peg when he shook his head. It started to throb making it even more difficult to think. But he had to make her understand.
“We both know I hurt you before. I don’t want to do that again.” He didn’t have to tell her he was as afraid for his own heart. Being soft didn’t mean you had to publicize the fact.
“Then don’t,” she said softly.
Her warm body still pressed against his, and God it felt good. He gave another slight shake of his head. The action didn’t help. It had lights dancing in front of his eyes, but he fought them back fighting for an acceptable argument. “This can’t happen. I’m selfish. My life doesn’t have room for more than me and I like it that way,” he lied. “Want to or not, I would end up hurting you,” or myself, “I can’t let that happen. You deserve better.”
Carly levered herself away from him. She had heard that line more times than she cared to remember. Granted, that had been years ago when boys believed her to be the kind of girl you took home to meet mom. Now she understood it was usually because a guy was afraid you’d want to set up housekeeping or something. Well, not this girl. She had no intentions of settling down and playing house.
What was eating at her more than his lame excuse was the irresolute look in his gaze. She realized this had more to do with him doubting himself, than her. Obviously something about himself or his family, considering his odd comment earlier, made him even more standoffish than other men. Part of their conversation on top of the rock came back to her. My suspension was inconvenient for him.
At the time, she had thought he meant his father didn’t like having to keep closer tabs on a wild teenage son. But now, she wondered if it was something more. His tone when he’d said it was loaded with sarcasm and innuendo. Chewing on her lip for a moment, she decided it might be something worth looking into. But right now, he needed taking care of whether he liked it or not.
“Okay, fine. I deserve better, but you deserve some TLC,” she said. She pressed a finger to his delectable lips when he started to deny her. “You fell trying to save me. Granted, it was a stupid move since there was nothing you could do, but it’s the thought that counts, right? So, I owe you some care. Besides, I won’t let you leave here unless you agree.”
Carly stood back, her arms crossed, waiting for an argument. His cocked eyebrow told her he was working on one.
“You really think you can stop me?”
“In your present condition a toddler could probably stop you. So, yeah, I think I could.” That earned her a hard glare. Insulting a man’s strength was a definite no-no. Carly couldn’t remember the last time she had worried about such things. She preferred speaking her mind so it was always clear what she meant. When he continued his silence she decided to give a little.
“Okay, to save your manhood,” she said, with a grin as his eyes all but ignited. “I’ve no doubt William asked you to keep an eye on me. In your injured state, that will be difficult unless we’re staying in the same place.”
Before he could comment the curtain closing off the exam area was pushed back. A nurse walked in with a smile and some paperwork. “The doctor wanted me to ask one more time if we can admit you,” she said.
Carly almost laughed at her widened eyes from the intensity of Garrett’s gaze.
“Garrett’s not real fond of hospitals, Cindy. I promise I’ll keep an eye on him for a few days. I know all the signs to look for with a concussion. You do remember my hard headed brother’s many injuries during school, right?”
The woman laughed and nodded. She set a bag of supplies on the exam table and explained what to do with them. Then she handed Garrett paperwork to sign and told them they were free to go.
Garrett refused to let her bring the car around. By the time they reached it sweat trailed between his shoulder blades, and the side of his face. When she started to open the door and help him in, he almost lost it. “Get in the car, Carly. I’m not an invalid.”
He watched her roll her eyes at him before walking around the front of the car. Holding the door frame with his right hand he gingerly slid into the passenger seat. At least the cracked rib was on his left side. If his right arm had been incapacitated at all he’d be in a real bind. He could still do most anything he’d need to this way.
Except get Carly to agree to leave him alone.
The girl was as pig-headed as her brother. Why were they wasting their time on his sorry ass? Especially Carly, she couldn’t stand him.
She kissed you back.
Shock, that’s what had happened. She’d been in shock from the accident. There was no other reason for her to respond to him that way. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the back of the seat feeling better for the explanation. Some of the tension in him released. Then his seat dipped to the side. He opened his eyes to find Carly leaning across him.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
She moved back motioning to the seatbelt she’d pulled from the far side of his seat. “You looked so peaceful I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Then you really messed up he wanted to say, because her presence this close was very disturbing. Instead, he kept his mouth closed as she pushed the buckle in. He placed his left arm between the shoulder strap and his chest. Any pressure irritated his ribs and they hurt enough already. He didn’t need to be groaning in weakness with every turn. Not being able to drive himself was hard enough to accept. Hopefully there weren’t many bumps between the hospital and the hotel he was staying at. He wasn’t sure how long he could keep up a brave front. His strength was low, and all he wanted to do was go to sleep.
“Garrett. Garrett, wake up.”
He was dreaming. He hadn’t had this good a dream in forever. Carly’s soft sweet voice calling his name made him smile. Her hand stroked his cheek then brushed back his hair. She was close, he could smell her. That rosy perfume he remembered tickled his nose. He turned his head trying to get closer to it.
“Garrett?”
His eyes sprung open. “Carly.” She was standing right next to him. What? Where? He looked around and realized they were parked behind the bar.
“You were expecting someone else?” she asked, cocking her head.
“No, I--”
“You fell asleep almost as soon as I pulled out of the lot. Don’t worry; I’m sure you’re going to be drowsy for quite a while.” She stepped back as he slid a leg out the door.
“The bike?” he asked, sliding the rest of the way to his feet.
“I checked with Dave and he has it at the shop.”
He breathed a little easier. “Good. I owe Meg’s brother a drink.”
“No,” Carly said, walking beside him toward the back of the SUV. “I’m sure the thrill of riding that Harley was enough thanks. Don’t worry about it. Besides, he’s family. That’s what we do for each other.”
Family, Garrett thought. That’s not what his family would do, but then his family wasn’t worth discussing. He really didn’t feel like discussing anything right now.
“Thanks for the lift,” he said. He started to walk down the alley.
“You don’t really think I’m letting you leave, do you?”
Garrett froze. He turned slowly meeting her half-grin and raised eyebrow gaze. “I told you I’ve been in worse shape. I never needed a nursemaid before.”
She shrugged. “Too bad, you’re stuck with me until I’m sure that concussion didn’t permanently damage your brain.”
He started to argue. “My hotel is a block down the road. If I need anything I’ll call,” he lied, turning back toward the alley. Carly appeared in front of him before he’d taken two steps.
“Up the stairs, Garrett. You’re ready to fall over,” she said, urging him with a hand on his back.
Glancing toward the stairs he realized he wasn’t sure he could make it. That thought made him accept he probably wouldn’t make it to his hotel either. He moved toward them, if only to get away from her touch. In his weakened state, he wasn’t sure how long he could resist touching her back. “There’s really no need. I just need to take a shower and go to bed. I don’t need you to watch me do that.” Lord, no he didn’t. The thought of her watching him had blood rushing through his body.
“A shower? You just got stitches in your head, not to mention you can’t stand longer than a few minutes without getting dizzy. I don’t think a shower is a good idea.”
“I didn’t ask,” he said. He leaned against the rail at the top of the stairs, waiting for Carly to unlock the door. It reminded him he needed to get better locks for her apartment and garage. That reminded him of searching the garage.
“Where do you store your gear?” he asked.
“My climbing gear? In the garage, why?”
Damn. The jerk must have messed with her gear. He probably knew she climbed alone. Thank God, the bastard hadn’t done a good enough job or it would be Carly broken. Garrett didn’t think he could live with that guilt. His fingers dug into the railing he held. He needed to check her equipment.
As she opened the door he pushed away from the rail and followed her inside. Pure momentum got him to the kitchen table. It looked like her equipment and the locks would have to wait until tomorrow. His eyes couldn’t focus enough and his head could not handle the click of her keys much less the rattle of harnesses and carabineers. Pulling out a chair he sat down and reached in his back pocket. He pulled out his wallet. “Since you won’t let me go to the hotel, would you mind picking up my duffel and shaving kit?”
The frown on her face told him how concerned she was as she crossed to take the key card he held out. He didn’t like causing her to worry. When she reached for the card he took hold of her hand. “I’m going to be fine,” he said, staring into her eyes, trying to convince her not to worry by sheer will alone. “I’ll agree to rest, if you’ll agree not to worry.”
She chewed on the inside of her lip for a minute. The temptation to pull on her hand and bring her close enough to kiss had him clenching his jaw.
“I’m not worried about your being okay if you stay here. I’m worried you’re sending me on this errand to get rid of me and do something stupid, like disappear.”
Squeezing her hand he released her. “Darlin’, I barely made it up the stairs. I know I wouldn’t make it back down standing upright. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Not even to the shower until I get back.”
Garrett shook his head. “Not without clothes to put on afterward.”
She wiggled her eyebrows and Garrett couldn’t help but grin. “Get out of here,” he said and leaned his head back against the wall closing his eyes. If he looked at her with that grin on her face another second, he wouldn’t let her leave.
“I’ve got my cell. If you need anything, call."
Garrett lifted his hand in response. He didn’t bother telling her he didn’t have her cell number. That would have her rattling it off or writing it down. Even if he had her number, right now he wouldn’t have been able to focus well enough on the tiny numbers to call her. Again, a detail Carly didn’t need to know. When the door closed he listened to her run down the stairs. He waited until he heard her SUV start before he allowed his body to relax. As soon as it did, he felt himself starting to drift off.
# # #
The sound of heavy footfalls pulled Garrett back from the hazy space between awake and asleep. Lifting his arm he looked at his watch. Carly hadn’t been gone five minutes. The tread was too heavy for her anyway. He pulled himself up from the chair and crossed to the door. As the shadow of a man reached the top of the stairs, Garrett pulled the door open.
“Can I help you?” The wide-eyed shock on the shorter man’s face didn’t escape Garrett, even with his head swimming from the effort of walking to the door. He braced his right hand on the door frame to keep himself upright.
“I -- uh -- is Carly here?”
“No, but she’ll be back in a few minutes. Would you like to wait?”
“No. I mean, no, I’ll call her later.” He turned and hurried down the stairs.
“Who should I tell her stopped by?” Garrett called leaning out the doorway.
The man didn’t answer or stop. In seconds he was around the corner of the building. A bad feeling started churning Garrett’s gut. It had nothing to do with his concussion.
Leaning out the door had been a bad idea, though. Feeling himself start to fall forward he tightened his grip on the door frame and pulled himself back inside. He slammed the door closed, stumbling back to his seat at the table. His elbows resting on the table he held his head in his hands for several minutes. He sat there trying to calm his breathing and spinning head. He had to get this under control. How was he going to protect her if he couldn’t even stand?
Protect her. You? You couldn’t protect your mother or your brother. What makes you think you can protect her? You’re a loser. Always been a loser. Always will be a loser.
Garrett slapped his palm on the table. “No!”
~~~