Kissing Jenna (Big Sky 2)

“Do you need me for anything else?” Max asks.

“Right now, no, but we’ll need her car brought down at some point. Could you help with that?”

“Sure thing, I’ll have Brad help me with that first thing in the morning.” He brushes her hair off of her cheek and leans in to press a kiss there. “Get some rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Max,” she says.

He nods and leaves, and I carry my girl to her master suite and set her gently on the edge of her bed.

“Can you sit here while I get the shower ready?”

“I think so.”

She looks so small and fragile, and I feel like absolute shit. It’s because of me that she’s hurting.

I’d gladly change places with her if I could. I hate that this happened.

I get the hot water going and set out a fresh towel and washcloth. When I come back to the bedroom, she’s struggling to get her shirt off, then stops in frustration.

“This is ridiculous,” she mutters. “How does taking off my shirt make me so tired?”

“Your brain is hurt, honey,” I remind her and get to work gently removing her clothes. My breath hisses between my teeth when I see the bruises on her chest from the seatbelt. “Oh, baby. I’m so sorry.”

“It looks worse than it feels.”

I cup her chin in my hand and make her look me in the eye. They look more normal now, but she’s not out of the woods.

“Jenna, I’m so sorry this happened.”

“I’m fine,” she replies. “Or I will be in just a couple of days. Honest. It was an accident.”

I feel helpless and like an ass on top of it, but I gather her in my arms again and walk into the steaming bathroom.

“Oh, this feels good,” she says softly. I set her on her feet and wait until she gets her balance. “I’m okay.”

“You’re not going in there alone,” I say. “I don’t need you to fall.”

“Probably a good idea, but there will be no post-accident sex today. Sorry, movie star.”

“Very funny.”

She stands fairly still as I lather up the cloth and gingerly run it over her skin, cleaning her.

“I don’t need to wash my hair,” she says. Her teeth are starting to chatter, so I rinse her off and leave the hot water running as I reach for a towel and lead her out onto the mat.

“Don’t you want to turn that off?”

“No, it’s keeping the room warmer,” I reply as I quickly dry us both and then gather her back into my arms and return to the bedroom. “Where are your comfy clothes?”

“That dresser,” she says, pointing. “Middle drawer.”

“Got it.” I find a cozy sweatshirt and matching sweatpants along with some panties and quickly get her dressed. “This will warm you up.”

“I don’t know why I’m cold.”

“The adrenaline is wearing off,” I reply. It’s starting to wear off in me, too, but I don’t have time to shake or fall apart.

I have to take care of her, and if I can just focus on that, I’ll be fine.

“I don’t have comfies for you,” she says. “I’m sorry.”

“I’ll be fine. The blankets are heavy.” I rush into the bathroom and turn off the water, then return to Jenna and peel the covers back to get her settled in the bed. She sighs happily. “Do you want tea?”

“I want sleep. And you.”

I hurry under the covers, feeling cold myself, and she immediately wraps her arm around my waist and lays her head on my chest. I bury my nose in her hair and take a deep breath.

“Could have lost you today,” I whisper, every word tearing through me.

“Don’t talk like that,” she says and kisses my chest. “I’m okay.”

But it’s true. I could have lost her today, and I don’t know what I would do if that were to ever happen.

I couldn’t have lived with myself.

She’s everything fresh and wonderful in my life.

***

“You’re awake,” I say, my voice quiet as I walk into the bedroom carrying a tray with hot tea and some crackers. “I don’t have to wake you up.”

“I missed you,” she admits with a sleepy smile and sits up in the bed. She holds her forehead with her fingertips. “Ugh, the headache is the worst part.”

“It’s time for more meds,” I reply as I set the tray on the bedside table and reach for the pills the emergency room sent home with us.

“I’d rather not.”

“Rather not what, take the pills?”

She nods.

“Well, this is non-negotiable, fancy face. You need them to help you feel better. It’s only for a couple of days.”

“You’re not the boss of me,” she says, making me laugh.

“No, I doubt many are. But I’m putting my foot down on this one. We need you to heal, and resting comfortably is the only thing that will make that happen.”