Healing Her Heart
est of her twelve-hour nig
slowed to a mere trickle
ridiculous awareness of Ga
ly exh
re in awe at the rising su
ul sight helped resto
nice, too, even though
held an early morning ser
of the small, beautiful, w
es of the trees. She was
xt two days off before sh
ur shifts were to endure
der
awned so wide her jaw p
e pried her eyes open wi
ices and head home since sh
s only a few miles away.
thout a
o go off in five hours, so
worst part about working n
s on her
ve hours later, she groa
her body craved more slee
upr
ght breakfast helped cle
f her mind. She stared out
d rush of adrenalin. She
nto a ponytail to keep it o
ys from the sun as
e hardest, but once she hi
l, shaded by towering tree
ilarating rhythm. Other t
closest to God, and she sile
a
where locals and tourists were enjoying the water. S
the lake, although buying
of her
ught with a smile. She'd
p and to get far away fr
ps busted up a drug deal
om hers had pushed
utely loved it he
ptly interrupted by the h
trail, peering over her s
re he came upon
came louder, and she stifl
-packed, hilly trail co
rested the hill, heading
out of harm's way. But she
and branches. She went
ve, the driver letti
sessing for injuries. Her
from her tumble, but it
ankle zinged with pain. G
oughly two and a ha
ke grew louder again, an
had the nerve to come ba
, he was riding down the
ght f
had the distinct impress
he scrambled out of the w
orbike whizzed by, so close
e blasting aga
several long moments, af
ird time. She sent up a sil
lly let go of the tree and
rated up her leg with ever
vised, using it a
s on the trail made her t
n the driver of the motor
t unusual to pass othe
rt and navy blue shorts, with ear buds tucked into his ears blocking out the n
d quiet was so much more
w
d, she grimaced when sh
prised; she'd passed him on
ef greetings before head
f her, he frowned and
his ears. "Larissa, are yo
not to jump as he steppe
cleared her throat and str
y past you?" she asked wr
rail-
dropped down to a crouch
prodded her ankle. She su
her. "This looks
doc," she said lightly. "
gured that out
but sent her a lopsided s
rule out lig
t I can't do that until
y, ri
picture if you wait a few
lean on me, and I'll
unexpected she nearly l
zy up to Gabe for two and
ur run short because of m
I'll be
not leaving you here like
and my place isn't that far
m h
seemed like a long way, b
t. She reluctantly nodded.
he wrapped his arm fi
sily, shortening his
awkward, and she was far
who that motorbike drive
from his nearness. "I'd repo
n these
inkle," Gabe said. "I've taken ca
edge almost made her fee
father hit
al moments. "Actually, I
he said finally. "The las
rrest for driving under th
, no problem. I got the im
ts. Maybe even
head. "Poor Annie. I'm ge
e in that
ey walked along in silenc
und her waist, drawing h
t's my place. Think yo
assured him, even though
Not to mention, being thi
er hard-wo
afford to let her guard
h she w
____
distance to his place as
good conscience, leave La
like this hadn't been the b
rfectly, her slight frame h
looked terrible, but she
to help her, he knew she
asking for
for the tenth time that s
s off-limits
le was the one who'd ru
er. Larissa was right, th
uldn't be much the poli
thing wrong?"
wn in surpris
is getting tighter and t
to lighte
f. "Sorry about that," he
ng about Tommy. How's
"I'm trying to take heart in the fact t
nd then you can relax,"
oking the lake was his pr
having women over, it wa
wn on foot. He knew she l
and several of the other s
paring notes one day abo
ghb
ustic," she said as the
more feet to go. "Some
..fla
chest as if wounded. "Do
es for
tors generally live a much
of
intment regarding her ob
The ones who set their s
hat they wanted, stooped s
y destroyed a m
e murmured. "You must l
ng to waste any time thin
Three more feet and they
e step all right? Or
," she respo
her, and she limped insi
with a sigh. "Feels good t
ore favors, but I'd a
oon as we clean up those
rom the dirt filled abrasion
ck
to-" she began, but he
om cabinet, finding everyt
. When he returned, he di
the k
your carpet," she said wit
crapes on my hands
he table and then went o
t over and knelt beside h
oft washcloth and beg
bad, and she didn't say
he asked when he finished
measly doctor wouldn't k
" she said in a low voic
od thing I'm off work for
ll be as go
our doctor. He'll write
nger if
ed. "I'm sure you want to
e me home, I'll get
ange, and he thought she
ned her running shoe. "Firs
n too much worse, which w
past twenty minutes. Mayb
sked when he'd finishe
sounded strained
ment, trying to gauge her
idge. He pulled out a bott
his own water, he took a b
an ice pack," he said, dra
d chuckle. "Too funny. I
as an ice
n her smile. "I bet every
free
took a long drink of wa
ing else you think you need
et g
offer to make her dinner b
ome. Here, lean on me.
to the peas and the wate
ith the other. It was a sho
she was safely tucked
her window on the ride h
ome reason. After about te
rtment
up to her apartment despi
thing else?" he asked aft
ee you later," she barely
mly betw
oor for several long seco
car. The thought that she'
didn't
e'd interrupted his run-
infiltrated his thoughts f