Bear the Burn(16)
“But why? What have I done to earn that? I thought you disliked me.”
“What?”
“You sped off and sprayed me with gravel instead of offering me a ride when my bike tire was flat, Dade. That’s the least romantic thing I’ve ever encountered, and it happened to me.”
He grimaced and rolled his bandaged shoulder. “Look, I know it’s a lot to take in, and I promise I’ll tell you everything, but I’d rather do it in private.”
She made a show of looking around. “There’s no one here but you and me.”
Dade stared at her long and hard. “Boone can hear us clear as day, just like you could hear the officers talking across the hall if you chose to listen. There’s a security camera in that corner and another over there.” He pointed, and sure enough, there were. “Not to mention, the room is likely bugged.”
“Okay, you’re scaring me.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”
“Then why did you say you ruined my life? And why am I in a hospital room guarded by cops and mobbed by a crowd holding Cage the Animals signs?” Her voice wrenched up to a Level Shrill, but she was in it now—full blown panic mode and gaining speed like a boulder down a mountainside.
“Quinn,” Dade warned low, holding his hands out. “You have to stay calm.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that? I’m a buck twenty-five with flimsy arms. I’ve never hurt anyone in my life. Why is everyone walking on eggshells every time I ask serious questions? Who locked me in that room, Dade? I heard someone come in. Who set that fire? I want to know everything.” Her vision blurred with unshed tears, and she blinked them back, determined not to show him how weak she felt. “Who gave me these?” She yanked her hospital gown up around her thighs, exposing the burns that stung relentlessly with a bone-deep, throbbing ache.
Dade reared back as if he’d been slapped. He stood, then retreated a few steps away from her. A muscle in his jaw twitched as he linked his hands behind his head and let off a helpless sound.
“Who, Dade?”
“Me, all right? You have those because of me.”
Horror congealed in her veins, making it hard to move. “You set the fire? You locked me in that room?”
“No, but I might as well have. If I’d have just stayed away from you, Shayna would’ve left you alone. You would’ve never been on her radar, but I put you right in her path.” Dade’s eyes filled with emotion as he swallowed hard and looked ill. “Shayna locked you in that room and set the fire, but it wasn’t for you, Quinn. She was trying to get to me.”
“But…you don’t know me. Why would this Shayna woman go after me if I’m a stranger to you?”
“Because you’re mine.” The words came out gritty and low, almost too quiet for her to make them out.
“What?”
“Because my animal chose you. Because I want you. Because I can’t see anything but you.”
“But you peeled out and threw gravel in my face!” None of this made any sense. He didn’t like her. He struggled to even be nice to her.
“I was trying to throw Shayna off your trail. She was tailing me, and I wanted her to think you didn’t mean anything to me, but she went after you anyway. It was a dick move, leaving you on the side of the road like that—”
“This isn’t how picking someone works! You haven’t even kissed me! How do you know I’m yours when you haven’t even kissed me?”
Dade rushed to her and cupped her neck. Hesitating only a moment, he leaned down and pressed his lips onto hers.
Quinn gripped his shirt and pushed him, her instincts poised to claw him—for the unexpected kiss and everything he’d just admitted. But Dade didn’t give an inch. Instead, he cupped her other cheek and angled his head, then licked the closed seem of her lips, melting her completely.
Flutters started at her toes and worked their way into her stomach as she gripped onto his wrists to keep his hands there. She was safe like this, with him. Dade was big and strong. He’d pulled her from the burning building and had come right away so she wouldn’t be all alone here in this hospital. And this big, tough, scarred up man had just admitted to feelings for her—deep ones. The kind that she’d been missing for so long. The kind she’d wanted from him. As much as she tried to convince herself he was dangerous to her heart, Dade was what she’d yearned for. Since he’d come into the vet clinic and been tender with her tears, she’d been enamored by him, despite his moments of confounding aloofness. She’d stayed up nights thinking about him, and her heart pounded every time someone entered the vet’s office on the off-chance that it would be him. Silly? Sure. She was acting like a school girl with a crush, but she couldn’t help it. This man intrigued her in ways that were utterly baffling and exciting at the same time.