Flirting With Destiny(34)

I sighed with a deep groan and tossed the bride’s magazine aside. I’d been sitting there staring at the same page for so long I didn’t even know what I was reading anymore. I was supposed to be resting from the accident, but if truth be told, I didn’t need to recuperate any longer. My head stopped hurting and I seemed to be fine, only some aches and pains from the experience. The car had barely touched me. I could remember it now. It had hit my leg and scared the shit out of me. I freaked out, jumped back and fell. Maybe I had a little of my old cheerleader spring left in my leg muscles. I don’t know how I did it. It’s crazy how the human body works. It must have been some kind of survival mode driven by all the adrenaline shooting through my system. I don’t remember having a conscious thought about jumping out of the way; I just did it, like a reflex and then hit my head when I landed.

The next thing I knew, I was down on the asphalt, still holding my purse at my side, like I was out for a stroll. Or maybe I was hit by the car and the explanation that I must have jumped out of the way was my brain trying to make logical sense of the event. Sometimes I block out information I don’t want to acknowledge.

The doorknob jiggled with the sound of metal scraping against metal, pulling me out of my reverie. I wasn’t alarmed. I knew it would be Chip coming to check on me during his lunch break from work. He’d had a key to my apartment for over a year. He said it was to check on me, but I wondered if it was really just another way to gain control. He was still keeping a close eye on me and seeing Aedyn at my bedside at the hospital probably increased his need for vigilance.

“Hey honey. How are you feeling?” Chip tossed my apartment key onto the coffee table.

“I’m feeling pretty good actually.”

Chip sat down on the couch, glanced at the magazine and chucked it onto the coffee table. “That’s good to hear.”

“It was just a little bump on my head, really. Why is everyone making such a big deal about it?”

“Head injuries are serious stuff. You need to take it easy.”

I smiled as he stroked his hand through my hair, looking into my eyes. It was nice to see the old Chip again.

“What’ve you been doing all morning? Looking at wedding dresses?” He tipped his chin toward the magazine.

“Yea, there’s one I like… the one on the page the magazine was opened to is my favorite so far, but I’m still looking. I think I want something with lots of beadwork on the bodice. Or I could go with a retro look, like from the 1950’s. I don’t know.” Actually, I couldn’t make a decision about a dress because my heart wasn’t in it.

“You’ll look beautiful in any of them.” He touched the back of my head lightly and said, “How’s the head?”

I pushed his hand away, wincing. Truth be told, it was still sore to the touch and I wouldn’t mind a few more days off from work. I decided to play on his sympathy. I didn’t relish the idea of lying on this couch with nothing to do, but I’d take that over going into the office.

“Still a little sore, but I suppose I should go back to work tomorrow.”

He titled his head and peered into my face. “No, I think you should take an extra day, what the hell, take two.” He smiled. “I’m sure the boss won’t mind. You can spend the time making wedding plans. There’s a lot to prepare. We’ll have to sit down and talk about the specifics when you feel better. Right now, just do the fun girl stuff you women like to do, flowers and the bride’s maid dresses, you know, the stuff guys don’t care about. I’ll tell you the details of my plans for the wedding when you’re up to it.”

“You’re the boss.” I plastered on a smile.

Maybe a couple more days of sympathy would also ease his fly-off-the-handle temper. It seemed to have a positive effect on him so far. He was being really tender.

He moved closer and trailed his fingertip down my face, down my jaw and all the way to the center of my breastbone. I knew what he wanted. I saw it in his eyes, his look was dark and hungry and suddenly, surprisingly I wanted him too. Chip could be charming and sexy when he wasn’t consumed by anger. If he could be this way all the time, maybe I’d forget about anyone but him.

I sucked in a breath and gave in to fate, leaning into his kiss. His lips crushed onto mine and his tongue thrust into my mouth. I was swept up in a wave of sensual heat as my body reacted instinctively to years of his familiar touch. I barely realized it when he pulled me up off the couch. My body was so filled with excitement I barely noticed the pang of apprehension in my heart. His kiss, the touch of his hands gliding over my body. I didn’t want to fight with my emotions right now. It was easier to just brush them aside and believe that Chip would be like this forever.