Straight From the Hip(20)
“Promise?”
“Yeah. I promise.”
IZZY WOKE to sunlight flooding her room. She stretched and rolled over, only to realize she was alone. Nick had left sometime in the night. Or maybe he’d waited until morning. Either way, he’d stayed with her until she’d relaxed enough to let go of the nightmare.
She got out of bed and crossed to the window. She was going home today. Back to live with Lexi, she supposed. To that window seat that had become her entire world. Back to waiting…for something that would never happen.There was no miracle coming. No puff of magic that would make her see again. She either took the risk and had the surgery, or she had to learn to deal. Since getting out of the hospital, she’d been waiting for a gift from heaven.
“Get real,” she told herself. Heaven was busy with people a lot worse off than her. Nick was right. She had resources, a family, a life.
She showered and made her way to the barn. She had no idea what time it was, but didn’t bump into anyone else. She found the cupboard with the washing supplies and put everything on the bench next to it. She still had trouble deciding which bottle held the soap, then realized she could open them and figure it out by smell.
The barn was a little more daunting. She hit the light switch before entering, then tried to remember how far down she’d gone before.
“Jackson? Are you here, honey? Jackson?”
She heard a soft snort on her left and reached toward the sound. A horse dropped his head over the gate. She patted him.
“I have no idea who you are,” she said, “but you’re getting a bath. How does that sound?”
She led him outside and secured him to the post. Then she turned on the water and went to work.
Washing a horse was slow work to begin with. The animals were large and they had to be rinsed well. But doing everything by touch made the task that much longer. Izzy figured she got as much water on herself as on Jackson, but that was okay. She would get better with practice.
She’d just started rinsing the far side, when she heard someone say, “The breakfast bell rang ten minutes ago.”
She spun toward the sound and was rewarded with a yelp, followed by swearing. She turned the water off at the nozzle.
“Morning,” she said, trying not to grin. “Did I get you?”
“Yes,” Nick said through obviously clenched teeth. “Water’s cold.”
“I know. Sorry. You startled me.”
“Apparently. You coming in for breakfast?”
“As soon as I finish. Um, is this Jackson?”
“Uh-huh.”
She heard Nick brushing down his jeans. With luck, he was completely soaked.
“Okay. I’ll just be a couple of minutes.” She bit her lower lip.
Late yesterday afternoon, she’d been convinced she only wanted to go home. That there was nothing here on the ranch for her. Now she wasn’t so sure.
She wanted to stay. She wanted to try to…something. Adjust, maybe. But her Titan pride made it impossible to ask.
She stared at the shape that was Nick, not sure how to get her point across. “Nick, I…”
“Yeah. It’s fine. After breakfast, you can start on the other horses.”
“Okay.” She smiled. “Thanks.”
Then she turned on the hose and heard him yelp again.
“Dammit, Izzy. You’re going to make me regret having you around, aren’t you?”
She turned off the water and giggled. “Now why would you think that?”
CHAPTER FIVE
NICK STOOD in the kitchen and watched Izzy move through the living room. She walked deliberately, touching every piece of furniture as she made a full circuit. She completed the return trip in the opposite direction, then paused. A few seconds later, she walked into the center of the room and stopped. From there, she went first to the sofa, then back to the middle. She crossed to the window and returned to the center.
She was learning the room. By the time she was finished she would know where everything was and find it easily. In a couple of days she would be able to hurry through the house like everyone else.Even as he watched her turn and pace and count, he was distracted by her long bare legs. Her shorts barely covered her butt and her tight T-shirt outlined her full breasts. Normally he would have been able to ignore her athletic body. Normally he could appreciate the show and move on. Normally he hadn’t spent a long, agonizing night lying next to a beautiful woman, her legs tangled with his, her head on his shoulder, her breasts nestling against his arm.
He told himself that the price was worth it. She’d proven her strength—not only in avoiding a crash and burn after her nightmare, but by being able to move on from their fight. He’d taunted her. She’d risen to the bait, but hadn’t gotten trapped in anger. She was strong and determined—someone he could admire. Now if only he could see her naked.