“Why are you apologizing?” I folded my arms around her, holding her close.
“Because I know you’re worried,” she said, rubbing her cheek along my skin. “And I know this injury is serious. I just hope it’s not as serious as it can be.”
I dropped a kiss to the top of her head as I slid my hand up her spine, cradling the back of her neck. “Me too.”
She was quiet for a few moments. “Thank you.”
Laughing softly, I leaned back so I could see her face. “Now what are you thanking me for, sweetheart?”
“Thank you for going to Texas with me.”
I cupped her cheek with one hand. “You’ve already thanked me for that.”
“And you told me that I didn’t need to thank you.” She placed her hand over mine. “But I need to thank you again, because I wouldn’t have done it without you.”
“Yes, you would’ve.”
She shook her head. “Maybe I would’ve, but I don’t really know. I needed you there and you were there, no questions asked. I can’t thank you enough for that—for everything.”
“Oh, Shortcake, you still don’t have to thank me.”
“But I . . .” She stopped, frowning. “Shortcake?”
I opened my mouth and then realized my slip. Dropping my hands, I stepped back and laughed. “Did I say that out loud?”
“Yeah. You kind of did.” She tugged on the hem of the borrowed shirt. Curiosity filled her face. “What’s up with that?”
Fuck me, but I felt my cheeks start to burn.
Her eyes widened as she smiled. “You’re blushing! Oh my God, you’re actually blushing!” She pinched my cheek. “I need to know now why you’re so flushed.”
“What do I get if I tell you?”
She pinned me with an arched look that said what I wouldn’t get if I didn’t tell her. That pissy look turned me on. Then again, when she breathed, it made me hot.
“It’s really kind of stupid.” Catching her hand, I pulled her back to me. Once she was close enough, I dipped low and slid an arm under her legs.
“Hey!” She smacked my back. “Stop trying to distract—” She squealed as her feet went off the floor. “Cam!”
Picking her up, I held her close to my chest as I turned toward the hallway. “I’m not distracting you. I’m helping you back to the bedroom.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Besides the fact that I don’t need help going back to the bedroom, why are you carrying me back to the bedroom?”
“You don’t walk fast enough,” I told her as I carried her to her bed. “Hey.”
Her look grew exasperated. “What?”
I winked a second before I dropped her over the middle of the bed. Her squeal ended in a grunt as she bounced. Her mouth opened, and I knew she was about to cuss me every way but straight. I was on her before she could start what she was about to say, sliding my hands up under the hem of the shirt. In a second I had it off her and she was beautifully, magnificently bare. I shucked off my pants.
Her breath leaked out of her as I climbed onto the bed, admiring my handiwork. “So,” she said, her voice soft. “What about this Shortcake business?”
“Well, it’s a nickname.” I kissed the space between her breasts. “For you.”