Page 50 of Burning for You
Levi
Jesus, what the hell has Jesse done to her?
Carolyn lies in my arms, almost lifeless. She can’t even hang on to my shoulder, or anywhere. Her body droops to my abs, forcing me to hold my breath while trying to steady her and dealing with my pain—thanks to the woman herself clubbing me with that pipe. Her action took me by surprised, I give her that. And how the hell did she manage to get Grudge to obey her?
“Wrong way, brother!” Jesse shouts.
I know he wants Carolyn to remain kept at the woodland shed, but I’m not taking her back out there. Today, and for the remainder of her captivity, she will stay in the storage cabin next to the stable.
Every so often Carolyn attempts to glance back, most likely checking on Jesse.
My big brother lingers at the hangar, as if guarding Dad’s Cessna. If my dad had a choice, he would’ve become a pilot instead of a rancher. It’s embarrassing that none of his sons actually fly the thing. Jesse is scared of heights, and I crashed the previous plane we owned. I escaped with minor injuries, but it was traumatizing enough that I never flew again.
Since the rent for the plane has dwindled and maintenance costs shot up, we put Dad’s pride on the market, despite Jesse’s resistance. So far, no bite. I’m not quite sure why Miss Meyer decided to run to the hangar instead of going for the truck.
I lower Carolyn onto the bed of hay inside the storeroom. She’s panting as she sits up. From the way she’s staring at her surroundings, I think she’s still groggy.
Gently, I put my hand on her neck, feeling her bruises with my fingertips.
“Don’t touch me!” she bellows, pushing me back with both her hands—on the same spot where the pipe hit me.
I stumble backwards to the floor, not anticipating such a force. Hell, woman! Was she just acting helpless before?
With how much trouble she’s causing me, I’m now convinced we would’ve been better off dealing with Josh Bright. As I’ve suspected all along, this woman is quite a fighter. I hate to think what it would take for her to give in to our demands.
On the other hand, I hate to think what my brain is capable of. In her presence, I’m weaving up a scenario—one that I desire very much, whether it’s right or wrong. For goodness’ sake! None of what’s happening now is either right or wrong.
“Come on! Whatever you want to do, do it,” she says.
I throw her a questioning gaze. What does she think I want to do?
My abs are still pulsing from her push, but I put on a straight face, not wanting to grant Carolyn the satisfaction.
“What?” she says, her eyes fixed on me. “When do you want to talk, then?”
With eyes like that, I understand why my horse actually listened to her.
“Shut up,” I say. “If you try to run again, I…”
“What will you do?”
I purse my lips.
“Kill me? I know you won’t. You said you wouldn’t.” Carolyn challenges me with mocking eyes.
Of course, she heard my conversation with Jesse.
With an even stronger stare, she says, “You’re just a creepy puppet.”
I lunge at the woman, pinning her against the stack of hay she’s lying on. She offers no resistance. Has she run out of energy? Not quite. Her hoarse breathing and trembling lips tell me she’s bursting with it.
“I was being nice to you!” Somehow I’m trying to make a case for her to like me. Well, perhaps not like, but at least not despise me as if I was a scumbag.
She cackles.
Escaping her scrutinizing eyes, I survey her nose instead. It’s exquisite, something people would like to model their rhinoplasty from, I’d imagine. I still remember Jesse has every intention to smash it broken.
“You’re being nice?” she says slowly.