Chapter 76

I shook my head. “Sure, you can. While you’re taking care of yourself, how about I help you into a chair or something? You can’t be that comfortable on the floor.” I didn’t wait for his answer, but simply bent my knees and slid my arms under his neck and legs before standing and carrying him to one of the booths, where I carefully set him down, Thorn bitching the whole way to cover the fact he was in pain, physically and otherwise. I refused to think about how good he felt in my arms, and how fragile. Definitely not the time or place.

I left him there for a moment and went to the bar, took a few of the hand towels Fred tossed at me, and a couple bottles of water I paid for in cash. When I returned, I placed all the items on the table in front of Thorn, who looked to be two seconds from crying, though he put up a brave front.

“Being stubborn never helped anyone in the long run, you know,” I said.

He glared at me, but his wet eyes took away the sting.