Week 424 – Ditto

Exhausted as she was, Cara couldn’t relax. Not even for a second.

At least she was finally warm. After their tense conversation bout Liam believing someone had been in his cabin, he’d sent her off to shower while he prepared some food, given her a pair of his sweatpants and a sweater to wear from the pile of clothes he kept in the small dresser, along with a pair of thick socks, and then fed her hot soup and steaming tea. He’d eaten with her only at her urging, before he’d given her a quick exam to check for serious injuries, but they both agreed that while she hurt all over, was bruised and cut up, if she’d had any life threatening injuries she wouldn’t have been able to help him get her here.

Now she was supposed to be resting. Gentleman that he was, Liam had insisted that she take the bed and he’d take the couch. It was dark out, but the storm was still howling, wind banging against the cabin and making her jump at each thump.

Who had been staying in his cabin?

It seemed from Liam’s attitude he didn’t think whoever it was here for any innocent reason but what other reason could there be?

Giving up on sleep, she slipped out of the bed, trying to be quiet because Liam was sleeping, and padded over to the kitchen, right at the same time that a large figure rose from the couch.

Letting out a startled shriek, even though her brain quickly processed that it was only Liam, Cara stumbled backwards, her body still aching and uncoordinated.

Somehow Liam was there before she landed on the floor, strong arms wrapping around her, steadying her, drawing her close to his solid chest.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you, was just getting up to make a drink, couldn’t sleep,” Liam told her.

“Ditto,” she agreed. Maybe she could have let go of Liam’s anxiety over who he thought had been in his cabin long enough to sleep if he hadn’t been so concerned about it he wouldn’t even light a fire. He hadn’t wanted anyone to know they were in here if they should return before the storm cleared and the two of them left.

“Want me to make us both some tea?” Liam asked, and she wavered.

While she’d gotten up to get a drink, it was more because she was edgy but wiped out, and in need of a distraction. But what she really needed, what they both needed was sleep.

“Actually,” Cara said slowly, praying she wasn’t overstepping too much here. “Do you think you would lying down with me in the bed. I can’t sleep, and I think having you close would help. I mean I know it’s weird, we don’t know each other, and I’m totally pushing boundaries, but maybe we’d both be able to sleep better if you were in the bed.”

She felt rather than saw Liam smile down at her. “It’s okay, you’re not pushing boundaries, and I think you might be right.”

Pleased she hadn’t upset her guardian angel, Cara took Liam’s hand and together they headed for the bed. He pulled back the covers, helped her get settled, before rounding the bed and climbing in the other side.

Without any conscious thought her body drifted closer until she was lying plastered against his side. “Is this okay?”

His hand settled on her hip, fingers brushing back and forth for a moment before he nodded. “This is okay. Sleep now, honey, I’m right here.”

Considering those words were spoken from a stranger they probably shouldn’t offer as much comfort as they did. Then again, Liam might be a stranger but he’d also saved her life, so maybe it was no wonder that with his warm body pressed against hers she was finally able to drift off to sleep.