hours, Hannah had been moving boxes. She hadn’t seen Gavin the entire time, but she assumed he was busy at work in his study, making money so he could keep her in the manner to which she might like to become accustomed. She giggled at the thought.
The girls’ room was completely finished. They were always her first priority. She wanted them to be comfortable and feel as at home as possible in their new surroundings. She had lugged up boxes of toys and games, their matching comforters, and even stuffed animals. Each trip had taken its toll. She had lost count of the number of times she had gone up and down the steps. Her legs were sore, and her back ached some from the bending, stretching, and like movements.
Now she was on what should be her last trip. Her legs quivered a little as she added the second box, but it was so much better than the idea of going up and down yet another time. She balanced the boxes precariously in one arm as she reached up and shut the trunk door. Hannah pushed her way through the front door and backed into it to shut it behind her. Moving cautiously, her vision partially obscured by the second box, she made her way to the stairs and felt her way up one curving step after another. She had almost reached the top when the boxes began to shift and she started to lose her balance. “Oh.” That was all she had time to say before she began to stumble.
***
When Gavin opened the door, he discovered she was part way up the stairs. He began to go to her, but he had to admire her first. She was so strong, mentally and apparently physically. She had been working diligently all afternoon without disturbing him. He had set one foot on the stairs and looked up, gauging the distance between them when he noticed the top box begin to slide. Fear clenched his throat. He wanted to call out and warn her but there wasn’t time. Without thinking, he rushed up the stairs.
Just before he reached her, the boxes tumbled and so did she, while making a last ditch effort to right them, and clearly injuring her back. By the time she landed in Gavin’s arms, there were tears in her eyes and she was biting back the pain, her lip white and shaking.
“It’s okay,” Gavin murmured, pulling her tightly against him. “I’ve got you,” he said while he stared intently into her eyes. I thought they were brown, he marveled. Up close, it was obvious her eyes were this incredible shade of hazel, more than a hint of green and flecked with gold, whose color would best be dictated by whatever she was wearing that day. As the first tears spilled out of them, he couldn’t help himself. Pressing his lips against her temple, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the girls’ room.
Once inside he paused for a moment to note how much she had accomplished in such a short period of time then carefully deposited her on the nearest bed. Kneeling beside her he asked, “Are you okay?”
***
Hannah closed her eyes for a moment. It was too much. He had held her close like she was so fragile, so precious to him. He had planted the most delicate kiss on her right temple, a kiss that still warmed her skin. In turn, she had responded by crying. Her back truly hurt, but the tears were because she was so ashamed of her clumsiness, she had needed his rescue. Even more, she was moved by his kiss. She swallowed. “I’m fine.”
Brushing the hair back from her face, Gavin paused a moment before he stood. “Well, I’ll leave you to it then.” He stopped at the doorway. “Where should I leave those boxes?”
“They go in my room,” she said weakly.
He seemed to pale. “I’ll just leave them outside that door for you.” Then he turned on his heels and walked away.
Ever so gingerly, Hannah began to move from the bed. She swung first one leg, then the other over the edge and braced herself for the pain as she rolled off and
The girls’ room was completely finished. They were always her first priority. She wanted them to be comfortable and feel as at home as possible in their new surroundings. She had lugged up boxes of toys and games, their matching comforters, and even stuffed animals. Each trip had taken its toll. She had lost count of the number of times she had gone up and down the steps. Her legs were sore, and her back ached some from the bending, stretching, and like movements.
Now she was on what should be her last trip. Her legs quivered a little as she added the second box, but it was so much better than the idea of going up and down yet another time. She balanced the boxes precariously in one arm as she reached up and shut the trunk door. Hannah pushed her way through the front door and backed into it to shut it behind her. Moving cautiously, her vision partially obscured by the second box, she made her way to the stairs and felt her way up one curving step after another. She had almost reached the top when the boxes began to shift and she started to lose her balance. “Oh.” That was all she had time to say before she began to stumble.
***
When Gavin opened the door, he discovered she was part way up the stairs. He began to go to her, but he had to admire her first. She was so strong, mentally and apparently physically. She had been working diligently all afternoon without disturbing him. He had set one foot on the stairs and looked up, gauging the distance between them when he noticed the top box begin to slide. Fear clenched his throat. He wanted to call out and warn her but there wasn’t time. Without thinking, he rushed up the stairs.
Just before he reached her, the boxes tumbled and so did she, while making a last ditch effort to right them, and clearly injuring her back. By the time she landed in Gavin’s arms, there were tears in her eyes and she was biting back the pain, her lip white and shaking.
“It’s okay,” Gavin murmured, pulling her tightly against him. “I’ve got you,” he said while he stared intently into her eyes. I thought they were brown, he marveled. Up close, it was obvious her eyes were this incredible shade of hazel, more than a hint of green and flecked with gold, whose color would best be dictated by whatever she was wearing that day. As the first tears spilled out of them, he couldn’t help himself. Pressing his lips against her temple, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the girls’ room.
Once inside he paused for a moment to note how much she had accomplished in such a short period of time then carefully deposited her on the nearest bed. Kneeling beside her he asked, “Are you okay?”
***
Hannah closed her eyes for a moment. It was too much. He had held her close like she was so fragile, so precious to him. He had planted the most delicate kiss on her right temple, a kiss that still warmed her skin. In turn, she had responded by crying. Her back truly hurt, but the tears were because she was so ashamed of her clumsiness, she had needed his rescue. Even more, she was moved by his kiss. She swallowed. “I’m fine.”
Brushing the hair back from her face, Gavin paused a moment before he stood. “Well, I’ll leave you to it then.” He stopped at the doorway. “Where should I leave those boxes?”
“They go in my room,” she said weakly.
He seemed to pale. “I’ll just leave them outside that door for you.” Then he turned on his heels and walked away.
Ever so gingerly, Hannah began to move from the bed. She swung first one leg, then the other over the edge and braced herself for the pain as she rolled off and
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