Free Back Where You Belong by Vonnie Davis Page A

wouldn’t want to fall in love with her. She was simply someone to pass the time with, nothing permanent or serious. “Don’t fuss at her. She’s just a kid.”
    “Kid or not, I don’t like her hurting your feelings. Where are you?”
    “Outside, waiting for Grandpa. I figure it’s time I get home. Shower and change clothes so I won’t feel so grungy. You need to rest.”
    “Will you call me tonight? Hold on. Olivia, what’s the number on my bedside phone?”
    He repeated the number for Lacy, and she scribbled it on a scrap of paper from her purse.
    “You won’t forget to call me? I’ll be going stir-crazy by tonight. I’m not one for being idle.”
    Grandpa’s truck rumbled in front of the hospital. “My ride’s here. I’ll talk to you later.”
    “Lacy? Thanks for everything. I won’t forget how great you’ve been. You’re a good person.”
    By eight o’clock that evening, Lacy’s eyes were gritty from too many hours last night in a hospital chair and too many today in front of her computer. She took another hot shower, slipped on her pajamas and soothed her eyes with drops before collapsing between the sheets. Honeybun jumped on the bed, turned around twice and settled next to her side.
    She scratched behind the collie’s ears. “What do you think, Honeybun? Should I call Tyler?”
    The bed jiggled with the thump of Honeybun’s tail as she rested her muzzle on Lacy’s arm.
    “He said I should call him, but…”
    A canine whine replied.
    “I should just do it, huh?”
    The collie woofed, and Lacy dialed.
    “Hello?”
    “How’s the patient tonight?”
    “Lonely. Hate lying still. Tired of having a flashlight shined in my eyes. These ice packs wrapped around my ankle make my foot feel like a frozen popsicle.”
    She laughed at his tone of voice. “Grumpy.”
    “Hey, I figure if I complain enough, they’ll let me out of here tomorrow. I walked around the room twice today. Damn crutches won’t cooperate, but I’m getting used to them. My cousin, Billy Wayne, stopped in for a visit. I told him all about you.”
    “Me? Must have been a boring conversation.” His soft chuckle made her smile. “How’s your headache, cowboy?”
    “Easing up.”
    Fluffy fur ran through her fingers as she stroked Honeybun’s ears. “Are you still using that morphine pump?”
    “No, I told them to take it out of my stent. Made me too muzzy-headed. Felt like I wasn’t in control.”
    Control would be important to a man like Tyler. He reminded her of the Coyotte Buttes she saw once in Utah—larger than life, strong, proud, enduring. “Too bad you won’t be able to ride for a while.”
    He exhaled a hard bark of laughter. “Wanna bet? It’s my left ankle that’s sprained, but Comanches can mount a horse from any side. I’ll be riding the day after I get home.”
    No doubt he would. Stubborn man. “Maybe what you need is a keeper.”
    “You volunteering for the job?”
    Was that hopefulness in his voice? “You couldn’t handle me for a keeper. I’m very strict. In fact, I’d keep you in bed for a week after you got out of the hospital, even if I had to hogtie you.”
    “Now you’re talking.” Humor tinged his words.
    Oh, good Lord. Did he mean…? “Are you into kink, cowboy? I never understood the desire to be spanked or tied up.” She paused and pursed her lips, searching for something to say. “I don’t think I could trust a guy enough to give him that much control. No. No, I couldn’t. It would leave me too vulnerable. No one likes being vulnerable, do they? Although I do feel vulnerable to you sometimes.” Crap, I shouldn’t have said that . “N-not that we’re in a sexual relationship or even heading in that direction…”
    “Aren’t we?”
    Her mouth went dry. Were they? He’d kissed her a few times, but would a man like Tyler be interested in her? “Well…ah…well…”
    Deep male chuckling tingled her insides.
    “Don’t tell me you’re speechless. Not you. Tell you