Free Draw Me Close by Nicole Michaels Page B

of signals. Derek knew she was freaking out right now at the thought of spending so much time alone with him. He could feel it. But he also knew that Lindsey was an insanely sensible woman and there really was no arguing with Anne’s logic. He had her. This wasn’t necessarily how he wanted her, but he knew better than to be choosy.
    â€œGet in the truck,” he whispered. Her eyes met his.
    â€œI don’t like you right now,” she whispered back before pulling herself in with her good hand.
    â€œI’ll have to live with that. After I make sure your wrist is not broken.” Derek pushed her hip in a little farther and shut the door before she had a chance to respond. He went around back, had a few quick words with Tanner—who seemed fine once Anne mentioned grilled cheese, potato chips, and chocolate chip cookies—and then got in the driver’s seat.
    Derek felt awful for causing Lindsey to get hurt. He should have made her hold on to him and not the sled, but trying to force Lindsey Morales to do anything didn’t feel like a smart move. Until now. He was definitely forcing her to the hospital.
    After turning on the ignition Derek looked over to see her fumbling with her seat belt, obviously unable to use her left hand to buckle it or even pull off her right glove. Derek leaned over, removed it from her grasp and locked it in place for her.
    â€œThank you,” she said. But he could tell it was difficult for her to mutter the words.
    â€œYou’re welcome.” Derek sighed and took in the sight of Lindsey sitting in his truck. Her cheeks were still flushed, her eyes glassy, and her long hair a little messy under that ridiculous red stocking cap. She was chewing on her bottom lip and very purposely not turning toward him. It was kind of cute, her trying to be a hard-ass. He’d still much rather see her smiling.
    â€œI can be a nice guy, you know?”
    She didn’t respond. The only way he knew she’d heard him was the way her lashes fluttered and her teeth worked at her lip with a little more intensity. Fine, he’d just have to keep trying to prove it to her.

 
    Five
    Lindsey stared straight ahead as they made their way down the highway. Dirty snow was piled along the ditch and watching it fly past through the windshield made her nauseous. She clamped her eyes closed and let herself fall back to the headrest. The throbbing in her wrist probably wasn’t helping her state of mind, but she was doing her best to think of anything but the fact that she was sitting in the enemy’s truck.
    It was torturous in so many ways. On top of her pain, the scent of Derek overwhelmed her. A heady mix of his familiar musk and … wood shavings? That was new, he’d never smelled like that before, but it made sense given his job. She could also smell leather but figured that was coming from the huge tool belt that rested between them on the center console. A pile of rolled-up papers cluttered the floor at her feet. Obviously building plans. This was definitely a workingman’s vehicle and she hated that it was so … him .
    He’d cranked up the heater, the warm air blowing on her chilled cheeks. That felt nice, but warming her skin did nothing for the intense agony radiating through her arm and the roiling of her stomach.
    She should have listened to him when he’d warned her against holding on to the plastic. At the time, pinched fingers seemed preferable to hooking her hands around Derek’s thighs. When they’d flipped into the snow she hadn’t let go, her fingers tight on the plastic rim as they tumbled and rolled.
    In the midst of their wipeout, her wrist had hyperextended and twisted. Their combined body weight landing on top of it was the final straw. When the searing pain had shot through her arm she’d nearly cried out.
    Please don’t let it be broken.
    She didn’t have time for a broken arm, but more than