Page 35 of Meeting Me, Loving You (Hearts of Maple Lake #1)

JULIET

W e stayed at the hospital for several hours as I was stitched up and observed, being declared positive for a mild concussion.

Then I was discharged with meds for pain and nausea, and a doctor’s order to rest for a few days.

Since I was already at the hospital where I work, I stopped at my manager’s office to inform her I’d have to take a few days off.

She was very sorry to hear about my accident, until she took one look at Cam, who wheeled me in on a wheelchair, much to my chagrin.

She blushed and smiled at him and told me to take the whole week off—even longer if needed—to get better.

As soon as we finished at the hospital, Cam took me back to my apartment.

Dax was excited to see me as I limped through the doorway with the aid of crutches under each arm.

Cam followed close behind, and I was especially grateful in that moment that I had taken all that time to train Dax not to jump on me.

Aliana was waiting in my apartment as well, keeping Dax company while I was gone.

“Thank you so much for coming over and taking him out, Ali,” I say, setting my crutches against the couch and taking a seat. Cam heads to the kitchen, and I hear the clinking of glasses.

“Of course, you can call me anytime! I’m just glad you’re okay,” she says, her brows bent in concern as she stifles a yawn. “Do you need anything tonight? Should I stay here?”

Cam comes back and hands me a glass of water.

“Thanks,” I say with a smile. I turn back to Ali. “I’ll be okay, and you’re just next door if anything happens.”

“Yeah, okay.” Ali looks from me to Cam, then back to me and gives me a tight-lipped smile. She stands from the couch and stretches. “Well, I guess I’ll head back and go to bed now.” It’s well past midnight, and I’ve never been more appreciative of having a friend like Ali. I grab her hand.

“Thank you,” I say again.

“No worries, girl. I’ll check on you in the morning.” She kisses the top of my head. “Call me if you need anything.” She pets Dax on the head, waves sleepily at Cam, and heads out the door.

Cam and I are left in my apartment, exhaustion weighing heavily on us both.

He’s standing near the end of the couch, rubbing at the tension in his neck.

He’s also no longer shirtless, thank goodness, since he had extra sweatpants and a sweatshirt in his truck.

It was difficult enough for me to focus while being carried in his naked arms, his chest rubbing against my cheek as he carried me for miles.

The grogginess from my head injury didn’t help either.

His scent is still fixed in my brain, leather and sandalwood coating my nostrils, and I fear I’ll never forget it, not even in a million years.

“Can I help you to your room or take Dax out for you?” He’s beginning to pace, looking unsure of himself.

“Ali just took him out before we got back, so he’s okay. I could use help getting to my room though. The crutches pull at my stitches and hurt my shoulder. ”

He’s like a magnet with how fast he attaches himself to my side.

He helps me stand and lets me lean on him as I limp to my room.

Cam has never seen my room. From outside the door, I can see my bed is made and there are no bras on the floor.

I relax a little. But I’ve never had a man in here, and even though we’re literally hip to hip as he helps me walk, a strong desire to have him closer fills me up.

To feel him all over me, his hands on more than my side, his lips touching mine.

My attraction to him has always been present—you’d have to be absolutely crazy to not think Cameron is ridiculously handsome—but I think I’ve done a pretty good job of hiding it.

However, having his hands on my injured body today caused a spark to erupt in me, and it’s only been spreading through me until I can now feel it in my soul.

We might only be friends, but little moments over the past few months have added fragments of hope to the broken puzzle that is my heart.

Hope of us being more than just friends.

He’s far more caring than anyone I’ve ever known, and he’s always looking for an opportunity to make me feel special and cared for.

He’s the absolute package in every way possible.

Thoughtful, fun, smart, ruthlessly generous, hot .

We make it through the threshold, and he stops, my body pulling to a standstill beside him. I look up to see his gaze dart quickly away from the bed and around the room with a frown.

“I can wait on the couch until I know you’re settled. Just shout for me if you need anything.” His voice is clipped, and he looks like he can’t wait to leave.

My shoulders slump.

I hadn’t expected him to help me change or tuck me into bed like a child, but I’m thrown for a loop that he seems to suddenly be on alert.

“Yeah, that would be great. I’ll call if I need something. ”

He releases my waist and leaves the room, and Dax follows him.

Due to the pain in my ankle and the stitches in my shoulder, it takes me a while to clean up and change, but once I’ve brushed my teeth and I’m in a fresh pair of pajamas—shorts and a loose T-shirt that isn’t stained with blood—I feel instantly ready to fall asleep.

Before getting into bed, I shuffle to the door.

My ankle is beginning to throb from all of my movements.

“Cam?” I call gently.

He’s in front of me in a flash, looking worried.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m okay,” I reassure him. His shoulders relax and he visibly exhales. “Do you have my meds from the hospital?”

“Yes, of course.” He pulls out two orange pill bottles from the pocket of his hoodie. “Which one do you need?”

“Both. Do you mind getting me that glass of water from the living room?”

He rushes to the living room, and then to the kitchen, filling the glass so I have more than enough water to take my medications. He comes back and I take the glass, but I’m still standing in the doorway of my room, holding onto the door frame for support. Cam notices.

“Go sit on the bed, I’ll bring the pills over.” I do as he says, slowly hobbling across the room. He guides me with a hand on my back but doesn’t offer his body to lean on this time.

I sit on the edge of the bed, and Dax jumps up behind me, laying down in his usual spot.

Cam stands beside me, his brows furrowed once again.

He shakes a pill out of the first bottle, handing it to me, and I throw it back with a sip of water.

He does the same with a pill from the second bottle, and I take that one as well.

Glancing at the digital clock on my nightstand, I read 12:58 a.m.

“I’m sorry I’ve kept you up so late, and that I ruined the whole day. It was supposed to be a fun part of your tourist list, and I messed it up.” I look up at him, tears welling in my eyes, ready to see irritation in his own eyes at what a mess I am.

My chest aches as my body remembers the feeling after Natalie left. I’m a disappointment as a sister, and I’m a disappointment as a friend. The feeling is palpable, as if I’m reliving that morning when all she left behind was a note.

But I’m surprised when his eyes soften, glued to mine, and he drops down to his knees. My body stiffens, and I’m startled by his gaze as it levels with mine. Due to his massive height, kneeling only brings us eye level as I sit on the bed. His words are shaky but stern when he speaks.

“Don’t say that. You didn’t ruin anything, Juliet.

I’m sorry you got hurt, but it wasn’t your fault.

” My stomach flips as Cam rests his hands on the bed on either side of me.

His eyes search my every feature, like he’s touching every inch of my face with just his gaze, the tension building in the air between us.

“I…” His voice breaks. “I saw you flip over the front of your bike, and it keeps playing through my mind in slow motion.” He squeezes his eyes shut and takes a shuddering breath.

His body is so close to mine, I feel the heat radiating off of him and onto me.

He’s like a furnace, and all I want is to be warmed by him.

He hangs his head, eyes closed, and I reach out, cupping his jaw in my hand.

He flinches, but doesn’t pull away, leaning gently into my scraped and bandaged palm.

His beard is surprisingly soft on my hand, even through my bandages, and I take a second to memorize the feel of his face on my fingertips.

“I’m okay,” I whisper. This moment feels like one that should remain silent, frozen in time, as if even the smallest sound could shatter the connection hanging delicately between us.

Cameron was scared for me today, for my life. But it’s because of him that I’m okay.

He doesn’t look up. He just lowers his forehead to my knee—my bare knee. It’s so innocent, him kneeling here defeated and tired and relieved . I’m still holding my water glass, so I set it on the little table and hold his face in both my hands.

“Look at me,” I say gently.

Cam raises his head, looking up at me through his long lashes.

The only light in the room comes from the bedroom lamp.

It casts shadowy shapes across his face.

But his green eyes glow like embers as they burn into mine, hinting at feelings he can’t seem to admit out loud.

We’ve never talked about what our friendship could be or what it’s becoming, but I’m positive he knows it’s something special.

“I’m okay, and that’s because of you.” I lower my forehead to his, my hands sliding from his jaw to his neck. The pads of my thumbs brush lightly over the upper parts of his cheeks, where his beard doesn’t reach. “Can you stay tonight?”

He pulls back slightly, just enough to see me clearly. His eyes are wary. “Juliet, I can’t.” He’s quiet, his voice sounding conflicted. But he stays where he is, not making any move to get up.

“I’m not asking for anything. I just… don’t want to be alone right now, after everything that happened.” I push away tears that threaten to rise, exhaling. “It really scared me today.”

Understanding glides across his face and he relaxes again.

“Sure. I can stay. I’ll sleep on the couch.” He stands, and I already miss holding him. “Get into bed. I’ll help with your foot.”

He encourages me to sleep with my foot elevated on a pillow under the blankets, and I reluctantly give in. I’m realizing I’m not the best patient. When given the choice, I will always, always choose to be the nurse rather than the patient. But I also realize I’ll do anything Cameron asks of me.

He turns off the lamp and heads toward the bedroom door. Just as his hand touches the knob, I call out to him, a sob threatening to escape from my chest.

“Can you hold me?”

His hand lingers on the doorknob, preparing to leave and close the door behind him.

Preparing to keep the barrier between us.

I can feel him thinking from across the room.

A faint light from the kitchen shines into my bedroom, silhouetting his tall solid figure in the doorway as his shadow blankets my face.

He remains in the room and slowly closes the door, leaving us in complete darkness.

His footsteps are quiet as he comes back toward the bed, and I can sense when he’s standing over me.

I slide over carefully, making space for him beside me.

Dax feels me nudge him and moves to the foot of the bed, curling up beside my good foot.

At this moment, I’m glad I have a queen sized bed, because even this feels small with the thought of all three of us fitting.

The mattress dips as Cam slides under the blankets and neither of us says anything.

I roll onto my side, facing away from him, and he follows, rolling onto his side to face my back.

My breath slows as his hand glides over my skin and his arm wraps over my body, missing my stitches.

He pulls me close to his warm, muscular chest.

My eyelids droop and sleep overtakes me, my foot resting on a pillow and my body cocooned in the protection of Cameron Dunne’s safe arms.