Exquisite Redemption (Iron Horse MC Book 3) by Ann Mayburn Page B

you’re the most beautiful thing they’d ever seen?”
    Her pale blue eyes cut to mine and some of the tension left her full pink lips. “Sweet-talk me when you’re not bleeding.”
    We didn’t make it very far before we had to stop so I could catch my breath. Even though squatting clearly pained her, she knelt before me and whipped out her knife, quickly slicing my jeans so she could look at where I’d been shot. Her touch was light, but it hurt as my adrenaline began to fade. I looked down and watched her slender fingers gently examine me with a distracting grace.
    “You have a nice slice, maybe a little bit of muscle damage, and you could do with some stitches, but you’re not going to bleed out on me. That would be inconvenient. Plus my dad would never let me live it down, a man dying on my watch.”
    Not sure if she was joking or not, I sucked in a long breath then stood again. “I’m takin’ it your dad isn’t a suburban dentist or some shit, is he?”
    Standing slowly, she lifted her chin to the left. “There’s a thicket of bushes, if we get in there we’ll be cool.”
    I nodded and we moved again, each step sending a wave of hurt through me, but I sucked it up and tried to put as little pressure as possible on Sarah. I noticed the way she favored her side and I hated that I couldn’t immediately fix this situation. We settled into the bushes and I grabbed her phone, sending the guys a quick text about where we were, and that we were injured.
    As soon as it was sent she grabbed it back and quickly dialed someone’s number. “Gotta call to make sure they don’t think I’ve been abducted.”
    A big smile lit her face, but didn’t reach her eyes as she talked. “Hey, sugar, I’m hooked up with a biker hottie and I’m gonna hang out with him for a little longer. You know, my last hurrah before I enter the real world. This guy is so good I need another night or two of being bad. Might even take him down to Cozumel with me.” She gave a fake laugh that was totally at odds with her pained expression after listening for a few moments. “Huge. Yeah. Like Long Dick Dong.”
    I rubbed my face as I tried to get my leg into a more comfortable position, keeping an ear open for company even as she chatted like she was layin’ in the fuckin’ sun somewhere with a margarita in her hand and a dental floss bikini.
    “Just bring my stuff home with you and handle any business crap that comes up. I’m gonna hop a flight tomorrow to go visit my dad for a few days before returning home, you know how crazy he gets if I don’t check in. Maybe after that I’ll head down to Houston to see Swan.” She winced when I put some pressure on her ribs, but allowed me to feel for anything broken. “I know I’m never home, and I miss you too, but you should be happy you have a nomad for a roommate. Means you never have to put on a bra while you’re at home if you don’t want to.”
    Her cheeks lost color as I touched a sore spot and I hated having to watch her in pain. Fucking killed me that I couldn’t heal her. Satisfied nothing was broken, I leaned back and closed my eyes for a moment, exhaustion hitting me hard.
    She laughed and this time it had a real feel to it. “Fine, I’ll bring you back those coffee cups you love. Don’t worry about setting me up with a hotel in Houston, I’ve got my ID and credit card with me so I’m good.”
    After a long goodbye, Sarah hung up and visibly sagged. I pulled her against me as gently as I could, leaning back on my arms. “Come here, put your head down.”
    Her shoulders firmed and she lifted her head slowly. “I’m okay.”
    “Just relax. I’ve got you.”
    “Beach?”
    I glanced down at her. “Yeah?”
    “Thanks for uh, holding me and stuff back there. I’m sorry I lost it.”
    “Hey, none of that shit. You got nothing to be ashamed of. You saved my worthless fuckin’ life, ain’t nothing weak about you. Nothing.”
    “Okay,” she whispered back, soft and