Spurs and Heels Read Online Free PDF Page B

and Ash’s phone number because Evelyn called him directly. She asked him to let Juliana know that she should rest and not worry about the store, that she and Leah would see to it for her the following day.
    Juliana had accepted the message with a mute nod.
    Ash followed her directions to her house in one of the older, stately neighborhoods in town. Crape myrtles lined the sidewalk in front of her home, and his dually pickup dominated her narrow, concrete driveway as he pulled in and turned off the diesel engine.
    She noticed her Camaro parked in front of the garage door and realized someone must’ve brought it home for her.
    Juliana handed him her house key, and he unlocked the door then returned and lifted her out of the truck, holding her carefully. She felt tense and frail in his arms, not at all like the lively spitfire he’d handled earlier. Truth be told, he preferred the spitfire.
    Resting her head against his shoulder, Juliana allowed him to carry her into the house. He headed toward the back of the house down the hallway that led to her bedroom. A lamp on one side of the king-size bed dimly illuminated the room. She tensed up as he lowered her to the bed.
    “Are you hungry?” he asked as he squatted down. Her eyes were downcast, and she looked completely wiped out. He wondered how many hours of sleep she got on a regular basis.
    “No, my stomach feels queasy from the medication the doctor gave me. I think it wouldn’t be a good idea to eat and then lay down,”
    she murmured, holding her hand to her stomach. “Um, Ash?” She started to speak and then hesitated. She put her good hand to her forehead, as though she felt overwhelmed.

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    “What, darlin’?” he asked quietly, stroking the backs of her calves as he knelt there.
    “I think I’m going to need some help tonight.”
    “Sure, that’s why I came in. Whatever you need, I’ll help you with.”
    “I—um. I mean I need…shoot. I need help changing…into my nightgown. I can’t believe this is happening. I should’ve asked Grace or Teresa to come help me so I wouldn’t have to embarrass you like this. The cast is on my right hand, and I have stitches on my left middle finger from cutting it on the metal door. I can’t get my boots off, or unbutton my jeans, or even take off my bra. I need help, but…I’m sorry.” She burst into tears, sobbing like her heart was breaking, her head bowing on her shoulders. He reached for her but wound up putting his hands on her knees, feeling like it was the only safe place he could touch her and not chance hurting her.
    He leaned toward her on one knee, and she laid her cheek on his shoulder and wept as her body grew more and more tense. Ash became worried she’d tear her stitches, her sobs broke forth from her with such force.
    “Darlin’, you’re going to hurt yourself crying so hard. Please, it’s breaking my heart that you’re hurting so much. If you need my help changing, I don’t mind that. I’ll be a perfect gentleman, I promise.
    Tell me what you need.”
    “I need you to forgive me, Ash, for being such a bitch earlier. I should have my mouth washed out with soap. I feel so ashamed. I completely lost it with you, yelling at you like that in front of the other men, again . I can’t believe I talked to you like that. I promise it’ll never happen again.”
    “All cussed out?”
    He saw her attempt to smile. “Yeah, I’m all cussed out. My mother would be appalled at my mouth.”
    “You were in pain and a little pissed off. We were both upset. Can you forgive me for causing the accident? It was my fault.”

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    “Of course. It was an accident. I should’ve locked the door.”
    “Then I can forgive you, too. Was that what you were crying about? That was one hell of a dam bursting inside you over just a little cussing.”
    Juliana shrugged, wincing slightly at the movement. “I—I don’t know. It—I think it was everything, and it wasn’t a little cussing.”
    She wiped her