LOVE ME TENDER: Ryker Falls Series Read online

  “I hate you.” He could barely hear the whispered words as he bent to slip his hands beneath her thighs and pick her up. She was shaking so hard he could feel it through her entire body. This was about more than a concussion; this was a reaction to fear, plain and simple, and he had firsthand knowledge of fear and what it could do to you if you let it take root.

  “Ungrateful is what you are, Rosebud, and me being a good Samaritan and all.”

  “I can walk,” were the next words out of her mouth, which made him snort. She was shaking and her breathing was now a rasp. “I have to tell you something.” Her head lay on his chest as he walked toward the doors.

  “I’m listening.”

  “I’m scared of doctors, hospitals, clinics, needles, and anything to do with all of the above.”

  “No kidding.”

  “F-fuck you, McBride.”

  “That took me straight back to twelfth grade.”

  “Pl-please, don’t make me go in there,” she whispered.

  He looked down at her and the terror in her eyes made something jolt inside him.

  “They’re good people in here, Rosebud. They’ll be gentle, I promise.”

  Her good hand suddenly grabbed a fistful of his shirt. “Don’t think I can do this.”

  “Trust me.”

  She tilted her head back to look up at him as he opened the doors. “Why?”

  “Because I give you my word that no one inside these walls will harm you in any way.” He’d said the words solemnly, almost as if they were an oath.

  “I’ll try.” After that, she rested her head on his chest again, but didn’t relax any. In fact, the knuckles on the fist she had in his shirt were white.

  “This is my favorite shirt, O'Donnell. You rip it, you buy a new one.”

  “It smells.”

  “Sweat, baby, pure and natural essence of McBride.”

  Using the hand under her to turn the handle, Jake nudged the door with his foot and walked inside. He put Branna in one of the waiting room chairs, the one furthest from the doors in case she got the urge to make a run for it, and then made his way up to the reception desk.

  A Promise Of Home

  Other Books By Wendy Vella

  Contemporary Romances

  The Lake Howling Series

  A Promise Of Home

  The Texan Meets His Match

  How Sweet It Is

  It Only Took You

  Don’t Look Back

  A Long Way Home

  The Ryker Falls Series

  Somebody To Love

  From This Moment

  Love Me Tender

  Historical Romances

  Regency Rakes Series

  Duchess By Chance

  Rescued By A Viscount

  Tempting Miss Allender

  The Langley Sisters Series

  Lady In Disguise

  Lady In Demand

  Lady In Distress

  The Lady Plays Her Ace

  The Lady Seals Her Fate

  The Raven & Sinclair Series

  Sensing Danger

  Seeing Danger

  Touched By Danger

  Scent Of Danger

  Vision Of Danger

  The Lords Of Night Street Series

  Lord Gallant

  Lord Valiant

  Lord Valorous

  Lord Noble

  Stand-Alone Titles

  The Reluctant Countess

  Christmas Wishes

  The Earl’s Encounter

  Mistletoe and The Marquess