Ever After by Heather McBride Read Free Book Online

back instantly. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the blood all over my hand. He looked at me, his face tense and hard. He seemed like he was suddenly angry. I felt a jolt of fear not understanding his reaction. He took a deep breath and looked away briefly.
     
    “Hate the sight of blood?” I tried to joke, but laughing hurt my ribs too much.
     
    “Yeah… something like that.” He swallowed hard, and gave me a weak smile. He seemed to be holding his breath as he removed his scarf quickly, and wrapped my head, so carefully it didn’t even hurt. “This should help.”
     
    “Thanks.”
     
    “I’m William Darcy.” He flashed a brilliant smile, and my heart did a flutter catching me completely off-guard. I thought my days of “fluttering” were over…well they never actually began truthfully.
     
    “Corrine Whitmore. Uh, I live just across the field.”
     
    “I know, our ever helpful real estate agent told us our new neighbors had a beautiful single daughter my age.” He smiled again, laughing.
     
    “She did?” I smiled.
     
    “Yes, she told me all of the girls who lived nearby in fact, by name and age. I figured she ran a dating service on the side or something.”
     
    “Oh… she’s just like that, just a really a nosy gossip.” I laughed. I tried to hide the fact that it hurt to do so. “Her daughter’s my best friend.” I smiled. “So I can say that.” He nodded still smiling. “I had heard someone moved in a few days ago.” He seemed puzzled as he looked at me just then.
     
    “I haven’t seen you at school. Are you in college?”
     
    I tensed at the question. I didn’t want to tell him why I wasn’t there, not yet anyway or maybe ever.
     
    “I’m doing some correspondence courses. We had some family things going on so I don’t go to classes right now, but I will be next semester.” I couldn’t chance this drop-dead gorgeous guy knowing I was a total nut job. I couldn’t believe I cared. Suddenly it felt like a light came on inside me, when I looked into his eyes. The fact William Darcy had his arms around me, smelled better than chocolate and made my stomach feel like butterflies got in it, did not make me want to run away. I could not even begin to explain it.
     
    He gave off a warm safe vibe. The way he looked into my eyes made me never want to leave. I had never expected to let any guy near me ever in my life after what Todd did. Now all that had suddenly changed.
     
    “I’m going to need to pick you up now. We can ride my horse back to your place; we can’t stay out here much longer. A storm is moving in fast and I think you need to see a doctor right away. The cut on the back of your head is very bad.” He looked around for my horse. “I’ll catch your horse and tie her to my saddle really quick and we can get you home.” He gently put me down. I watched him call to Windy and she came to him, which shocked me. She was fussy about people. I admired him for a second as he tied her up. He had on black leather riding boots and dark jeans with a black turtleneck. He looked like he stepped out of GQ magazine. I sighed. Maybe my luck was getting better… just maybe. I had spoken too soon though. Pain crept into my head again and it felt harder to breathe. William instantly somehow sensed my distress and knelt down swiftly, taking me in his arms.
     
     
     
     
     
    I didn’t even have time to think before he carried me to his horse, a really beautiful black thoroughbred. I had no idea how he got us up in the saddle so easily. He was very strong I guessed. I curled myself into his chest as the wind picked up. He pulled his coat tighter around me. He smelled so incredible, but it was hard to think of anything but the increasing pain in my stupid head.
     
    “If you’re in any pain let me know and we’ll stop for a sec. I’m not certain what other injuries you’ve got so try not to move much okay?”
     
    I nodded. No problem, I thought to myself. I didn’t want