Wait for Me / Trust in Me by Samantha Chase Read Free Book Online Page A

some sleep.”
    Emma hummed a response and Lucas walked over to the fire to add another log from the bedroom side, watching as the flames roared to life again. A quick glance at the lounge beside the fire had him rethinking his plan for the evening. His knee had a dull ache and really, he’d pushed himself too hard today. As much as Emma needed his attention, he needed to spend a little less time walking around as well.
    She was already back to sleep and Lucas walked out to the living room, grabbed his phone, and shut out the lights. Back in the bedroom, he grabbed a T-shirt and a pair of flannel pajama pants and went into the bathroom to change. Once he was done, he got comfortable on the lounge, set the alarm again, and finally let himself sleep.

Chapter 4
    They repeated that routine three more times before Emma had realized that Lucas was sleeping on the lounge by the fire not five feet from her. Good thing she hadn’t noticed earlier, otherwise she would never have gone back to sleep.
    From her spot on the bed, she watched him settle back in on the lounge. “Have you been sleeping there all night?” she finally asked.
    â€œPretty much,” he said wearily.
    â€œWhy? I mean, you said you were going to sleep on the couch.”
    Lucas growled lowly and sat up and faced Emma. “This was just easier, Emma. I’m not used to having to get up every two hours, so I thought I’d make it easier on myself and sleep here.” His tone was sharp and he didn’t care. There was no way he was going to admit to Emma or to anyone that the real reason was because his knee wasn’t strong enough to get him from one room to the next.
    â€œOh,” she said and quietly lay back down, turning her back on him.
    That one act caused a mountain of guilt. Lucas sighed and scrubbed a hand across his face before gently calling out to Emma. When she rolled over and looked at him, her eyes sad and wary, he felt even worse. “I didn’t mean to snap at you,” he began. “I guess you were right last night about my social graces or whatever. I’m not a morning person and just a little out of sorts.” He offered her a small smile and was rewarded when she returned it with one of her own.
    â€œI’m sorry I’ve disrupted your life so much, Lucas. Believe me, this is a far cry from where I thought I’d be this weekend.”
    â€œIt’s not your fault.” He knew who was responsible, but stopped himself from telling her. “It’s still dark out, why don’t you go back to sleep.”
    â€œWhat about you?”
    â€œI plan on going back to sleep. Like I said, it’s still dark out.”
    Emma sighed but didn’t move.
    â€œWhat’s the matter? Is your head bothering you? Do you need something for it?”
    â€œNo, it’s just that—”
    â€œAre you thirsty?”
    â€œNo, I’m just—”
    â€œIs your ankle bothering you?”
    â€œNo, no, that feels fine, I think—”
    â€œAre you cold? Because I can put another log on the fire.”
    â€œLucas!” she cried out with exasperation.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œStop asking so many damn questions for crying out loud and let me answer one!” Emma sat up and took a deep breath before facing him. “I’m a little weirded out by the situation.”
    â€œWeirded out? What the hell does that even mean?”
    â€œIt means that I can’t go back to sleep now, knowing that you’re over there watching me sleep.”
    Lucas rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t watching you sleep, Emma,” he lied. “I just didn’t want to keep going back and forth throughout the night. This was easier.”
    She looked at him with disbelief. “It’s fine, it’s not like I thought you were being creepy or anything…”
    â€œCreepy?” he chuckled.
    â€œYes, creepy.”
    â€œHow would taking care of you and making