Read Online The Valentine's Dare (The Sycamore Serial Book 1) by Nicolette Owens - Free Book Online
Authors: Nicolette Owens
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a picture of it to prove they found it when the team returned to base camp.
“Lean on my as much as you want,” Mason said, propping her up comfortably. “I can take it.
“Got it.”
They hobbled down the rest of the hill together. Thankfully the ground here wasn’t as steep, and Sycamore house was closer to the quarry than most of the others houses.
His warmth against her, the smell of him so close, was enough to heat her cheeks and turn her thoughts in frantic circles. Mason smelled of some tangy, citrus scent, from his cologne or aftershave. Why couldn’t he be stinky from all the running we’ve done all day? His muscles flexed around her, holding her up and keeping her safe.
Soon enough they were standing in the courtyard of Sycamore house, the four stories of historic brick looming above their heads.
“I have a first aid kit in my apartment,” Mason said. “We should get some ice and maybe even a brace on that.”
“If you think we can make it up four flights of stairs.”
He grinned, taking the challenge in stride. “If you’re asking me to pick you up, I’m more than happy to oblige.”
“You don’t have to-“
But he did, swinging his arms under her legs and swooping her up like a traditional husband with a new bride. The world swam and swirled for a moment, and then she was laughing as he walked her into the building and headed towards the stairs. God save me from this boy.
“Don’t drop me!”
“Never,” Mason promised, taking the stairs one at a time. “Though I may collapse completely once we get upstairs.”
“It’d be ironic if you hurt your ankle helping me out with my ankle.”
“Sweet poetry,” he agreed as they reached the top of the first flight of stairs. “One down, three to go.”
A girl passed them on her way down the stairs, giving Kierra a “WTF are you doing” look that made her blush.
“This is silly,” she said, wiggling in his arms. “I can make it on my own.”
“Nope. I’m not done yet.” Securing his grip on her, Mason continued to carry Kierra up the flights of stairs.
The rest of their arduous journey passed in complete silence, Kierra’s heart beating so loud she swore he should’ve been able to hear it. She could certainly hear his, which was straining to keep up with the physical exertion of carrying her up so many steps.
Finally, they reached the top, and Mason gently put her down. Kierra kept her arms around his neck, gingerly placing her foot on the ground to test how it took her weight. Not at all, as it turned out; wincing, she picked it back up.
“Don’t worry, I gotcha,” Mason said softly, taking up her weight with his shoulder and helping her hobble down the hallway. “Just a little bit further and then we’ll get that thing iced.”
“Thanks so much for this,” Kierra said, realizing that she hadn’t thanked him yet. “Really, thank you.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
They reached his room, and Kierra eased as much of her weight off of him as she could, despite the twinge that emanated from her ankle at the movement. “I got it from here,” she said.
“If you say so.” He opened the door and she stepped confidently through, ignoring her little limp. “It looks like you’re limping.”
Kierra made it to the couch and flopped down, sighing as the pressure eased off the sprain. “Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Yeah,” he said, ducking down the hallway and out of sight, “I would say that’s true.”
“I just can’t believe I hurt myself so easily.” She grumbled. “What a klutz.”
“It could’ve happened to anyone,” he called from around the corner. “I almost fell down the hill myself.”
Kierra snorted at that idea. He didn’t even come close. She knew that he was trying to make her feel better, though, and it warmed her heart - which was, in and of itself, dangerous. Freeze back up, heart of mine.
But like Anna after Elsa’s kiss, her heart insisted on
“Lean on my as much as you want,” Mason said, propping her up comfortably. “I can take it.
“Got it.”
They hobbled down the rest of the hill together. Thankfully the ground here wasn’t as steep, and Sycamore house was closer to the quarry than most of the others houses.
His warmth against her, the smell of him so close, was enough to heat her cheeks and turn her thoughts in frantic circles. Mason smelled of some tangy, citrus scent, from his cologne or aftershave. Why couldn’t he be stinky from all the running we’ve done all day? His muscles flexed around her, holding her up and keeping her safe.
Soon enough they were standing in the courtyard of Sycamore house, the four stories of historic brick looming above their heads.
“I have a first aid kit in my apartment,” Mason said. “We should get some ice and maybe even a brace on that.”
“If you think we can make it up four flights of stairs.”
He grinned, taking the challenge in stride. “If you’re asking me to pick you up, I’m more than happy to oblige.”
“You don’t have to-“
But he did, swinging his arms under her legs and swooping her up like a traditional husband with a new bride. The world swam and swirled for a moment, and then she was laughing as he walked her into the building and headed towards the stairs. God save me from this boy.
“Don’t drop me!”
“Never,” Mason promised, taking the stairs one at a time. “Though I may collapse completely once we get upstairs.”
“It’d be ironic if you hurt your ankle helping me out with my ankle.”
“Sweet poetry,” he agreed as they reached the top of the first flight of stairs. “One down, three to go.”
A girl passed them on her way down the stairs, giving Kierra a “WTF are you doing” look that made her blush.
“This is silly,” she said, wiggling in his arms. “I can make it on my own.”
“Nope. I’m not done yet.” Securing his grip on her, Mason continued to carry Kierra up the flights of stairs.
The rest of their arduous journey passed in complete silence, Kierra’s heart beating so loud she swore he should’ve been able to hear it. She could certainly hear his, which was straining to keep up with the physical exertion of carrying her up so many steps.
Finally, they reached the top, and Mason gently put her down. Kierra kept her arms around his neck, gingerly placing her foot on the ground to test how it took her weight. Not at all, as it turned out; wincing, she picked it back up.
“Don’t worry, I gotcha,” Mason said softly, taking up her weight with his shoulder and helping her hobble down the hallway. “Just a little bit further and then we’ll get that thing iced.”
“Thanks so much for this,” Kierra said, realizing that she hadn’t thanked him yet. “Really, thank you.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
They reached his room, and Kierra eased as much of her weight off of him as she could, despite the twinge that emanated from her ankle at the movement. “I got it from here,” she said.
“If you say so.” He opened the door and she stepped confidently through, ignoring her little limp. “It looks like you’re limping.”
Kierra made it to the couch and flopped down, sighing as the pressure eased off the sprain. “Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Yeah,” he said, ducking down the hallway and out of sight, “I would say that’s true.”
“I just can’t believe I hurt myself so easily.” She grumbled. “What a klutz.”
“It could’ve happened to anyone,” he called from around the corner. “I almost fell down the hill myself.”
Kierra snorted at that idea. He didn’t even come close. She knew that he was trying to make her feel better, though, and it warmed her heart - which was, in and of itself, dangerous. Freeze back up, heart of mine.
But like Anna after Elsa’s kiss, her heart insisted on
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