“I think so, too. Come with me.”

He pulls me out of the lounge and into his arms and carries me toward the house.

“We need to talk.”

Chapter Twelve

~Matt~

I’m going to paddle her ass.

I stomp across Luke’s yard toward the house. Jesus, she took five years off my life back there. I haven’t been that scared in a long time, and I’m a fucking cop.

“I can walk,” she mutters with a pout, but I ignore her. “Did you hear me?”

“I heard.”

“Put me down,” she tries again, but I tighten my hold as I push open the sliding glass door and carry her into the formal dining room just off the kitchen and private from prying eyes outside. I set her down on the table and cage her in with my hands on either side of her hips.

“I thought you trusted me,” I begin, my voice low and hard.

Her green eyes widen before she frowns. “I do.”

“If you trust me, why didn’t I know before you almost passed out that you’re diabetic?”

“Because it isn’t a big deal!” she cries with an exasperated sigh.

“It is a big deal, Nicole, and let me tell you why.” I settle in closer to her so she has to look me in the eye. “It’s my job to take care of you. How can I do that if I don’t know what you need?”

“My diabetes is controlled very well, Matt.” She lays her hand on my arm reassuringly. “I’m very strict about what I eat. That’s why I don’t drink more than two alcoholic drinks at a time. No cupcakes or other sweets. I never want to be on meds ever again.”

“You were medicated?” I ask.

She nods. “In my early twenties, I was about fifty pounds overweight and didn’t care what I ate. Lots of sugar. I was on meds, and I finally decided that I didn’t want to live the next fifty years of my life that way. My ex-boyfriend, Ben, was a personal trainer, and he helped me.”

I stiffen at the mention of another man in her life, even if it was years ago. I don’t give a shit that it’s irrational. My emotions are all over the place right now.

I take a deep breath to reel myself back in and study her face.

“That’s when you got your navel pierced.”

She nods again. “It was a reward, like I told you.”

“Why did you never say anything, Nic? We’ve eaten together many times. I’ve asked you why you don’t eat your cupcakes more than once.”

“It’s nothing to be dramatic about.” She shrugs, and I see red.

“Your health is nothing to be dramatic about?” I push my hands in my hair and pace away from her, leaving her on the table. “I fucking scened with you at the club, Nicole. What if you’d had a diabetic episode while you were in my ropes?” Just the mere thought almost brings me to my knees. I wipe my hand over my mouth and turn back to her. “This could change everything about our sex life.”

“No!” she cries, her eyes wide in horror. “Matt, today is not the norm for me. I’m not fragile.”

“You’re everything!” I yell back. I lean back into her. Her head is tilted back, and she’s watching me with wide, emerald-green eyes. “Haven’t you figured that out? You’re everything. I’m in love with you. If anything happened to you, it would destroy me.”

I cup her face in my trembling hands. “You scared the fuck out of me out there, Nic. I didn’t know what was wrong. If I’d already known about the diabetes, I would have been able to do something, but you had my hands figuratively tied by not telling me. Yes, you’re strong and you have your life handled, but who the fuck takes care of you?”

She swallows hard and continues to watch my face.

“This is my fault,” I continue. “I never asked you if you had any medical conditions, and I should have. You’ve just had me so off balance since the moment I met you. You’re all I think about.”

“I’m sorry…”

“I’m not complaining, little one.” I swallow and lean my forehead against hers. “Being with you is exactly where I need to be, but it’s my job to make sure that your every need is met. I can’t do that if I’m out of the loop.”

“Matt.” She sighs and cups my face in her hands, strokes her fingers down my face, soothing me. “I wasn’t keeping it a secret. It’s something I’ve lived with for years, and I don’t usually have any problems. I didn’t tell you, not because I don’t trust you, but because I don’t want to be treated differently. I wasn’t thinking today, and I was stupid. I’m so sorry that I scared you.”

“You are different, baby. You’re so different for me that you’ve changed my life. What do you need? How do I help?”

“I don’t need anything.” She shakes her head and offers me a soft smile. “Really. Maybe another sandwich.”

“I can get you that.” I wrap my arms around her shoulders and hold her to me. “Is there anything else I need to know about your health?”

She stills, and I pull back, watching her face. “Tell me.”

“I have polycystic ovary syndrome,” she replies softly. “That’s why I’m on the pill.”

I don’t know what that means. “So the pill regulates that?”

She nods soberly. “Anything else?”

“There’s nothing else.”

“Nicole.”

“There’s nothing else,” she repeats firmly. “I’m not fragile, Matt. But if I’m ever not feeling well, I’ll tell you.”

“Is this why you had the headache last weekend?”

“No, I really did just have a headache.”

I sigh and rest my lips on her forehead, breathing her in. She’s so precious to me.

“How are you feeling now?”

“Better, but I’ll eat another sandwich and maybe drink another juice, and I’ll be just fine.”

“Okay.” I step back and help her off the table and lead her into the kitchen to grab a sandwich and some juice. “Do you want to go home?”

“No, there’s a party going on outside.” She grins at me. “A fun party with hot guys.”

“Really.”

She snickers, enjoying teasing me, and I maintain a sober face, letting her have her fun.

“Yeah, there’s a rock star and a hot football player here.”