‘Yeah, well, you’re pretty darn good yourself.’ Not the last word in eloquence but she didn’t expect that from him.
‘What the heck did you say to Dad?’ Brett stormed out of the waiting room. ‘He just ordered me to go home and take Mom with me. Claimed he’ll get more rest without us hovering over him.’
Hunter fought back a smile. His father had taken Laura’s advice seriously.
‘That’s my fault.’ Laura reiterated her professional opinion.
‘Fair enough, I suppose.’ Brett conceded. ‘The hospital can call us if there’s any change in his condition. Will you take Mom on home with you, bro?’ He checked his watch. ‘If I get my skates on, I might catch the kids before they go to bed.’
‘Yeah, no problem.’ Talk about being foiled. There’d be no creeping around in the night sleeping next door to his insomniac mother. A brainwave struck him. ‘I expect Laura will be messed up with jet lag in the morning so why don’t you collect Mom after breakfast and bring her back here? We’ll visit Dad later in the day.’ Hunter sensed Laura’s amusement.
‘Fine.’ Brett fixed his gaze on Laura. ‘I’ll leave you to explain the plan to Mom. Good night.’
‘Devious man.’ Laura muttered as his brother hared off down the corridor. ‘He is such a lawyer.’
They burst out laughing because what else was there to do?
* * *
She struggled to focus on the luminous red numbers and decided they were a nine and two zeros without any clue whether it was morning or night time. A few more brain cells stirred, helping her to decide that sunlight wouldn’t be streaming in through the window this late in the evening in February.
‘Are you awake? I’ve got breakfast for you,’ Hunter called from outside the bedroom door.
‘Come on in. You know I never turn down food.’
‘Hope you won’t turn me down either.’ He sauntered in carrying a loaded tray.
‘Is your mother around?’
‘She’s safely at the hospital driving my dad crazy again.’ Setting down the tray he stripped off his T-shirt and sweatpants,pulled back the fluffy pink-and-white duvet and slipped in next to her. ‘Do you want to eat first or . . .?’
‘Still the smooth charmer I see. I notice you left the other option to my imagination.’
‘You’ve got a good one.’
Laura snuggled into him and ran her fingers down his warm, solid chest.
‘Did I tell you last night how happy I am you came?’
‘Yes, but I’m more than fine with letting you prove it right now.’
‘Yes ma’am.’
Next thing she lay flat on her back with Hunter braced over her, settling himself in such a way as to leave his happiness in no doubt. A while later she decided sex was the best jet lag cure ever.
‘Oh Lord, you should come with a danger sign ‘round your neck.’ He rolled off her, gasping for breath.
‘So, asking for more would be greedy and . . . possibly lethal?’
‘Honey, I’ll give it my best shot but—’
‘—I’m teasing.’ The flash of relief in his eyes made her giggle. ‘You’ve turned my bones to jelly and I’m not sure I’ll be able to move this side of Christmas.’
Hunter gently prodded her all over. ‘Bones are still intact.’ He slid a hand over her breast and the shivering sweep of his fingers made her skin tingle. ‘On the other hand, I might’ve been a bit quick to reject your idea.’
She glanced downwards. ‘I’ve created a monster. Sorry but you’ll have to holdthatthought until later. I’m starving.’
‘Fair enough, I’ll give you a break.’ Hunter grimaced at the abandoned food. ‘That’s not fit to eat now. How about you have a shower while I fix a fresh round?’
