My brother’s reply was instantaneous.Looks clean.
But looks could be deceiving. I wasn’t in the military like mybrother, and as much as I prided myself on being able to take care of my own, obviously, I had some catching up to do.
“Liam, I swear to God, I’m going to kick your ass and send you back to the hospital!” Bailey shouted at me as she walked through the door. “What was so freaking important that you couldn’t wait for me?”
My time was up, and I hadn’t had time to search the place. I was going to have to send her out so I could go over every inch of the house.
“Nothing. Just tired of sitting around.”
Bags clattered to the floor as she dropped the multitude of items and walked over to me. “You know, you really suck at letting someone help you.”
“I’m aware.”
“I just wish you would let me take over. I have the rest of the week off—and before you tell me to go back, Wyatt has made it very clear I’m not allowed back in the shop until Monday. And since I was late, I don’t feel I have the right to argue with him, no matter how much I may want to.”
Sighing, I struggled to find any damn way to let her help, but I couldn’t settle down until I knew she was safe. Lowering my tired body onto the sofa, I rested my head back on the plump cushion.
“You know what I need?”
“Tell me.”
“Some of Ma’s homemade soup.”
“Okay, I’ll call her.”
As she pulled out her phone, I placed my hand over hers. “Can you go watch how she makes it?”
One eyebrow quirked high on her face as she held back her laughter. “Worried I can’t make you soup?”
“Not unless it’s from a can.”
The huff of laughter that escaped her lips for the first time since we left the hospital only made the pain in my chest sharper. What if I didn’t protect her and I never heard that laugh again?
What if she had been the one in her car yesterday? Would she havesurvived the crash? This was all down to me. If I didn’t protect her, she would end up a casualty of war.
A war none of us chose, but she especially had no part in.
“Fine, I see your point, but I don’t think I should leave you alone.”
Pulling out my phone that had been retrieved from the vehicle, I texted Jeff, telling him to get his ass over here. Then I turned it to show her.
“Happy?”
“You really want to get rid of me, don’t you?”
“I just want that chicken soup.”
Grinning, she pressed her lips to mine, brushing her nose playfully against mine. “You really scared me, you know?”
“I do my best to keep you on your toes.”
“Yeah, well…I don’t appreciate the heart attack just days after you finally decided to work up the courage to ask me to dance.”
The sincerity in her eyes was crushing. But it would have been worse if she’d been in that car. Better for her to be scared for me than dead. I could come back from this, but if I ever saw that fear in her eyes because someone was trying to hurt her, I’d never forgive myself.
“What can I get you before I go?”
“Uh…nothing. I’ll just hang out here.”
