“Stop it,” Bryn said without opening his eyes.
“Stop what?”
“The mother hen routine.I can hear you fretting from here.”
“That reading took a lot out of you.More than usual.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.You could barely stand up straight back there.”
Bryn cracked one eye open to glare at him.“I walked out of there under my own power, didn’t I?”
“Just about, and you’re still white as chalk.”
“It’s winter in Boston.Everyone’s pale.”Bryn shifted in his seat, wincing at the movement.“Besides, you’ve seen me after difficult readings before.”
“Not like this one.Her emotions were that intense?”
“Grief and rage make for a potent combination,” Bryn admitted.“Plus the whole cold, calculated murder thing.It was like reading someone who’s simultaneously on fire and made of ice.”
“Maybe you should take the rest of the day off.”
Bryn’s opened his other eye.“Absolutely not.”
“Bryn…”
“Don’t ‘Bryn’ me.I said I’m fine.”
“And I’m saying you’re not.”Gunnar’s voice had that stubborn edge that Bryn knew meant he was digging his heels in.“When’s the last time a reading left you looking like you went three rounds with a prizefighter?Even Bell commented on it.Twice.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere, wolf boy.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.I’m devastatingly handsome even when I’m suffering from post-read trauma.It’s a gift.”
Gunnar made an exasperated sound.“You’re impossible.”
“And you’re being overprotective.Again.”Bryn turned to face him, ignoring the way the movement made his head throb.“I appreciate the concern, really, but I don’t need to be wrapped in cotton wool every time I do my job.”
“Your job doesn’t usually involve diving into the minds of homicidal Russian crime family members.”
“My job involves diving into the minds of all sorts of unpleasant people.It’s literally what I do.”
“This was different and you know it.”
Bryn was quiet for a moment, considering.“Yeah, okay, it was different.Her intent was…vivid.But that doesn’t mean I’m about to keel over.”
“The headache?”
“Will pass.It always does.”
Gunnar pulled up to a red light and turned to look at him.“Promise me you’ll rest when we get back.No more file reading, no more research projects with Emmett.”
“I can’t promise that.We still have work to do.”
Gunnar growled.
