“What?The world doesn’t stop turning because my head hurts.”
“Your head doesn’t just hurt.You look like someone took a sledgehammer to your skull.”
“You really need to work on your pillow talk,” Bryn said.“Although I have to admit, the whole protective alpha wolf thing does have its appeal.”
Gunnar’s ears flushed a becoming shade of pink.“This isn’t about…that’s not what this is.”
“Isn’t it?”Bryn leaned back in his seat with a satisfied smirk.“Face it, wolfie, you like taking care of me.”
“That’s not why I’m…” Gunnar stopped, seeming to realize he was being baited.“You’re changing the subject.”
“I’m pointing out that your protective instincts are showing.Which is sweet, by the way, even if it is completely unnecessary.”
The light turned green and Gunnar accelerated, his jaw set in that way that meant he was trying not to say something he’d probably regret.
“Look,” Bryn said.“I get it.Seeing me in pain bothers you.But it comes with the territory, and I need you to trust that I know my own limits.”
“Do you, though?”
“Excuse me?”
“Know your limits, because from where I’m sitting, you have a tendency to push through things that would sideline most people.”
“That’s not always a bad thing.”
“It is when it puts you at risk.”
“Everything we do puts us at risk.That’s the job.”
“This is different.”
“How?”
“Because…” Gunnar struggled for the words.“Because I can’t protect you from what happens inside your own head.”
And there it was.The real issue, laid bare between them.Bryn studied Gunnar’s profile, noting the tension in his shoulders, the way his knuckles were white where he gripped the steering wheel.
“Hey,” he said.“Look at me.”Gunnar glanced over, and Bryn was struck by the genuine worry in his eyes.“I’m okay,” Bryn said.“Really.Yes, that reading was rough.Yes, my head feels like it’s been used as a soccer ball.But I’m okay, and I’m going to stay okay.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“No, I can’t.But I can promise that I’m not going to take stupid risks to prove a point.”Bryn reached over and squeezed Gunnar’s arm.“And I can promise that if I ever feel like I’m in over my head, I’ll tell you.”
Gunnar’s expression remained skeptical.
“I will,” Bryn insisted.“Cross my heart and hope to die.”
“Don’t even joke about that.”
“Sorry.How about scout’s honor instead?But I appreciate that you worry about me.Even if you do go a little overboard sometimes.”
“A little?”
“Okay, a lot.Like walk the plank and do a bit of keelhauling a lot.But it comes from a good place, and that means something.”
They pulled up in the alley at the back of the GCR building.Someone would be out to take their vehicle to the GCR’s garaging so they left it where it was.Gunnar punched in the access code at the security panel on the gate.“Come on, smart ass.Let’s get you inside before you collapse on the sidewalk.”
“I’m not going to…” Bryn started to protest, then caught the look on Gunnar’s face.“Fine.But I’m not going straight to bed like an invalid.”
