Pieces of the room slowly materialized. What looked like an explosion of beige with the odd slash of stainless steel. A monitor beeped out a steady rhythm behind him, a scratchy voice calling a code over a crappy speaker.
Bodie shifted his head to the right and froze. Feet tucked beneath her, her hair spilling down over her shoulders, Rowan looked like the perfect vision of his next sixty years curled up on a chair, her left hand cupped over his. Long lashes rested against porcelain skin, as she breathed evenly, the odd soft hum just reaching him.
He must have squeezed her fingers because she suddenly inhaled, bolted up. Her gaze met his, stayed as a genuine smile shaped her lips.
He smiled back, aware he could stare at her forever and never get tired. “Hey…”
Saying one word shouldn’t hurt that much. Like he’d swallowed glass.
Rowan tsked, grabbed some water and helped him take a sip. “Your throat’s probably sore from being intubated during surgery. It should clear up quickly. The incision, however…” She shuffled closer, brought his hand up to her mouth. “Don’t ever scare me like that, again.”
He drank more water, never taking his eyes off her. “Your dad?”
She brushed her thumb across the back of his hand. “Better. Still not talking, but he seems to understand more. Not sure how much he’ll regain, if he knows who I am, where he is, but he’s alive, thanks to you.”
He nodded, faded, blinking back a few minutes later.
Rowan sighed, got lover close. “You need to rest. I promise I’ll still be here when you wake up.”
Bodie smiled, closed his eyes, rousing a few more times before finally coming out of it a day later. The room looked sharper, every noise determined to grate on his nerves as he relaxed against the pillows Rowan had stacked behind him.
She still held his hand, the other gripping her cell as she talked quietly to her boss. She nodded, looked over and winked at him, then ended the call. “Man, that guy can talk.”
Bodie squeezed her hand. “Everything okay? It sounded serious.”
She snorted. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
“That’s not an answer.”
She sighed, and he knew she’d been holding something back. “With how this last case turned out, he thinks I should transfer to one of the busier divisions. That I’m wasting my time working low-rate cases in the more remote parks. Seems to enjoy reminding me I can move if I’d like.”
He stilled, his stomach dropping down to his knees before he faked a smile. “I can understand why he’d want you to work more high-profile investigations. Is that something you’re interested in?”
She scrunched up her face, looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “I’m exactly where I want to be, and my boss knows it. Which is why we have words every time he calls.” The corner of her mouth twitched. “Is that your subtle way of saying you want me to move?”
He grinned. Damn, he loved her. “Honestly? I do you want you to move.” He held on when she tried to yank her hand away. “But not farther away. In fact, I doubt you’re ready to hear exactly where I’d like you to stay.”
Rowan stilled, then shifted over, braced her hip against the bed as she leaned in close. “I don’t know, tiger. I might surprise you.”
He reached up, palmed her cheek. “You really are beautiful.”
He drew her in, slanted his mouth over hers. Savored the way she hummed as her hand landed on his chest. Right over where his heart thrashed beneath his skin. She did that to him. Broke through his defenses. Had him thinking about the future — how he wanted her in it. Permanently.
He rested her forehead against hers. “There is one problem, though. Seems you lied to me.”
Rowan frowned. “About what?”
“About me not remembering. Not even a second, I believe you said.”
Her eyes widened before she beamed at him. “I see. And do you? Remember?”
“Every second. Every word.”
“So, what’s the problem? That you remember? Or what I said?”
“The problem is that you promised to say it again, once I was fully coherent.” He tugged her down to him. “Not sure my mind’ll ever be clearer than it is, right now. You, here with me.”
“Not being hooked up to IVs might help…” She faded into laughter when he rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’m crazy about you.”
