“We’ll do what we can to track them both down, but if anything comes to mind, you let me know. In the meantime, you two focus on healing, got it?”
After Roberts and Hanson left, Milo leaned in close and whispered, “Ford’s got the hots for you. Maybe we should make out for a bit, just in case he peeks in here.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Mm-hmm. The day of the bomb threat, I thought he was going to ask for your number right in front of me.”
I rolled my eyes and cuddled back against him. “Unfortunately for him, I’m pretty into this guy I’m seeing. Maybe you know him. Tall, broad shoulders, amazing in bed…”
Milo’s arms, warm and snug around me, tightened ever so slightly, then I felt his lips brush my temple. I could deal with the narrow hospital bed and the constant checks from nurses, because this, right here, was exactly where I wanted to be.
Bythatafternoon,wewere settled back at Milo’s house. His brothers had parked his car back in the driveway and his parents chauffeured us home—after completely restocking his kitchen full of more groceries than we would need for a month.
“Snow’s coming next week,” Tucker said when Milo looked at them in question.
Terry squeezed us both tight. “Better safe than sorry, right? Besides, now you won’t have to go out anytime soon.”
We stood at the door and waved as they left, though I ended up crouched beside Milo so I could give Jiji some love after our absence. The family had been by to take care of him, but he seemed overjoyed at having us back.
“Aren’t cats supposed to hold grudges?” I asked, rubbing his soft cheeks.
“Not this one,” Milo muttered. He helped me to my feet and lifted the cat into his arms. “Jiji would never be so cruel.”
Both stores were officially closed until Tuesday at the earliest, and I wasn’t sure the impending snowstorm was a bad thing. Staying holed up with Milo at his house while he recovered sounded kind of ideal. He needed to rest, and I needed to remind myself that he was okay after this ordeal.
Eventually, I’d also have to process my intense relief at the fact that nothing from my past was responsible for his injuries. I still couldn’t quite believe it, but after hearing his full account of what transpired at Dueling Dragons, I was unable to cling to the guilt that had plagued me for weeks.
“C’mon, let’s get you into bed.”
His eyes danced behind the glasses his parents had brought to the hospital. “Okay, but you’ll have to do all the work.”
“No one is doing any work, Casanova. You’re supposed to avoid all physical exertion for another twenty-four hours.”
Milo groaned. “Fine, but I’m only staying in bed if you’re there with me.”
“I think I can tolerate that.”
A slow smile lit his face as he set Jiji on the back of the couch and slid his arms around my waist. Despite my warning glare, he lowered his face so our lips were barely a millimeter apart. It took an enormous amount of effort not to close the distance.
“I’m not sure I thanked you yet for saving my life,” he whispered.
My body jolted. “You don’t have to—”
“I absolutely fucking do. Thank you, Eden.”
My response caught in my throat, wedged there like marbles, so all I could manage was a tight nod. Milo understood, though. He dropped his mouth to mine, coaxing and sweet, like he could pull the words free. By the time he lifted his head, I was pretty sure he’d succeeded.
“Are you hungry?” he asked out of the blue.
I blinked away the daze of his kisses. “I am, yes.”
“Good, Mom said there’s a couple plates of cold chicken and potato salad in the fridge. Let’s eat and then we’ll both get into bed.”
Jiji sat on the table beside our plates, waiting for one of us to offer him tiny shreds of chicken as penance for being gone all night. Aside from the bruising on his face, Milo looked better now that he was home—less wan, more alert. I tried very hard not to think about the impact of one of those hefty statues against his head, but every so often, my imagination betrayed me.
I must have flinched at the thought, because he reached over and grasped my hand across the table.
“Look at me. I’m alive. We’re safe. No one else got hurt. The fire was contained before it spread into Garden of Delights, though Maverick said the inner wall had a bit of damage on my side. It’ll all be taken care of.”
