‘Yeah.You?’
He didn’t answer.Why lie or bore her with his list of aches and pains he’d rather ignore?
‘Sawyer?’
‘Chilling in the morgue.’
And then came that long pause that hung between them.
Frankly, he was too tired to fill it.
If she wanted nothing from him, so be it.
Then Amara stood and limped a few steps closer to stop right in front of him, her delicate floral soap scent laced with summery peach teased him.
‘I told Finn…’ She licked those sinful lips.‘How it was me—’
He groaned as he eyeballed the ceiling.‘Montrose, I went to a lot of trouble to cover your arse.’
‘You don’t need to.I don’t want to be a burden—even though you carried me home.You were a hero today.’
‘Eh?’He looked at her intently.‘Are you on any medications?’
‘No.I’ve never been thinking clearer, not only about the job, but about you.’She tapped the back of her hand against his chest.
‘Ow… Sunburn.’
‘Sorry.’Her hands hovered over his chest like she was standing before a stove, scared she’d get burned—yet she wanted to touch him, as if willing to take that risk.
This was progress.
She gazed up at him, never looking more vulnerable.‘I’ve never had someone fight for me like you did.No one has ever taken care of me like that.And I just wanted you to know… that…’
‘What?’
‘Um… You know…’
‘No.’He shook his head, keeping a straight face.‘How about you enlighten me?’
She hesitated, chewing on that plump bottom lip as if stalling.
Come on, Montrose, you can say it.
‘I care about you.A lot.’
He arched a brow.‘That’s it.’
‘I care—’
‘Like how you’d care for some puppy you saw on social media?Or that vintage handbag you got on sale?’
‘I’m being serious.It’s more than that.’
He stepped back, rolling his eyes.‘Is this some ploy to make me reduce your rent now?’
She scowled.
Porter grinned.
