He pecks the tip of my nose. “Oh yeah. I never got the chance to do that for you. Like a proper date where we hold hands and flirt. Fancy attire, music, candlelight, expensive food, dancing—the works. I would tell you how pretty you look and open doors for you like a gentleman. All in the hopes of getting in your pants later, of course.” He winks at me, his grin showing the dimple on his left cheek that would always make me swoon.
This man. The shit he’s been through that should’ve erased any boyish charm left in him. Yet, here he is, teasing and flirting with me as if we were teenagers again with hearts in our eyes. If we weren’t both so injured right now, I’d be crawling all over his dick.
“I’d rather lie under the maple tree and count the stars at our place in the park,” I tell him.
He lightly kisses me again. “I can do that. Andie, there’s something—”
“Safe to enter?”
I’m lying on my side facing the door, so I see when it cracks open and Tessa pokes her head inside, her hands covering her eyes.
“Put your damn hand down, drama queen.”
“You never know with you,” she comments, and Rafe’s eyebrows raise to his hairline. There’s a lot I need to tell him, but not right now.
She walks over and slides into bed with us, snuggling on the other side of me, and I’m grateful I’m in a California King or else it would get very uncomfortable with the three of us smooshed together.
“So this is what it’s like,” she comments. “Except there’d be two guys. Sorry, babe. You’re badass sexy and all, but…”
Even though she can’t see my face, I roll my eyes.
“Seeing as Rafe hasn’t answered me, where are the guys?” I ask her.
“Ummm… Liam is outside with Declan.”
“It’s nothing for you to worry about right now,” Rafe intercedes. “The important thing is for you to rest. All that other shit will still be there when you’re healed and stronger.”
The lighthearted banter from minutes ago dissipates quickly into the ether as reality comes tumbling back. I don’t need to rest or heal. I don’t need coddling or protecting. I need vengeance.
“How long was I out?”
Tessa rests her hand on my hip. “About three hours.”
Oh, thank fuck. Only a few hours.
“Would you mind giving us a moment?” Declan says, entering the bedroom.
I have a feeling that my room is going to be a revolving door of people for the unforeseeable future.
“Pearson wants to check your bandage,” he says to Rafe. Tessa gets up and offers her arm to help him get out of the bed.
“Want some homemade biscuits and molasses for breakfast?” Rafe asks me.
“Hell, yes.” My smile is genuine, even though my heart is cracking in two as I look at Declan.
“Oh, dear God,” Tessa bemoans.
“Hey, you said you liked it now,” I remind her.
She purses her lips together. “I lied. It was the only way to get you to shut up about it.”
I decide the pain of throwing my pillow at her is worth it.
When they’re finally gone, Declan stands just inside the room, his reading glasses hanging from his shirt, his hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers. It’s a stance he often takes, and I find that I like it. He looks very fatherly.
“How are you feeling?”
I force myself to sit up. “Better.”
