“Regina?”
“Water,” I croaked.
He was out of bed in a shot, padding to the kitchen.
I sat up the instant his warmth receded and reality hit me.
I scrambled out of the bed and got the heck out of there.
I made it down the hall and to the door before strong arms wrapped around my body, pulling me back to the warm wall of Cole’s bare chest.
“Whoa, where do you think you’re going?”
“Let me go, Cole.” I struggled.
“Let’s get you back in bed.”
He hoisted me easily and I kicked.
“Let me go! I have to go!”
He sat me on the bed and handed me the water. Despite my desire to escape, I drank greedily.
“Where do you have to go?”
“To check my mom.”
“She’s with the night nurse.”
“Sometimes she wakes up though. Crying. And she always wants me.” I didn’t add that it was the only time she knew who I was.
He was silent while I finished the water.
“Do you want more?” he asked when I handed him the glass. I shook my head.
“Regina, do you wake up every night like this? Even when you were working?”
“Sometimes. Well, most nights, yes.”
“All right.” He sighed, sounding tired. “Let’s call Becky.”
“Becky?”
“The night nurse. I spoke with her earlier.”
I felt a little guilty because Cole sounded so tired. But I figured as a sheriff he was used to calls in the middle of the night.
Becky came on the line, sounding way more chipper than anyone had a right to be at 3 am. She assured me all was well.
“Does that make you feel better?” Cole asked as he ended the call.
“A little. No,” I started up, “I need to get home. Becky leaves at 7, and I need to arrange for someone to be there so I can find a job?—”
Once again, Cole caught me and pulled me to the bed. “Enough. It’s the middle of the night. You need sleep.”
“But Cole—” I struggled, sleep-fogged and upset. I really was tired.
“Enough. Keep this up and I’ll handcuff you to the bed,” he said in a firm enough tone that I believed him. “We’ll get to your mom’s house in time, I promise. Right now you need to rest.”
