“You’ll have a few strategies, I’m sure. I’ll bob in and see you later. In the meantime, rest.” He gave a last smile, signed something on the clipboard and left the room.
“We’re going away for a few days,” I said, my arms folded. “Two reasons. It gets you out of the way from Dean Lacey. And you rest. Get some sea air.”
“Ireland?” she said.
“No. Nick’s taking the twins and Katie there and we both agree it’s better for you not to be near each other. Cornwall.” I moved closer to her now and sat on the bed next to her. She looked incredibly tired and her head was a mess where she’d caught it. The bruising and swelling now starting to bloom like a poisonous flower.
“Why Cornwall?”
“We lived there as kids. There’s a cottage we have that’s usually rented out for holidaymakers, but my folks have kept it vacant this year for Nick if he wants to go and for themselves. It needed some work doing on it. We can go there,” I said, touching the side of her face with my finger. Her eyes welled up with wetness. “I know you’d rather be working but this seems logical. It’ll give you time to recover too and you won’t need to have a shadow with you everywhere you go.”
“Maybe the shadow’s alright,” she said, sounding sleepy.
The door opened and Jackson entered with a couple of bags, one from McDonald’s. “I brought food for both of you. Sorry it’s not healthier but it was fast. A thousand or so calories for you, K and a sandwich and some chocolate for the sleeping wounded. What’s the plan?”
Claire reiterated what the doctor had said. “Is Marie sure about overseeing the department and my caseload?” she said at the end.
“I think she’s looking forward to it. You know she’s more than capable, Claire. And dad’s driving her mad with all the winery talk so this is a bit of a win-win. It’s for a couple of weeks,” Jackson said, passing me the bags. I pulled out the sandwich he’d gotten for Claire and passed it to her then attacked the burger. “Where are you heading off to?”
“Tintagel, or just outside,” I said. “My parents have a holiday cottage there.”
“Nice. Let me know when it’s free and I might have it for a week for me and Vanessa. I thought I was a workaholic until I met her.” He rolled his eyes and then yawned. “I’m off. I have a meeting in the morning that I can’t cancel and then Hurricane Marie to deal with. Get well, sis. And Killian,” he glared at me. “Take care of my fucking sister.” He pecked Claire’s cheek and made for the door.
“You know I will,” I said, my eyes firmly fixed on the woman in the bed. At the moment, taking care of Claire was the only priority I had.
Chapter Fifteen
Claire
No hangover had ever compared to the throbbing I felt in my head as I woke up. I stretched a hand out to my side, remembering where there was a glass of water but couldn’t turn my head to see exactly where it was.
“Here,” Killian’s voice soothed me, and I saw the glass come into my line of sight. He lifted it to my lips and waited until I had grasped it and could take small sips, the cool liquid automatically doing something to help the pain.
“The nurse is coming back in a minute to give you some more painkillers. You’re overdue for them which is probably why you look like a ghost.”
“Thanks,” I said, trying to glare at him.
“You’re still beautiful though.”
“Such a charmer.” He wasn’t blurry and I didn’t feel sick, both of which I knew were positives, I just hope the doctor saw it that way as I wanted to go home. I detested hospitals, although I’d been fortunate to not have to spend much time in any.
The nurse did come back soon and issued more painkillers. There was also talk of the doctor making an appearance and they wanted to see how I was walking. I’d been on my feet a couple of times to use the bathroom and that hadn’t gone too badly, so I was fairly sure I’d be released into freedom soon.
“Why don’t you look tired?” I said, taking in the man who seemed unable to leave my side.
“I’ve had a good five hours,” Killian said. “I can function fine on less, trust me.”
I did. Trust him. This mountain of a man with his broad, broad shoulders and steadfast manner made me feel as if I had everything I needed.
I burst into tears.
“Fuck, Claire,” he came over and sat down next to me. “What’s the matter? I can deal with a couple of terrorists but not you crying.”
I put my throbbing head on his chest and controlled my sobs, knowing full well that they’d only make my head hurt more. “Nothing and everything. I want to go home and I want my mum.”
“Marie’s going meet us after either here or at mine. She’s at the office at the moment,” he said, holding me into his chest. He smelled of cedar and musk, still wearing the same shirt he had on for the awards. He’d spent all night in the room with me. When I’d woken briefly, he’d sensed it, helping me out of the bed and to the bathroom, concerned I was about to fall over or faint. I hadn’t done either, the only real effect from being tackled to the ground the deep gash in my head and the throbbing, incessant headache.
“I’m sorry.”
