“Bomb.” He turned and reached into the shower to turn the knob. Steam rose. “Give me a minute, okay?”
She faltered. “You’ll need help in the shower.”
“No. I just need a minute. You and I have a discussion coming, and I’m not ready.” His gaze held both pain and what looked like anger? “I could use about a hundred aspirin and a warm brandy, if you’re looking for something to do.”
“Okay.” She understood the need to gather oneself after an ordeal and ducked to retrieve his discarded clothing.
He lumbered into the dark-tiled shower, his usual grace gone. “Throw those away, would you? I don’t want to look at them again.”
It was a good thing, because the clothes were ruined. She hurried from the bathroom, threw away the clothing, and then warmed some brandy for him over the stove and heated a casserole from Pippa in the microwave. It was a healthy chicken, veggie, and noodle recipe that she made just for Wolfe, apparently.
The sky started to lighten outside. She wrung her hands and looked for something to do. Roscoe’s bowl was full, as was Kat’s, and both animals were sleeping on the sofa. Roscoe looked her way, apparently decided all was okay, and went back to sleep.
The microwave beeped and she took out the food before pouring the brandy into a tumbler. Then she fetched a glass of water from the fridge dispenser to place by the casserole along with the utensils. There was something else. Oh yeah. She reached for the closest cupboard and took out a bottle of aspirin to put by the plate.
Should she check on him? She didn’t want to overstep or tick him off any more than she already had. Betraying him to his team and then challenging him to a fight in the truck on the way home was as forward as she wanted to get. For now.
The AC hummed to life just as he walked into the kitchen wearing just his black sweats, his gait slow. His broad chest was bruised, but there were no cuts or burns visible. He paused upon seeing the table, his eyes unreadable. “You didn’t have to do this.”
She chuckled, the sound strained, and sat. “Do what? I just warmed up a couple of things. Please sit down.” Before he fell down.
He sat and reached for the brandy first, taking a big gulp. Then he swallowed four aspirin. “Those should kick in soon.”
Her fingers itched to touch him and make sure he was all right. “You might need something stronger.”
“No. That was fine.” He looked at her, and the bruising on his jaw, combined with his scar, made him look like a deadly avenger. “I’ll be better after a little sleep.” Taking his fork, he ate about half of the casserole on the plate.
She let him eat in peace and then finally couldn’t stand it any longer. Fear sensitized her skin, and she shivered from the cool air. “You said there was a bomb. Could you tell me a little more?”
His lips twitched. “I must really look like hell if you’ve decided to be that polite.”
“I’m always polite,” she said, giving in and placing her hand over his warm wrist. “Tell me what happened.”
“We got to Frank’s apartment, and he was dead inside along with a woman. Probably just some very unlucky woman in the wrong place at definitely the wrong time.” Wolfe spoke slowly and deliberately.
Dana’s temples ached and she reached for the aspirin, taking two and washing them down with Wolfe’s water. “What aren’t you telling me?” Oh, he’d definitely keep facts from her to protect her, and she didn’t have time for that.
“We got inside, saw the bodies, and heard a click. Made it to the door, then boom.” He planted both hands on the table and forced himself to stand. “That’s it. Now come to bed.”
* * *
The food, booze, and painkiller helped to dull the physical soreness, except for the spasm that kept attacking Wolfe’s lower back. He groaned like an old man when he fell into the bed.
Dana cleaned up the small mess in the kitchen and quickly returned with an ice pack for him.
Warmth, the good kind, tumbled through him. “You don’t need to fuss. I’ll be fine.”
“I want to fuss.” She pulled the sheet and covers away from him and rested the pack on the left side of his rib cage. “This is the darkest bruise. Are you sure no ribs are broken?”
“I’m sure. Feels different from this.” A couple might be cracked, but he didn’t have time to worry about that. The ice chilled the bruise, easing some of the discomfort. “Come to bed, Dana.”
She finished checking out his chest, abdomen, and legs. “How does your backside look?”
“You can admire it later.” His eyebrows rose. “I mean, unless you want to get busy now.”
Her instant grin healed him faster than the ice. “I appreciate the sentiment, but you had trouble just walking in here. I’d hate to tax you.”
Oh, she had not just said that. He tried to lever himself up on an elbow. “I won’t be taxed. Let’s go.”
