Dana chuckled. “Jethro’s orders. Apparently, he likes your genuine eye color.” She pointed to a dresser in the corner. “That’s new and it’s full ofitems for you.”
Gemma backed away from theenticing silk.
Dana rubbed her elbow. “Was Jethro okay? I won’t feel better until I can see him, and Wolfe is going nuts even though they talkedon the phone.”
Tears gathered in Gemma’s eyes. The couple had stayed behind in order to protect Trudy. “Thank you for everything you’ve done here. Jethro said he’s okay, and he looked fine when I left. Well, beat up and burned, but still standing.” She looked over at Dana. “The way he ran into that burning building was amazing, and he knew more explosions were going to happen. He carried out both of those hulking men.”
Dana’s eyes softened. “That’s our Jethro. He’s a hero, whether he believes it or not.”
Gemma nodded. “It was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.” The man had been incredible and even now was calmly waiting to make sure everyone was safe. Not asking for anything, just being his controlled and deadly self.
“He’s a keeper for sure,” Dana agreed.
Gemma couldn’t answer that. She most likely wasn’t staying and wouldn’t be the one to keep him. Not that he’d truly offered anything but perhaps one night. She turned her focus back to the beautiful clothes hanging in the closet. “I can’t afford all this.”
“Jethro can,” Dana said. “You might as well let him help you. Right now his world is spinning out of control and it makes him feel good to help others, so why not justsay thank you?”
“Would you have? I mean, before you and Wolfe decided to start a family?” Gemma asked,truly curious.
Dana scrunched her nose. “That’s a good question. Wolfe and I were friends, then both of us were undercover at a BDSM club, and then we got pregnant. I do like clothes. I think I would’ve accepted them. Plus, when we were undercover, he was all dom to the max, so I wouldn’t have said no. Well, probably.”
Gemma’s head ached as she tried to track that sentence. Perhaps Dana was a little nutty, too. She and Wolfe might make the perfect couple. “Wait a minute. What was that about a BDSM club?”
Dana chuckled. “Yeah. Wolfe was working on a case and I was working on a story as a journalist, and we ran into each other when it appeared our cases were connected. That night was a little explosive, and then we had to work together.” She looked down at her belly, her face softening. “He’s a lot to handle sometimes, but I can’t believe we found each other. He keeps trying to get us married, but I want to wait until the baby is born and then have a huge blowout wedding with my family. Both of my families. This unit is definitely a family.”
“I don’t blame you,” Gemma said softly. The stunning journalist would make a lovely bride. “Do you know if you’re having aboy or a girl?”
“No.” Dana’s smile widened. “I want it to be a surprise, but Wolfe wants to know, so we’ll probably find out next month just to ease his mind. For some reason he can’t plan unless he knows. Plus, I would like to know how to decorate the nursery.”
Gemma hadn’t had a nursery. As soon as she and Trudy had been healthy enough, she’d moved to a new state. “That does sound like fun,” she murmured, feeling a twinge in her heart that she might never be able to give her daughtera normal life.
Wolfe appeared behind Dana. It seemed he was never very far from her. “Jethro just pulled up. Let’s get you to bed, Dana.” He smiled at Gemma over Dana’s head. “Jethro won’t let anything happen to you. Also, I’ll engage the security system before I go, and Roscoe will stay here with you two. He acts like a dork but is a phenomenal guard dog. You’re safe here, Gemma. I promise.”
“Thanks,” she said, meaning it. Being safe, even temporarily, allowed her to let down her guard. “’Night, you two.”
“’Night.” Wolfe took Dana’s hand and they left, saying something to Jethro before heading outside.
Gemma moved into the living room to see him lock the door and engage the new security system by using the keypad on the wall. “How are the twins doing?”
He partially turned, his clothing still in tatters and somehow making him look even more dangerous than he had before. “They’ll live.” He kicked off his boots and stalked toward her, all male intent.“How are you?”
Suddenly breathless. “I’m fine,” she said.
He reached her and ran a gentle knuckle down her face. “I keep putting you at risk when all I want to do is guarantee your safety.” His voice was hoarse and hisaccent strong.
“Safety is an illusion,” she said, leaninginto his touch.
“True.” He didn’t smile as she’d hoped. Instead, he let his hand fall and stepped away. “We can talk more tomorrow. Let’s get somesleep tonight.”
She was so tired of being vigilant. So exhausted from running and being alone. She was sick of telling herself she was just a mother trying to survive. There was more to her; she was just figuring out that she was a woman, too. Until she’d met him and his friends she hadn’t realized how lonely she’d been. “I don’twant to sleep.”
His eyes flared. “Your defenses are down. I’m a violent man, sweetheart. You can’t forget that.”
“You’re in control of any violence you create,” she said softly. “That’s what matters. You’dnever hurt me.”
“You’re right. I’d never hurt you.” He drew in a ragged breath. “But what are you saying?”
She wasn’t a woman who took risks if she could help it. Just surviving was risky enough. Yet she stepped closer to him, filling her senses with his familiar scent along with the smoke. Too much smoke. She gently rubbed her hands up his torn and burned shirt, gingerly touching the skin above. He was warm and whole. Real. “I want you.” She stretched to her tiptoes and kissed him, slanting her mouth over his, wanting what they’d almost hadthe other day.
