Emi snorts, and the sound is so light, feminine, and real, my heart jumps in my chest.
“Best money I’ve ever spent,” she says and takes another sip from the travel mug. Then her eyes narrow. “It’s all push button. Did you have trouble with it?”
“Uh…” Fire licks up the back of my neck. “No. Not…much.”
“Jasper!” She laughs but winces a moment later. “Shit. That hurts.”
Instantly on alert, I take the mug from her and set it on the nightstand. “Tell me.”
“Stand down, Ranger. I’m sore. Everywhere. But I’ll be okay.” She stares pointedly at me—at where I’m sitting on the edge of her bed. “I need my phone. Nelson is probably having a coronary. I should have texted him when we got here last night. Mind moving so I can get it off the dresser?”
“You stay right there. I’ll get it for you.”
Emi bristles at the command in my tone but then huffs and picks up the travel mug again. “Fine. But I’m not an invalid, Jasper. You took care of me last night and made me coffee this morning. I can handle things from here.”
“We’ll see about that,” I mutter once I’ve handed her the phone. “I texted AJ a bit ago. I’m waitin’ to see what he finds out from Austin PD. Until I can guarantee your safety, I ain’t leaving.”
With her phone in her hand, Emi snaps her gaze to mine. “Oh, hell no. I’m an adult. I can get myself to Channel 5. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but it’s time for you to go.”
Emi throws back the blanket, gets to her feet, and sways. She only makes it two steps in my direction before one of her knees buckles. I haul her against me, and she melts into my embrace.
“I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart. Not until we know there’s no one after you. And definitely not with you falling over like that.” I smooth a hand along her shoulder, and let it come to rest at the small of her back. She’s so fucking beautiful, even with her hair mussed from sleep and that damn purple bruise on her forehead.
Emi tips her head back to meet my gaze. The need in her eyes sends all the blood shooting straight to my dick. These Wranglers are unbearably tight, and if she looks down, she’ll see how much I want her.
“Jasper,” she whispers. “I’m…”
I take a chance and press my lips to hers. She doesn’t protest. A little moan vibrates in her chest. If she keeps that up, I’ll come in my pants like a fucking teenager.
Stroking my tongue along the seam of her mouth, I beg her to open for me, and she does. Oh, God. She tastes of coffee, smells like jasmine, and feels so very right in my arms.
My phone vibrates in my front pocket, and the sensation forces us apart. I should ignore it. But…what if it’s AJ?
Emi’s cheeks turn a bright shade of crimson, and she wriggles out of my embrace. “I…need to shower. And charge my phone. And…um…brush my teeth.”
I cover my mouth with my hand. Shit. I didn’t even think about morning breath. My phone buzzes again. “I’ll be out in the living room. If you feel dizzy at all, you call for me. No tryin’ to manage on your own, you hear?”
After a huff, she nods. “Fine. But once you talk to your brother, you need to go home.”
I shut her bedroom door with a quiet click and mutter under my breath, “We’ll see about that.”
Emi
I lean my back against the door. My cheeks are on fire. Jasper is a fantastic kisser. And he’s in my living room. With a hard-on. I couldn’t ignore the bulge in his jeans as he held me. And if it weren’t for his over-the-top protectiveness, I probably wouldn’t have made it home from the hospital.
I could march right out into the living room and demand he kiss me again. I would, if I weren’t on the biggest story of my career. Or if I hadn’t made a fool of myself at 2:00 a.m. telling him about the time I almost died. My hand flutters over my stomach, skimming the scar I’ll bear for the rest of my life. I made my peace with what happened. Having kids was never in my plan—even as a teenager. But Jasper probably wants them.
Stop it. He kissed you, remember? After you told him everything. And he’s still here.
I don’t know what this is between us—other than a kiss that set me on fire and his obsession with keeping me safe—but I can’t dwell on it now. In my addled state last night, I set my phone next to the charging pad rather than on it, so the damn thing is deader than dead. After I make sure it’s charging, I sneak into the bathroom.
At least in here, I can lock the door and engage in the time-honored tradition of overthinking everything in the shower. Fowler, my burned-out car, Jasper, that kiss, my future…
The hot water feels like heaven cascading down my back. Until I try to run my fingers through my hair. I find at least three separate bruises on my head, and see stars every time I hit one of them untangling my unruly locks.
By the time I wrap myself in a towel and tiptoe back to my bedroom, though, I feel almost human again.
My usual wardrobe isn’t going to cut it today, so I opt for a pair of black yoga pants and my favorite purple sweater. My face, however, is a lost cause. There isn’t enough makeup in the whole country to hide the bruises, scrapes, and dark circles under my eyes.
