Something West said had struck a chord with me, though, and now I couldn’t get it out of my head.
Ididhave the hots for a sexy paramedic, and if getting shot and nearly dying had taught me anything, it was that this life was fucking fleeting.
Maybe it was time I stopped dicking around and went after what I really wanted.
nine
. . .
SUTTON
A loudbangsounded from somewhere in the house, dragging me from sleep and sending me bolting upright in bed.
Where the hell was I?
A deep male voice hummed through the door, sounding irritated, growing fainter as its owner moved away, and it all came rushing back.
The break-in.
My escape.
Running straight to Lane.
His refusal to let me leave.
Okay, no problem. Boots and I were safe, which, if the light visible on the ceiling around the blackout curtains was any indication, allowed me an impressive stretch of uninterrupted and dreamless sleep. It was, in fact, the best night’s sleep I’d had in a long time.
I refused to examine why. Surely, it was just a really great bed? Maybe I could ask Lane the brand name so I could get one for myself.
It hadnothingto do with the man who owned this house. Theman—not the place—I’d run to when I was scared and needed help.
Right? Right.
Boots was curled up on the pillow next to where my head had been, snuffling softly, still lost in dreamland.
I reached out, brushing my palm over the soft fur on his spine, and he stirred, blinking his eyes open.
“Morning, bud,” I cooed. “Ready to go home?”
Boots sighed roughly through his nose as if to say,No, Mom. I am quite content here.
I’d never admit that I agreed with him.
But for the sake of my own sanity, Ineededto get out of Lane’s house.
Carefully, I shifted out of bed and padded to the chair in the corner where I’d discarded the bulk of my layers the night before. I dressed quickly, scooped up Boots—who yowled unappreciatively—and exited the room.
In the hall, I was greeted by the scent of coffee and the hiss and pop of what could only be bacon cooking. My stomach growled, and I willed it to shut up before I faced Lane.
When I reached the bottom of the stairs and rounded the corner into the kitchen, Birdie saw me first and smiled widely.
“Morning, Sutton. How are you feeling?”
I blinked in surprise. I hadn’t expected…company. My face heated instantly, hoping Birdie didn’t think I’d spent last night in her son’s bed.
But she seemed at ease, not looking at me in any type of way as she moved around Lane’s kitchen like it was her own.
“I’m okay,” I admitted. Most of the uneasiness of the night before had dissipated with sleep, but I knew it’d be a long time before I was once again comfortable in my home.
