Cam chuckled. “Just that you’d be in as soon as you woke from your coma.”
“Oh. Well then, let’s go home so I can enter that coma.”
And coma it was. She barely remembered being put to bed, only that she was snuggled up tight to a warm, male body. They couldn’t betooangry with her if they were still hanging around. She held on to that knowledge, along with the hope that it wasn’t too late to make things work between them.
She slept for an ungodly amount of time, only to wake up and have a painkiller shoved at her with breakfast in bed. By the time she’d finished eating, the world was fuzzy around her, and she was only too happy to let them tuck her back into bed.
There were vague memories. Light touches to her cheek. A hand smoothed through her hair. The more annoying wake-ups with fingers shoved into her face with a demand of how many. She batted them away and told them to go to hell.
The next time she woke there weren’t actually any men in her face or next to her on the bed. She yawned big enough to crack her jaw and then looked at the time. Noon. But what day? She felt like she’d slept an entire week.
She lay there for a long while, staring up at the ceiling. She would have to face them with what she’d done. They’d have questions. She’d hurt them. A grimace worked over her face. She hadn’t wanted to hurt them. That was the last thing she’d ever wanted to do. All she wanted to do was keep them safe, because she simply couldn’t live without them.
She stretched and tested the limits of her body. To her satisfaction, she found that she was limber, not stiff, and that she could move with no pain.
Good damn thing, because she needed flexibility if she was going to pull off her grand plan of seducing all three men into taking her at the same time. If they weren’t still pissed at her. Fear gripped her. She’d never seen them so angry . . . or so resigned. That resignation frightened her.
She got up and took a quick shower, hoping she could be dressed and ready to go before any of the guys swooped in with painkillers or demands to stay in bed. She needed to go into the station and tie up loose ends. And she needed to talk to her chief.
Ten minutes later, her hair still wet, she headed down the stairs, prepared for the inevitable confrontation.
All three guys were in the living room, and her hungry gaze found Hutch. Other than a bruise darkening the side of his face, he looked fine.
They all looked up when she walked over to where they sat.
“What the hell are you doing up?” Sawyer demanded.
She ignored him and went over to where Hutch was slouched on the sofa. For a moment she hesitated, afraid he’d reject her advances. Then she steeled herself and hooked her leg over his, straddling his lap. His arms came around her at the same time hers curved around his neck. She hugged him fiercely and kissed the side of his neck.
“Thank goodness you’re all right,” she whispered.
“I could say the same for you,” he murmured as he stroked her hair. “And it’s thanks to you that I’m okay. Even if I’m pissed as hell that you put yourself in front of me like that.”
He pulled her away so he could look her in the face. His anger was building even as he fought with the relief he felt over her safety. He was as transparent as plastic wrap.
“I swear to God, if you ever pull a stunt like that again, baby, I’m going to lock you in a damn cage.”
She raised one eyebrow then leaned forward and kissed him into silence. Then before he could react, she shoved off his lap. “Anyone seen my keys?”
Three sets of confused stares locked onto her.
“Why on earth do you need your keys?” Cam asked.
“I have to run to the station,” she said calmly. “I need to talk to the chief. It’s important. I won’t be long.”
“Reggie, we have to talk,” Sawyer said firmly.
She softened just a bit as she stared into his blue eyes.
“I know we have to talk,” she said quietly. “This is something I need to take care of. Then I’ll be back.”
“At least let one of us drive you in,” Hutch protested.
She shook her head. “I’ll be fine.” She glanced over at Cam to judge his reaction, but his features were locked in stone. She had a feeling he was going to be the hardest sale when she came back to grovel.
She sighed and squared her shoulders. She wouldn’t let herself dwell on her possible failure.
“I’ll be back,” she said firmly.
