“Mmmm.”
He chuckled, and his chest vibrated against her cheek.
“Is that all you can say?”
“Mmm-hmmm.”
“How about you get some sleep now, Reggie darling. You’ve worn me out. Sleep here with me where I can hold you.”
His arms tightened around her, and she could feel him tremble ever so slightly, as if he was every bit as overwhelmed as she was.
He teased her response, but it was all she could muster. She didn’t have the ability to put into words all she felt, all she wanted to say. Her tongue tangled and swelled at the idea.
How could she possibly explain that she felt whole? Complete? Like she’d come home after being lost for so long? And so she said the only thing that seemed to matter.
“I missed you,” she whispered.
“I missed you too,” he murmured into her hair. “No more running, Reggie. I couldn’t bear it.”
A part of her heart loosened and unfurled at his quiet plea. It told her unquestionably that she had the power to hurt him, and that was somethingshecouldn’t bear.
“No more running,” she agreed.
CHAPTER 20
Hutch woke to see Sawyer in bed a few feet away but no sign of Reggie. He rolled out immediately. Not that he hadn’t shared a bed with Sawyer before, but they’d beentenfor Christ’s sake. Without Reggie there between them, it was just damn awkward.
Maybe they should implement a rule that Reggie had to stay where she was put.
His shoulders shook with laughter as he contemplated being kneed in the balls after delivering that particular dictate.
“What the hell are you finding so amusing this early in the morning?” Sawyer said in a sleepy, grumpy voice.
Morning person, Sawyer was not.
“I was contemplating the humor in laying down the law to Reggie about leaving us in bed together,” he said.
“No shit,” Sawyer grumbled as he rolled out of bed. “But at least I didn’t wake up with you draped across me or some shit like that.”
Hutch narrowed his eyes at Sawyer. “Very funny.”
“I thought it was,” he said as he reached down for his shirt. “Where the hell is Reggie anyway? Do we need to put a bell around the girl’s neck?”
Hutch snickered. “No, but I’ll tell her you think so.”
“Right after you tell her about your bright idea to give her the law as determined by Hutch Bishop?”
Hutch reached for his own clothes and pulled them on. “My guess is she’s wherever Cam is. I’m going to head down and start on breakfast.”
Sawyer grunted. “I’ll be down after a shit, shower and shave.”
“Thanks for sharing,” Hutch said dryly.
Hutch walked out of Reggie’s bedroom, crossed the hallway and peeked into Cam’s room. Anal bastard was already up and had his bed made. He’d been Birdie’s dream kid. Neat and orderly. Studious in school. He saved his rebellious streak for when he was out of range of Birdie’s eagle eye.
He and Sawyer hadn’t been as smart.
He backed out of Cam’s room and started down the stairs. He wasn’t sure how he’d landed the job as designated cook. Oh, wait. Yeah, he remembered. The others sucked at it. Not that he’d win any culinary awards, but at least he could manage a meal without burning it. Sawyer had damn near burned down their house in Houston when he’d left a pot of grease on the stove. After that, they’d banned his ass from the kitchen except to eat. Dipshit probably did it on purpose.
