His dirty words and rampant thrusts drove me over the edge. We both yelled, and the futon bumped rhythmically against the wall. I felt myself tighten and convulse around him as his cock jerked.
Later, when I was wrapped up in Grayden beneath his blankets, I heard my phone buzz.
“I don’t want to move,” I mumbled. “But I should check that.”
“I’ll grab it.” Grayden jumped out of bed, fully naked, and went to fish my phone out of my purse. “Geez, it’s cold out here.”
I laughed. “Hurry up and get under the blankets again.”
He climbed into bed and pulled me against him while I checked the notification. “Teller wrote.”
I read the message aloud.
Arrived in Austin for Ayla’s next show. She says hi and that she misses you all. Spoke to Chief Nichols and got an unofficial update on the investigation. Since Danny doesn’t remember much, they’ve hit a dead end. If you think of any more details…
Grayden huffed, his breath warm against my shoulder. “I appreciate Teller’s help. But it’s the police department’s job to solve Danny’s attack, not ours.”
Over the last couple days, Danny had recovered enough to bemoved to a regular room and to be interviewed by Chief Nichols. He’d said he remembered being attacked by a man in a ski mask as he walked out of his motel room that morning.
But Danny had claimed to have no memory of anything else, including driving toward my house. No idea who would want to harm him or frame us. He’d said he wasn’t meeting anyone the night Grayden confronted him at the bar.
Danny was lying. Or his memory was truly spotty after the trauma of his injuries. Either way, he wasn’t helping solve the case.
An officer from Colorado State Patrol had been assigned to guard Danny’s hospital room. Just in case the assailant tried again.
But since Danny’s stabbing, there hadn’t been any further incidents or break-ins.
Grayden kissed my shoulder. “Do you know if Danny will be released from the hospital soon?”
“Another week, at least. They’re monitoring for infection. After that, he’ll be able to leave, but he’ll probably need someone to check up on him. Help with driving and wound care and stuff like that.”
His hospital stay would be expensive. I didn’t know the extent of Danny’s financial problems, but this had all started because he needed money. There was no way he could afford an in-home nurse or anything like that.
He would also need a better place to stay than the Pine Cone.
“You’ve done more than enough, Piper. Someone else can help Danny.”
“He doesn’t have anyone. That’s the thing. His parents are gone, and he doesn’t speak to anyone in his family. I assume he still has friends, but nobody’s bothered to come see him. Who else is there but me?”
“I’m here. I’ll play Danny’s nursemaid for a little while. He’lllovethat.”
I laughed. “I’m being serious.”
“So am I. I plan to be in your life for a long time, so Dannywill have to get used to me. I can even take Ollie to visit him, if you’re alright with it.”
“You would do that for me?”
He kissed my temple. “That and more. Anything. But Danny has to apologize to you for everything, or none of us are lifting a damn finger for him.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
FIFTY-ONE
Grayden
As I walkedtoward Milo’s shop, I spotted him outside, wiping down the bikes for sale.
“Afternoon,” I said.
