“How you feelin’, darlin’?” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
“Better, now that you’re here,” she whispered back.
“Aaaand, that’s my cue,” Mac teased. To Charlie, she said, “Call me if you need anything.”
“I will.”
“And you.” Mac gave Derek a pointed look. “Make sure she isn’t doing too much too soon.”
“I keep tellin’ her to take it easy, but she’s got a stubborn streak a mile long.”
“I know she does.” Then, the traitor ratted her out. “I caught her trying to hobble into the kitchen by herself earlier.”
“Please tell me you stopped her.” Coop looked at Mac.
“Hey,” Charlie interrupted. “I’m right here. And I’d like to see you guys try to sit around the house all day for weeks on end and not go stir crazy.”
“I have, thank you very much,” Coop said with an arrogant smirk.
“When?” Derek turned to him with an incredulous expression.
Raising his brows, Coop said, “When I got shot in the leg in Venezuela.”
“Oh, God.” Mac rolled her eyes again. “Don’t remind me.” She looked down at Charlie. “That man is the worst patient on the face of the planet.”
“I am not,” Coop shot back, trying to defend himself. “First of all, that bullet wound hurt like a motherfucker. Secondly, no one forced you to play nursemaid. You took that role on all by yourself.”
Mac’s long, blonde ponytail whipped around with her swiveling head. “Because I knew if I didn’t, you’d do something stupid and end up hurting yourself even worse.”
While the two snipers continued their usual bickering, Derek looked back down at Charlie and shook his head. With a grin, he gave her another quick kiss before scooping her up into his arms.
Yelping, Charlie threw her left arm around the back of his neck. “Where are we going?”
“Inside. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
She smiled. “I do love surprises.”
With a quick wave, she told Coop and Mac goodbye while Derek carried her over the threshold and into the living room. When they made it to the couch, he sat down, settling her comfortably on his lap.
“So.” She looked at him excitedly. “What is it? What’s the surprise?”
“I found it.”
Knowing exactly what he was referring to, Charlie’s eyes lit up.
“Really?”
He nodded. “Twenty acres, two stocked ponds, and the perfect spot to build where we can sit on the back deck and watch the sunset.”
“What about a pool?” She raised a brow. “I know you’re going to want a pool.”
“Plenty of level ground for that, too.”
“Will you take me there today?”
Derek nodded. “Of course. Plus, it’ll give you a chance to ride in Destiny.”
“You want to name the new car ‘Destiny’? Why?”
