“I’ve had a concussion before. I promise to call out if I need help.”
That was probably a lie, but he would stay close just in case.
“Fair enough,” Jenner said. He straightened and looked at Ian. “I assume you’ve got it from here.”
“You assume correctly.”
“What the hell? I can take care of myself.”
She was frowning at both of them…pouting just a little. That lower lip pushed out, and on most women, he would find it aggravating. On Sam, he had to fight the urge to lean down and nibble on that lip.
He was sick. So, so sick.
Jenner gave him a knowing smile, then headed out of the room.
“You both are annoying. El will agree with me. I can take care of myself.”
“Don’t even pull me into that argument,” El said from the other room.
“Come on. I put your bag in there, so you will have everything you need.” He moved to the other side of the bed and held out his hand.
“I can walk to the bathroom.”
“I just want to make sure you’re steady enough to walk to the bathroom. I understand about concussions, as you like to remind me. A lot.”
Her eyes sparkled and her mouth twitched.
“Fine.”
She scooted to the side of the bed, swinging her legs over. Ian held out his hand. She looked at it, then slipped her smaller hand into his. The jolt he felt was the same one he had felt when she ran into him earlier today. Electricity sparked through his veins and left him a little lightheaded.
Pushing that aside…or trying to, he helped her off the mattress. She wobbled a little and he had to fight the need to lift her up into his arms. He knew she wouldn’t be happy about that. Shuffling at first, then finally walking, she made her way to the bathroom. He kept hold of her hand the entire way. She stopped at the door to the bathroom.
“I’ve got this,” she said.
He studied her. Her gaze was clearer than it had been, and she seemed pretty steady.
“Okay. You call if you need me.”
She gave him a sweet smile. “Aw, you care about me.”
Then, she stepped into the bathroom, shut and locked the door. Like he couldn’t get into the bathroom if he wanted to. He had been a spy so picking locks were a way of life. But he would give her this. For now.
Lila looked at herself in the mirror. She was a mess. Hell, she’d looked bad the last few months. She needed to figure out a way to put on more pounds. It was the first time in her life where she had a problem with that.
Her bag buzzed and she unzipped it, looking at the door before she opened the secret pocket to pull out the burner phone.
G: Where are you?
Yeah, she hadn’t checked in, and her one other contact would freak out if she didn’t check in once every other day.
L: Everything is fine. Have an issue. Will text when I can.
G: Are you lying to me?
L: Promise, everything is fine.
With a sigh, she turned the phone off and slipped it back into the hidden pocket, making sure there was no way for anyone to see it.
