“I turned it off. Figured you could use a little extra sleep.”
“Will!” I snatched my phone from the bedside table and checked the time. Nearly eight. “I’m due at the hospital.”
He carried a mug, wafting the delicious aroma of hazelnut coffee under my nose. “Here, drink this and relax, Angel. You had noproblem being late when I needed a ride to the parole office. You said you set your own hours, remember?”
I took a sip of coffee. “That was different.”
“Why?”
“It just was.”
He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “Uh-huh. Because you were helping me. How about you let me return the favor? You worked late last night.”
I took another gulp of coffee and sighed. “I guess I could skip my lunch break later.”
“Or…” He smoothed my hair back and cupped my face. “You could just give yourself a breather. You deserve it, don’t you think?”
“Maybe,” I grumbled. “But hey, you were out late too. Where were you when I got back?”
He grimaced. “Hold that thought. I’ve got breakfast in the oven.”
He retreated from the room. I turned my attention to rubbing Waffles’ ears. I wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or touched that Knight had let me sleep in. He was technically right. I could set my own hours. I put in a lot of time, so it wouldn’t hurt to decompress a little before going in.
I wasn’t used to someone trying to take care of me that way, though.
“Here we go,” Knight said, returning. “I made cinnamon rolls. Not the healthiest, but?—”
“Gimme!” I made grabby hands, my mouth watering.
He laughed and delivered the plate into my eager hands. I picked up a warm, gooey roll and bit into it with a delighted moan.
Waffles stood and tried to stick his nose in the plate. I held it out of reach until Knight joined me in the bed and pulled Waffles intohis lap.
“Good?” he asked, a smile in his voice.
“Really good.” I licked the icing from my lips. “So, where did you go last night?”
“Yeah, sorry about that. I had a visitor after you left.”
I glanced over. “One of the guys?”
“Uh, no.” Something in his expression made me tense.
“The bikers came back? You said they wouldn’t?—”
“Just one,” he said quickly. “It wasn’t the same. They didn’t jump me.”
“Okay…”
“They gave me a way out.”
“Really?” Why wasn’t he smiling? “Isn’t that good news?”
“It’s better news,” he said. “Better than getting jumped again. But…I’ll have to fight for them.”
“What do you mean? If they’re not jumping you?—”
“In an illegal fighting ring.”
