Page 43 of Her Intense Protector

He shook his head. “That’s what I mean. For you it’s a choice. I like that. I like that a lot.” He bent his head toward hers.

“Oh no,” she stepped back. “No kissing until I’m clean and sweet-smelling. I don’t care how many pretty words you spout.” And she stepped back up to him and cupped his cheek. “And that had to be the nicest thing anybody’s ever said to me.”

13

“Good morning, Beautiful. Are you okay? I’ve been knocking for a couple of minutes, but you didn’t answer.”

Samantha wiped the sleep from her eyes and slowly focused on Ezio filling the doorframe. It took her a moment to establish where she was and what had happened. Mornings were not her friend.

“Yeah, I’m kind of a deep sleeper. My college roommate loved it. She could make as much noise as she wanted, and it never bothered me.” She sat up in bed, careful to keep the duvet on her because Ezio’s T-shirt had ridden up during the night. “What time is it?”

“One o’clock. Eden’s going to be here with some of her clothes that she says will fit.”

Sam thought about her curvy friend and wondered how this was going to work out, but okay. “In the meantime, do you have boxers or sweatpants or something so I can come down for coffee?”

Sam could see Ezio swallow. “How about if I bring you coffee in bed? And I want to check on that pressure bandage.”

Samantha looked down at her wrist in wonder. “You know, I didn’t even remember it until you just brought it up.” She touched it.

“What’s your middle name?” Ezio asked.

“Gail. It’s after my grandmother on my father’s side.”

“Samantha Gail Brooks, you’re so full of shit.” He walked into the bedroom and came over to the side of the bed and held out his hand. “Let me see.”

She scooched over to the side of the bed, holding the duvet cover, and held out her arm. “See?”

He gently took her wrist into his hands and carefully peeled back the pressure bandage. “Honey, it’s still swollen and those bruises look ugly.”

“Yeah, but it’s not hurting like it was last night. Look.” She twirled her wrist, then winced. “Okay, I should stop doing that for a couple of days.”

Ezio raised an eyebrow. “Ya think? Now, how about that coffee in bed and some ice?”

“Ezio I need the bathroom, and I was hoping you might have a toothbrush. I have to admit I was hoping you might let me rifle through your cupboards for a piece of bread so I could have toast with my coffee…?”

“I’ll see what I have.”

She watched his butt as he left. Boy, that man looked good. She wished she’d followed through on that kiss last night. She’d meant to, but after showering and drying her hair, she could barely put one foot in front of the other and make it to the bedroom. Hell, Ezio had found her staring at the bed in consternation and had to pull back the covers before she could figure out what to do. Yep, poor guy, she’d left him hanging.

“I found some leggings that Evalina left. This should do the trick, right?”

He laid them, an unopened toothbrush, and a travel-sized tube of toothpaste at the foot of the bed.

“Evalina?”

“My other sister. It’s Lucia, Evalina, Nario, Val, which is short for Valerius, and Anthony.”

“And you’re the oldest of that bunch, right?”

“Right. They’re a handful, at least they were growing up,” he laughed.

“I can imagine.” She looked down at the black leggings. “Yep, those will do. I’ll see you downstairs in a minute.”

“My fridge will be ready for you.”

She waited until she heard him on the stairs, then she hopped out of bed and across the hall to the bathroom.

“Darn it.” The darn bra wasn’t dry, but at least the panties were. She went about her business and found a scrunchie in the treasure trove that was the bathroom drawer and pulled her hair into a ponytail. Looking at herself in the mirror, she looked about twelve. Especially considering that she didn’t have much up top, hence the reason her bra wasn’t dry. Darn padding. Well, at least it allowed her to go braless without any concern.