Page 55 of Keeping Collette

“They do.” Deal nudged the gift toward her. “This might brighten your day, though.”

Another wave of guilt swept over her. This time because of ignoring Deal’s sweet gesture. “I’m sorry. You must think me ungrateful because I seem to be ignoring your gift.”

“Not at all.” He winked.

“I’ll still need your help,” she said shyly.

“Happy to be of service.” He took the gift and lifted the tape at the ends and in the middle of the rectangle wrapped box. “You should be able to get it now.”

Using her plaster clad arm to hold it steady, she was able to lift the rest of the tape and then pull the paper away. Her mouth dropped open when she saw what he’d given her. “Deal, this is too much.”

The e-reader was the model she’d been wanting for a while, but because her old one still worked, she hadn’t upgraded, even though she looked at it every time she went online. And it was the color she’d been coveting, too.

“It’s not. You’ve been through a lot, and as I said, you’re special. You deserve to be spoiled. And you said you missed having one, so I thought I’d get you a new one. Would you like me to get it out of the box?”

“Yes, please.” She’d been so bored not having her e-reader nearby. She carried it everywhere and read every chance she got. Which was how it had gotten broken in the accident. Not that she’d been doing much relaxing and reading since Courtney had disappeared, but since being laid up in hospital, she’d itched to be able to get lost in her favorite romance books.

“The guy at the store said that you should be able to log into your account, once you’ve set it up, and all your books will be there.” He got the box open and placed the device on her lap.

She gazed at it for a moment before looking up at Deal. “Thank you so much. This is the nicest gift anyone has ever given to me.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Collette clutched it one-handed against her chest. “Like it? I love it. And…” She ducked her head for a moment, and when she lifted it again, she could feel the heat in her cheeks. She didn’t care that she was blushing, Deal needed to know what she was feeling. “I like you, too.”

It was more than like, she was well on the way to falling head over heels for the man sitting beside her bed.

“I adore you. May I?” He patted the bed.

Was he asking to come lie next to her? She wanted that more than anything.

“Yes.”

A few seconds later, after she scooted over, Deal was lying beside her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, and she was snuggled into his side. The e-reader momentarily forgotten, as she savored being close to him.

This was what she wanted in a partner. Someone who cared for her well-being. Someone who did kind things for her. Someone who made her feel as if she was the most precious thing on Earth. And Deal gave her that.

“This is nice.” She sighed, and let her eyes drift close. She hadn’t been tired before, but now it was as though she’d been injected with some kind of sleep medicine. Keeping her eyes open was impossible.

“Sleep, babe, I’ve got you. I won’t let go.”

Collette believed him, because Deal never said anything he didn’t mean, or follow through on. He’d proven time and time again that she could trust him, and he was a man of his word.

The last thing to go in her bag was the e-reader Deal had given her. The past three days hadn’t been so unbearable because she’d been able to read. While she’d been glued to her device, Deal had been working on his tablet catching up with the things he’d brushed to the side during the first couple of days of her hospital stay.

Nothing more had been said about the guy who’d lured Courtney. Or if they’d uncovered anymore connections to the other missing people. She would find out when she went into the Alliez offices, which would be in the next couple of days.

“You ready to pop this joint?”

“More than ready.” She glanced over her shoulder, her breath catching in her throat. Deal leaned against the door frame. He wore a dark navy suit, his white shirt was open at the collar. The scruff on his face gave him a dangerous edge. He looked so handsome and sexy that she had to stop from launching herself into his arms.

Ever since the day he’d climbed up on the bed next to her, a subtle shift had occurred in their relationship.

He came into the room and swept her up against his chest. She gasped at the sudden movement, but didn’t mind it at all. Particularly when he fused his lips to hers. She sighed and wrapped her unencumbered arm around his neck so she could play with the soft strands of hair at the nape.

When he pulled away they were both breathing hard, and he didn’t do anything to release her.

“That’s the kind of welcome I could get used to.” Heat immediately burned her cheeks at her outburst.