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The sound of Blake’s key turning in the lock sent an unexpected flutter through Devon’s stomach.
Ridiculous, considering he’d only been gone since that morning. But after yesterday’s terrifying encounter with a speeding SUV, she wasn’t particularly interested in pretending she didn’t need the reassurance of seeing him walk through the door.
Beside her on the couch, Gwen glanced up from her phone. “Well, look at that. Your handsome nerd has returned.”
Devon rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face.
Blake stepped inside carrying a white takeout bag and wearing the same dark jeans and charcoal henley he’d left in that morning. His blue eyes immediately found hers, and something in his expression softened.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey, yourself.”
He crossed the living room, set the bag on the coffee table, and leaned down for a kiss. It was brief, sweet, and nowhere long enough. And he didn’t seem to care that Gwen was right there.
“How’s your head?”
“Still attached.”
“Funny.” Blake smirked. “What about the shoulder?”
“Sore, but a little better than yesterday.”
Gwen pushed herself up from the couch. “She’s been a model patient, Savage. Aside from threatening to reorganize your kitchen cabinets out of sheer boredom.”
Devon sent the other woman a playful scowl. “I did not threaten.”
“You asked if Blake had a label maker.”
“Seriously?” His entrancing gaze filled with humor as it turned Devon’s way.
“I didn’t actually do anything to your cabinets,” she defended herself. “I was simply curious, that’s all.”
He chuckled, but then the humor faded from his eyes. “Seriously. You feeling okay?”
“I’m good.” She put a hand on his. “Seriously.”
He studied her another moment before apparently deciding she was telling the truth.
“Thanks for staying with her.” He turned to Gwen.
“Anytime.” His partner slipped her phone into her back pocket. “Oh, before I forget, Lucas called when you were resting earlier,” Gwen told Devon. “He wanted to make sure I reminded you not to overdo it.” Turning back to Blake, she said, “And Emmett already called. I’ve got an escort downstairs, so don’t worry about me getting to my car.”
Blake nodded, but Devon noticed the quick exchange of looks. Something unspoken passed between the two teammates, reminding her that even inside his apartment, none of them had forgotten the danger lurking outside.
Gwen reached for her jacket. “I’ll check on you tomorrow, Dev. And don’t forget what we practiced.”
“Practiced?” Blake’s widened gaze bounced between hers and Gwen’s. “Please tell me you weren’t running through more self-defense moves after suffering a concussion just yesterday.”
Devon barely held back a giant roll of her eyes. “Of course not. She’s talking about yesterday.”
Gwen laughed as she passed Blake on her way to the door. “Have fun, you two. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
The door closed behind her as Blake crossed the room, resetting the alarm once his teammate was gone. With the apartment secure, he came back and settled on the couch beside her, lifting her legs onto his lap.
Willow, who’d been sleeping on the arm at the far end, opened one mismatched eye before falling back to sleep.
“Your cat loves me,” Blake quipped.
