Page 40 of No Bed Of Roses

They locked the cabin back up and moved to check over the barn. None of the cameras had shown a disturbance, but they weren’t taking chances.

Isla’s greenhouse and the garden she’d planted were untouched. Back at the house, they trooped around the sides but found nothing.

Throughout their trip, Isla remained silent, and Hopper stuck to her side. She patted the dog and managed a few smiles, but Levi could see she was crashing. The adrenaline from the car rollover was disappearing. He needed to get her inside and alone.

He didn’t have to explain to Troy. “I’m going to take off and give you guys time to decompress. You’ve probably got a few hours before Marcus will be out.” He squeezed Isla’s shoulder. “You’re safe here, and we won’t stop until we find this guy. If you need anything, call.”

Then he was gone, and they were locked inside the cottage.

Isla kicked off her boots and headed to the kitchen before he’d undone his laces. Hopper followed on her heels. In the kitchen, Levi found her closing the curtains over the sink. The stove element was already lit under the kettle. Tea was one thing she turned to when she was stressed.

He turned away to start one of the other things. In the bathroom, he started the water in the tub. He reached under the sink to grab what he now knew was a bath bomb. This one was a rubber duck. When he tossed it in, the duck dissolved, and foam and bubbles filled the bath.

When he returned to the kitchen, she hadn’t moved and was staring at the curtains that now covered the window. He walked to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. For a long moment, he didn’t say a word, just held her. When the kettle whistled, he turned it off. Instead of filling her mug, he took her hand and led her to the bathroom.

Isla looked from the tub to him and threw her arms around his waist. “Thank you.”

“I figure it’ll help with the bumps and bruises and help you relax. Go ahead, and I’ll bring you some tea.”

But she grabbed his hand. “I have a better idea.”

“And what’s that?”

She smiled at him. “You have aches and bruises, too. Join me.”

In the tub? He didn’t think he’d taken a bath since he was six. But a tub of bubbles with a naked Isla? Didn’t sound like a bad idea.

Something of his thoughts must have shown on his face because Isla laughed. “It’s okay if you don’t want to.”

But if something could put a smile on her face and a laugh in her voice, he was all in. She reached down and stopped the water.

When she straightened, he reached for her sweatshirt. “Let me.”

He slowly undressed her, checking for any injuries she might not have mentioned. The seat belt bruise was already obvious across her collarbone and between her breasts. “How bad does it hurt?”

She shrugged. “A bit, but I keep reminding myself how lucky we were.”

She was right, but he didn’t like to see her soft skin marred. The belt had also dug into her hip. By morning, the marks would be livid.

The bastard was going to pay.

Isla’s hands started working on his clothes, and soon, they were both naked. He stepped into the tub and offered her his hand to help her in.

When they both stood in the tub, he kissed her softly. “I’m glad we were so lucky, but I hate seeing you bruised.”

Her hands drifted over the marks on his skin, which weren’t as deep as hers. Must have been the way the car rolled.

“I feel the same. I’m so sorry you were hurt because of me.”

He lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed her fingers. “Not your fault. Nothing to feel guilty about. I’m glad I was with you. Please don’t blame yourself.”

Her eyes sparkled with tears. “I’m trying, but it’s kind of impossible.”

That made him grin. “You’re strong enough. You can do it. Now, how the hell do we both fit in this tub?”

As he’d hoped, she laughed. In only moments, he was sitting with his back against the tub, and Isla cradled in front of him. The heat of the water soothed their bodies, but the fact that she trusted him enough to be honest with him that warmed him the most.

So, they relaxed in the water, and he plotted his strategy.

---