Page 126 of Relentless

“And alive, thanks to you.”

She sat on the edge of the bed as Matt left the room to give them some privacy. “I didn’t do anything your teammates wouldn’t have done.” Piper cupped his cheek with her soft palm. “You scared me. Don’t do it again.” Tears sparkled in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Sunshine. Are you okay? Did the goons hurt you?”

“I’m fine. A few bruises that will be gone in a few days.”

“Matt says I have enforced vacation time coming.”

“You’re taking every day off that Dr. Sorensen recommends for your recovery.”

“I’ll take them if you promise me something.”

“What?”

“Take two weeks off to spend with me at the beach.”

“I still have a job, one I’ve neglected.”

“We’ll see if Delilah can handle more time without her partner.” He’d pay someone to fill in for Piper if Delilah needed help. After the scare they’d had, he didn’t want to be separated from her. If Sorensen held true to form, the doc would insist he spend a few days in the Bayside clinic to keep an eye on Liam’s progress before Sorensen released him to convalesce somewhere else.

Liam didn’t want Piper to go home to Otter Creek without him, not with Spencer waiting to pounce on the woman who owned Liam’s heart.

“Spending two weeks enjoying the salt breeze sounds good.”

He gave a slight nod and inched to the far side of the bed, his teeth gritted against the pain caused by moving.

“What are you doing?”

“I need to hold you.”

“I’ll hurt you.”

“Worth it.” He patted the empty space on the mattress. “We’ll work it out.”

She looked skeptical but climbed onto the mattress and settled gingerly beside him.

Liam eased his arm around her shoulders and her head settled against his chest. Perfect. Knowing his teammates were on watch in the hall, he allowed himself to fall asleep again, this time holding the woman with a lion’s courage.

Sometime later, he woke when Matt stepped into the room.

“Maddox is here.”

Liam’s eyebrows rose. He must have been in a bad way if his boss flew down from Nashville to sit at his bedside.

“Liam, what’s wrong?”

Piper’s drowsy voice wrapped around his heart and made him long to rush the woman to the altar. He wouldn’t, though. Right now, he wouldn’t be rushing anywhere. Give him a few days and he’d be good as new. Okay, maybe a few weeks. “My boss is here.”

When she started to slide from the bed, Liam held her in place. “Stay.” He gave a chin lift to Matt.

A moment later, Brent Maddox walked to Liam’s bedside. “How are you?”

“I’m okay, sir.”

The blond SEAL grinned. “In other words, you feel lousy.”

His lips curved.

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