Page 128 of Relentless

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Liam scowled at a grinning Brody Weaver. He pointed at the Texas team’s leader. “I won’t be stuck in this bed forever. Continuing to flirt with my future wife is dangerous for your health, buddy.”

“I’m not worried. Texas Rangers trump jar heads every time.”

Piper rolled her eyes. “Knock it off, Brody. Antagonizing Liam won’t score points with me.”

Brody dropped to his knees, hand pressed to his heart, face a mask of mock misery. “Ah, sweet Piper. You wound me deeply.”

Logan shook his head at his leader’s antics.

Max pushed aside Brody and knelt on one knee in front of Piper. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a silk flower and handed it to her. “Toss Brody and Liam to the female masses and run away with me. I’ll treat you like a princess. You’ll never have to work another day in your life. I’ll bring you chocolate bonbons every day and flowers on Fridays.”

Liam growled. The Texas team must not have a self-preservation gene in their bodies. He was going to kill every one of them.

“Sounds like a good deal to me,” Logan said. “What do you say, Piper?”

“You aren’t going to make your own pitch for my hand in marriage?”

A slow smile spread across his mouth. “Why should I? I’ll be the last man standing after the rest of the team dies in mysterious explosions.”

His teammates groaned. “Like you wouldn’t be the first suspect,” Brody said. “You’re the explosives expert.”

“I’m also experienced enough to make the accidents believable. Nope, sorry, guys. The girl will be mine in the end. If you’re smart, you’ll vacate the field of battle before you meet a painful death.”

Jesse Phelps snorted. “You’re all idiots. Liam doesn’t have to be mobile to pull the trigger on his sniper rifle. From what I hear through the grapevine, he doesn’t miss.”

Liam shifted his glance to the medic. “Maybe I’ll let you live. The others are doomed.”

A brush of fabric against the hallway wall had all four men from the Texas team moving to form a wall between Liam and Piper and the unannounced visitor, weapons drawn and ready.

Sawyer Chapman peered into the room at Sorensen’s clinic. “Jet’s ready. We can leave as soon as Liam decides to quit lazing around and drags himself out of bed.”

“Where’s my rifle?” Liam asked. “I’ll take out the lot of you now and save myself a bunch grief over the next two weeks.”

The team and Piper laughed.

“We’ll load the gear in the SUVs and come back for you and Piper.” Brody narrowed his eyes at Liam. “Don’t move, McCoy. We’ll make you pull your own weight soon enough. For now, let us do the work.”

Liam motioned for the team to go on.

Piper sat on the recovery room bed and entwined their fingers. “You know I would never cheat on you, right? They’re teasing to get a rise out of you.”

He cupped her nape and drew Piper forward to kiss her, pleased when the movement only cause a minor twinge of pain. Definite improvement over the past three days. “I know, Sunshine. These men are too honorable to make a move on a woman involved with a fellow operative. The needling is all in the spirit of fun.”

She sighed. “Good. You never have to worry about that with me. I love you too much to hurt you that way.”

Liam’s thumb stroked lightly over her bruised jaw. “I adore you, Piper. You mean everything to me. I wouldn’t jeopardize the gift of you by even looking at another woman that way.”

Brody returned with Jesse at his heels. “Time to go.”

When Piper moved out of the way, the men slowly raised Liam to a sitting position and held him steady while his equilibrium and stomach settled into place. Being this weak ticked him off and the last thing he wanted to do was barf in front of Piper.

“Okay now?” Jesse asked.

Not even close. “Let’s go.”

Sorensen pushed a wheelchair into the room. “Time for you to go, McCoy. You’re grumpy enough that I’d say you’re well on your way to a full recovery. Remember, no working for at least six weeks. If you think you’re ready to go back before then, stop in and let me check you. Otherwise, I’ll refuse to clear you. you’ll be sent back to the beach.”

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