Page 82 of Evening Shadows

When she dropped her head, he changed the topic. “Since you wore your nightgown to visit, does that mean you’re crawling into bed with me?”

She looked down at the black HIS T-shirt that he knew couldn’t be hers. “It’s not a nightshirt. It’s Jesse’s T-shirt. Kate’s shirts didn’t quite fit.”

Redness crept up her cheeks, and he found it adorable. Trying not to chuckle at what she’d said because anyone with eyes—especially a red-blooded male—knew the difference in the women. “I see.” He bit his tongue so as not to say something that might land him in the doghouse, especially since his mind had wandered to holding them in his hands and having them against his chest.

Squirming because his thoughts were derailing, he cleared his throat, then smiled and went all in. “Why don’t you climb into bed with me and let me see why the other shirts wouldn’t fit.”

She laughed, and he couldn’t decide if he preferred the sound or the expression on her face at the action.

Her eyes twinkled in merriment, but a deep longing sat on the edges. “While getting caught with my pants down by the team doesn’t appeal to me, getting caught by a hospital worker seems ten times worse.”

“Well, come lie in my arms. I need to feel you and know that after everything, you’re safe.”

After a glance up and down the blanket covering his body, she bit her lip. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t. I’m not that bad. Now come here.”

Relief that she’d stood to join him whipped through him. He hadn’t realized how important that step was to easing his fears.

A knock sounded on the door, and she stopped her progress. Alarm flashed across her eyes before she spun around, her hand slapping her thigh where she kept her holster. Only now, she didn’t have one.

He had little concern because his weapons rested under his pillow. When the doctor had taken him back for care, Doc had sought the approval through the security department. Although unorthodox, at one time Jesse had approval for HIS because of prior security details. So there’d been no problem with him retaining his weapon.

Besides, his men already watched the door so it shouldn’t be anyone not approved. Still, with one hand gripping on the stock, he said, “Come in.” If it was trouble, he could whip it around and fire in no time.

The door opened to Franks and Stone. Both wore frowns. Before he could greet them, Franks glowered at Sam. “You were supposed to wait.”

His eyes widened as he knew Franks’s pain. “I take it your clearance ran into a snag and Sam didn’t wait?”

Turning to Ken, Stone said, “New guard. We had to almost threaten to call his boss to get our standing approval.”

Sam reached down and slid her hand into his. While she probably didn’t realize it, her small action made him feel ten feet tall.

“Thanks for seeing Sam here,” he told the men in unison. “I know you’d have liked to go home after this.”

Stone shook his head. “No. We want to be here so that crazy woman doesn’t catch up to Sugar.” Obviously realizing the possible impact of his words, he turned to Sam and sheepishly said, “No offense.”

She laughed, and the music of it touched him deep down. “It’s okay. Bev is crazy.”

“We’re here until you’re ready to leave, Sugar.”

“Thanks, Franks. I want to stay all night if we can twist an arm and get approval. Is that a problem?”

His slow smile appeared. “No problem. We’ll take care of the approval and take over for Romeo and Celeb. We’ll just be outside.”

“But—”

Ken cut her off. “Thanks.”

Once the men exited, she turned to him. “Why did you stop me from offering the couch or the chair? I can’t sit on both at the same time.”

“Because we need the privacy.”

“Ken, I told you we couldn’t here.”

He grinned as mischief grabbed hold of him. “I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about you coming over here and lifting your shirt so I can see the evidence of why you couldn’t wear something from the other women.”

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