Page 89 of When He Protects

Double damn.

She just watched him dress. It was almost as much fun as watching him undress. Kane had brought in fresh clothes for him—and for her—the previous night. She’d been able to change right away, but Tyler had been stuck in his hospital gown.

“Esme.”

Le sigh.All of his clothes were back in place. “Yes?”

He faced her. “You can get out of handcuffs.”

“Yes, I can.” Something that had mightily pissed off Clay.

His eyebrows lowered. “But when I cuffed you at Jorlan’s, you didn’tescape.”

“Why show the world my skills?” A flippant response. She was so very good at those. And she was also very good at ditching cuffs. Something that came in handy in certain circumstances.

He crossed to stand right in front of her. “You didn’t want to get away from me.” Tyler spoke with utter certainty.

So why deny the obvious? “True.”

“Because you had a master plan in place.”

That master plan had been blown to hell. Literally.

“You stayed with me,” Tyler noted.

“We’re a package deal.” She wished that she could read all of the emotions swirling in his eyes.

“With that blast, you relived one of the worst moments of your life.”

The faint smile on her face bled away.

“I know the explosion reminded you of Paris.” Gruff.

Yes.

“But you didn’t cry. You didn’t crack at all. You stayed strong and you heldmyhand all night long.”

A lump seemed to choke her, so she swallowed it down. Mostly. “I cried plenty. You just didn’t see because you happened to be unconscious and sprawled on the ground at the time.”

He leaned forward, and his mouth pressed to hers. A soft, tender kiss. Maybe the softest, tenderest kiss she’d ever had in her life. And just what was she supposed to do with that?

“You chose me,” he said.

She had.

“I choose you, Esme.”

What did that mean?

But the door was opening. Again. Could no one respectprivacy? Even as she frowned, Kane was there, looking all big and bold and a bit too knowing as he quirked a brow at them. “Doc just told me it’s time to blow this joint.”

She glared at his choice of words.

“Yeah, sorry.” He had the grace to wince. “I have a shitty sense of humor sometimes.” He held the door open. “I also hate hospitals and don’t want to stay here another minute. Tyler has the all clear. Let’s get moving.Now.”

And they did. They rushed through the hospital. Went out the back and found Clay waiting for them as he stood beside a Jeep.

His stare swept over Tyler. “You look like death walking, my friend.”

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