Page 59 of Savage Escape

“Sorry about Reid.” Nathan did not have an excuse for his brother. “He’s always been...” What was the right descriptor? “Reid.”

Reid slunk back into the room. Triumph all but oozing from his smug face. Suspicion crawled up Nathan’s spine, and he glared.

“Reid what?—”

All bright colors and dimples and stern looks, his mother waltzed into the room.

The bottom dropped out of Nathan’s stomach and he had to bite back the curse he wanted to hurl at his brother. He wanted to introduce her to his family in small doses. Not chuck her into the deep end without a floaty. His brothers had already swarmed her and now Reid was playing tattletale. Nathan was going to strangle him with his own stethoscope.

“Ma.” It came out sounding like an excuse, but hell, it was a knee-jerk reaction to the scowl on her face. He could just feel the reprimand in the air around her.

Caden went rigid beside him. She tensed. Her muscles locked. Her jaw clenched, and she stared forward. She was going to bolt.

“Nathan Albert Savage—you listen to your brother. He knows what he’s talking about.” Her thick born-on-the-bayou accent rang with reprimand.

Already her focus slid off him and to the woman beside him. He wanted to reach over and touch her or hold her hand or move closer, but he felt that any sudden movements on his part and she’d be up and out the door before he could blink.

“Can’t believe I had to get Ma.” Reid was muttering again, but Nathan tuned him out. “I’m a doctor, for Christ’s sake—I shouldn’t have to tattle to your mommy to get you to listen to me.”

His mother’s dark face softened, and she broke into her all-consuming smile. Gold glinted in her teeth. Necklaces tinkled and bracelets jingled as she moved closer to the bed. She reached a hand out to touch Caden’s shoulder and her smile gentled.

“My boys tell me I have you to thank for bringing Nate home alive.” He watched her hand squeeze Caden’s good shoulder, and she leaned closer. “Thank you. Thank the heavens you were there.” Caden’s face went white under her bruises and then pink, but she remained absolutely still. “Can I hug you, darlin’, or are you too beat up?”

“Err... yes—no.” Caden pulled out of his mother’s reach and shook her head. “Yeah, I’m—I’ve got blood all over—my back is—” She leaned further back as if his tiny mother had hidden weapons on her person and was planning to use them. “No. No hugs.”

“All right, I understand.” Not at all put off, his mother took a step back and outstretched her hand. “I’m Ellen Savage, these hellions’ mother.”

“I’m Av—Caden Quinn.” She took his mother’s hand and shook it. “Mercenary.” Like she was reminding herself.

“Caden, thank you for bringing my son home.” She grinned mischievously and leaned closer. “And for scaring the hell outta them all when you woke up. I hear you woulda handed all their asses to them if Nate hadn’t been produced.” She leaned back and beamed at the younger woman. “They need to be taken down a few pegs.” She cackled, and Caden tensed.

“I’m sorry about that—I thought they were the enemy—I didn’t?—”

“Don’t you go apologizin’. You have every right to protect yourself. It is their own fault for not explainin’ things better.” His mother jolted and glanced down at her watch. “Oh shit, if I don’t get that bread outta the oven before it burns, Bobby’ll never forgive me.” She turned back to Caden and smiled again. “Gumbo and cornbread if ya’ll are up for it tonight. Bobby is makin’ it, so don’t you two start complainin’.” She turned on her heel and waltzed out, but not before shooting Nathan a look and ordering him to listen to his brother.

“Damn right, you should listen to me.” Reid had never really quit his ranting. He’d just gathered more steam. “Tattle to your mother. Ridiculous. You can maybe have the broth but we’re gonna take it slow with food. I don’t want to be cleaning up vomit.”

“Err...” Caden cleared her throat and unlocked her muscles. “Where’s the shower?”

The only certified doctor in the room turned even more grumpy at the mention of a shower. But he was knocked out of his sullen stupor when the woman carefully stood and started messing with the lines on her wrist.

“No, don’t you dare take them out.” Reid reached over and blocked her hand. “You can take it with you. It has wheels.”

“What—no, I’m good. Honestly. I don’t feel dehydrated at all.” Caden was using her earnest voice and Reid’s face was pinching with irritation.

“That is a crock of shit and you know it. It won’t kill you to take it with you. Don’t make me get Ma back in here.” He folded his arms across his chest and already looked smug. Like tattling to someone else’s mother would work on Caden Quinn.

Nathan waited for Caden to scoff at his social leper of a brother and roll her eyes.

“Fine.” She capitulated instantly. Eyes going wide and alert like she was waiting for Ellen to burst through the door at any moment. “Where’s the bathroom?”

“Turn right out this door and it’s the last door on the left in the hallway.” Reid hovered over her as she struggled with the portable IV. “Lukewarm water, I mean it. I want to get you stitched and cleaned up, and I don’t want to have to deal with swelling.”

“Got it.” Caden glanced back at him and Nathan was relieved to see the calm in her gaze. Maybe he was wrong about her bolting. A devilish smirk curled her lips. “Nathan, do you want?—”

“No sex,” Reid growled and glared for all he was worth. Caden glared back and scowled harder. Which made Nathan grin like an idiot.

She wanted him as much as he wanted her.

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