Page 54 of Love Under Protection

“As soon as you sign these papers for me. And next time you come in here, don’t go scaring my nurses. They sent me in here because they’re all too afraid you’re going to bite their heads off.”

“Kerr, it sounds like you need tougher nurses.” Captain Russek grins.

“Nah. Don’t let her fool you, she wanted to be the one to say goodbye. It’s been a while since we’ve seen one another. Right, Kasey?”

My jaw drops, and I feel like I’ve missed out on something when Doctor Kerr says, “Go to hell, Harley.”

After everyone clears out and Captain Russek says he’s going to meet us outside, I can’t help but ask Harley what that exchange was all about. Blame it on needing a distraction from the reality of what really happened tonight.

“I dated her for a while,” he answers honestly while I help him put his uniform shirt back on. “Before you go getting all jealous, she’s married now, ironically to Adam and they’re happy as pie. She and I were never a good fit for each other.”

“Who said I was jealous?” I try to cover it up.

“I’ll take your word for it.”

It’s pushing eight o’clock in the morning when we get to Harley’s apartment. Needing something to do to block everything out of my mind, I remember how Harley took care of me when I was sick in Hawaii and know that now is my chance to return the favor.

“You talked to Olivia tonight?” Harley asks before I have a chance to try and get him in the shower.

“Oh. No. I haven’t. She said they were staying in Connecticut at some fancy hotel and would be back late Sunday. Is it bad that I’m kinda glad she isn’t home, and I don’t have to talk about what happened with her yet?”

“Nah.” He wraps his arms around me. “You don’t have to be strong about this either.”

The tears that I thought were gone come flooding back. “It’s all so messed up.”

“Yeah, it is,” he agrees. “Come with me. I think I know what might help.”

Harley leads me through his apartment and into his master suite. Inside the bathroom is a massive claw-foot soaker tub that he immediately starts to fill.

“I don’t have any girly stuff, so you’ll have to smell like me,” he teases while pouring in body wash from a bottle on the shelf.

“I should be the one taking care of you,” I tell him.

He takes my hand and kisses it. “We can take care of each other.”

Harley lets me undress him and climbs into the tub. I fully intend to sit on the side and cater to him, but he refuses.

“Undress and get in here.”

“Harley.”

“Raylynn. Take your damn clothes off and join me, woman.”

I trust that he knows his limits and what he wants, so I strip down and gently climb into the warm tub. Harley pulls me into his lap, and for a moment I panic.

“Shh. It’s only me. I won’t hurt you, ever.”

“I didn’t see him coming.” A loud sob escapes.

“It’s okay. You’re okay,” Harley soothes. “It’s all over. He can never hurt you again.”

I sniffle. “His father tried to warn me. There was a voicemail on my phone. I never listened to it. Maybe if I would have…”

“Babe, listen to me.” He brushes my hair over my shoulder and kisses my neck. “You had no way to stop this. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I could have lost you.” And above all else, that’s what hurts the worst.

“But you didn’t. I’m still here.”

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