Page 55 of Sensual Nights

"It's not your fault."

"It is. I was late. Jace stopped me to talk. Then Ethan called. I should have been there."

"Don't. Please."

She focused on breathing regularly so it wouldn't hurt. He stopped apologizing and they stared into each other's eyes for a long time.

She smiled. "Time?"

He glanced at his watch. "Eleven."

"Night?"

He smiled softly. "Yeah. You've been in surgery and then out of it most of the afternoon and evening. By design. They wanted your stitches to have a bit of time before being worked."

She nodded.

"Go back to sleep beautiful. I'll be right here."

She looked past him at the chair. "Not comfortable."

He grinned. "When I was in Afghanistan, this would have been called heaven."

She shook her head and opened her mouth, but he shook his head. "I'm fine. You need to heal so we can sleep in a bed together. Deal?"

She smiled and nodded. "Deal."

34

Mason drove slowly to Carley's house. He was finally bringing her home. It had been a long week.

He glanced at her briefly and she grinned. "I'm fine."

He nodded. "I know." He turned onto her road. "I can look if I want to."

She nodded and smiled. He couldn't wait to hear her laugh again. She'd need to be stronger for that though. Her therapy was going well, but she needed to keep going for a while. He'd make sure she did.

He turned into her driveway, the garage door was open, and Margo's vehicle was parked to the far right of the drive. He drove in past Margo's vehicle and parked.

He didn't need to say it, but he did. "I'll come around and get you."

She smiled. "Thank you."

He hurried around Carley's vehicle. He'd used her SUV because she would have struggled getting into his truck. He opened the door and held his hand out in case she needed to hold on to him. She knew just how to slide off the seat and nottwist or bend to cause pain, as too much movement still took her breath away. Her lung function was great, considering what had happened. But it wasn't one hundred percent yet.

After moving herself out of the vehicle, she took hold of his arm, and they moved forward together. Margo flung the door open wide and had the biggest smile on her face. "Welcome home."

Carley smiled but didn't say anything. She needed her breath for movement. Once inside he asked, "Where do you want to go?"

"Living room."

He turned toward the living room. Jace was in the kitchen, and he grinned. "I'll go get the stuff from the car."

"Thanks," Mason responded.

He stopped at the sofa, and Carley slowly lowered herself onto it. He pulled the small pillow from the armchair and tucked it behind her lower back, so her wound didn't rest against the sofa.

Margo bustled in and sat on the coffee table in front of Carley. "I've made lunch. Turkey and wild rice soup. Let me know when you’'re ready. The house is clean; laundry is done. I've been filling in at your office, so you haven't missed a beat."

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