Page 61 of Radar

“If it’s okay,” Elyssa said, sliding from under the covers, “I’m just going next door to grab my bag, then get dressed here?”

“Whatever works best for you.” Xander came up on one elbow as he watched her wrap herself in the extra blanket that had been draped over the foot of the bed.

Instead of bending over and risking a racing heart, Elyssa curled her toes into the fabric of her pant leg, pulled her knee to her chest, and passed them to her hand.

As Elyssa rifled in the pocket for her key card, Xander climbed out of bed and came to her side. She noticed Xander was already wearing his hiking pants. Had he gotten cold in the night?

She felt like she should say something about last night, and that she was glad they’d met, she edited thefinallyfrom her thoughts.

But what could she say? “That was memorable in every good way, thanks.” Nah.

Elyssa ended up choosing. “The Pentagon area is a subway ride from my place. I’m looking forward to seeing you again.”

“Elyssa, it’s freezing out. And that’s too hard on you.” Xander took her key card from her hand without asking for her permission. Bare-chested, because she was wearing his shirt, Xander pulled on his coat, shoved his feet in his boots, and went out the door.

Luckily, Elyssa hadn’t unpacked anything from her backpack. Her purse was sitting on the desk in Xander’s room.

She was glad Xander went. Despite her efforts, her chest tightened in pain as her heart went into hyperdrive, trying to move blood around her body.

Elyssa sank to the floor, and Radar came over to lie across her outstretched legs.

The pressure helped improve her circulation, and by the time Xander came back with her pack, her chest pain had subsided.

“Are you okay?” Xander asked, squatting beside her and lifting her wrist to check her pulse. He reached up for her purse and handed it to her so she could get to her bottle of electrolytes.

How did he know how to take care of her?

How did Radar know, for that matter?

“Better,” Elyssa said, after gulping down the entirety of the bottle.

“I only found the backpack,” Xander said. “Nothing was lying out. No suitcase.”

“The airline lost my luggage, so that’s all I have.”

Xander’s focus was on Radar. “I think you have a new friend. He’s going to be sad when he’s left with only my company.”

Dog and man locked gazes, and Elyssa would pay good money to know what they were communicating to each other.

It would have been nice, she thought, if Xander had added that he was going to miss her.

Instead, he said, “I’ll set this in the bathroom.” He stood and moved her pack to the other room.

Radar must have sensed that the dizzy sensation had lifted because he climbed from her lap and gave her a lick. “Thank you, sweetheart. That helped.”

She moved slowly to get up, so she wouldn’t retrigger her symptoms. Time was ticking, and Elyssa couldn’t afford to have a full episode.

Xander was back, reaching for her hand to help her up. Then, he pulled her to his chest, but instead of kissing her, he took her face between his hands, looking deeply into her eyes. Something about her seemed to confuse him.

And his behavior this morning, while chivalrous and caring, was nothing like the energy between them last night. He confused her, too.

“I need to get dressed,” she said.

In the bathroom, she pulled on her bra, then decided to pull his Henley back on. Yup, it was hers now. It was as warm and soft as Elyssa had imagined it to be when she’d first seen Xander.

Wearing it, Elyssa had slept long and deep in his arms. It had been a while since she woke feeling so good.

As Elyssa brushed her teeth, pictures of their night together brought a smile to her face and made her throb. It sucked that they’d met under these circumstances, but they’d have time once he got home.

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