Page 101 of Wine & Whiskey
Carrie would be furious to know he’s barking orders and issuing ultimatums on her behalf. But, she’ll never know, at least not from Shae. Telling her would only drive deeper wedges between all of them. “Where is she now?”
“She went to get her stuff. I couldn’t help her since I’m working, so Jason’s with her.” He glances at his buzzing phone. “I have to get back downstairs. Think about what I said. We can help you get away from him.”
“It’s not like that. I don’t need an escape plan. I’m with him because I want to be.”
He rolls his eyes again before walking away, his head still shaking as he turns the corner.
She takes a deep breath and walks into Nick’s room. He and Max talk in low voices, stopping as she enters.
Max pats her on the head. “Hand off. I’ve got to take care of something. It’s your turn to put up with, I mean take care of, the patient.”
“Thanks. I’ll do my best.”
Nick lies back against the elevated bed. “Come here.”
She sits in the chair next to him and tucks his hand between hers. Dark circles frame his closed eyes. The mental and physical strain of the last hour drives him to exhaustion again, although he would never admit it.
His fingertips tap the mattress. “No, here, with me.”
No questions linger regarding his personality. His request confirms his absolute return to his old self. Uncertain if she can say the same about herself, she hesitates. “I can’t. What would people think about me being in your hospital bed?”
“I don’t give a damn. I need you with me.”
Between him and Carrie, she needs comforting just as much. Disregarding her doubt, as well as all the rules of proper decorum and modesty, she climbs under the covers and curls into the crook of his arm. The kiss on her forehead welcomes her home. “I love you, Shae.” His breathing slows as she snuggles in and closes her eyes.
* * *
Her flowery scentlingers on his shirt, but a chill settles in the bed without her pressed against him. “Shae?”
Her head peeks out of the bathroom, a mint-tinged foamy smile greeting him. “I’m here. Give me a second.”
Damn, she’s adorable. He crosses his arms behind his head, attempting to ignore the persistent anxiety circling all his thoughts of her. She seems in good spirits considering everything that's happened, yet something uncertain hovers under the surface. The gurgle of water dissipates, and after a few seconds, she walks into the room.
“Good morning.”
“It is now. You know I don’t like waking up and finding you gone from my bed.”
She giggles as she climbs in next to him. “I wanted to freshen up a bit. Not as good as a shower, but always better to have a clean dress and panties.”
Jesus Christ. The thought of her in those silky bikinis she wears makes his groin twitch. She cuddles against him, oblivious to the heat surging through him.
“How’re you feeling?”
“Better. Like myself again.”
“I’m glad to have you back.”
The strange sensation of losing time couples with the unsettling feeling something’s off between them. As if they’ve been apart for weeks, even though it’s only been a few days. “I’ll be glad to get out of this bed and back into ours. I’ve missed you.”
She puts her hands on his chest, worry frowning her forehead and lips. “Please don’t rush it. You need to take care of yourself. You’ve been through a lot, and it takes time to get better.”
He leans down and kisses across her jaw line before grazing her ear lobe, tasting her sweet essence. “Will you be my nurse? Take care of my every need? Give me a sponge bath?”
Her head falls back, giving him access to her neck, a soft moan radiating under his lips. “Now I know you’re feeling better.”
An exaggerated throat-clearing from the doorway interrupts their discussion. “If you flip that lever under the bar, it elevates the bottom half of the bed, which is great for when you do it—”
“Carrie!” Shae hops up and smooths down her dress. “I don’t even want to know how you know that.”
