Lori Foster (9 page)

Okay, he heard the near hysteria that time. So she’d only been holding it together for him? Considerate.

Now what to do? He eyed Cannon. “You know anything about working in a bar?”

“My dad used to own one.”

Perfect. “Think you can start right now?”

“Let me check my calendar....” He held out his empty hands and grinned. “You’re in luck. I’m free.”

“Good. You’re hired.” Next he narrowed his eyes at Reese. “Sorry, man, but you have to play bartender for me. I don’t close for another two hours.”

Reese, the big lug, lit up with excitement. “Go get stitches or whatever.” He took off his coat and started rolling up his sleeves. “I’ve got it covered.”

* * *

A
VERY
WANTED
TO
coddle Rowdy so badly. She wanted to stroke his head and hug him and somehow make his life different.

Instead she sat in silence beside him in the backseat while Logan drove—with Rowdy holding
her
hand as if to offer comfort.

Such an amazing man.

Darrell had downed four whiskeys at the bar before he’d started making his demands. At first she hadn’t understood, and when she did catch on to what he wanted, Avery had tried to dissuade him. She knew Rowdy wouldn’t give him a thing, and she hated to see an ugly confrontation take place.

But the more the man drank, the nastier he got, and then, right after the breather had called again, she’d gotten lost in thought and Darrell had used that moment to grab her wrist.

She flattened her mouth, remembering again the discomfort, the fear, the...memories.

“Hey.” Rowdy lifted her hand to his mouth. “You okay?”

From the front seat, Logan snorted.

Rightfully so. Rowdy had a nearly two-foot cut from the top of his right shoulder all the way to the bottom of his left shoulder blade. He sat slightly forward, his left forearm braced on a thigh to keep his back from making contact with the seat.

But other than that, no one would know he’d been hurt.

She wasn’t even sure Rowdy knew it; he seemed so immune to pain.

Yes, she’d fretfully watched much of the fight through the kitchen window. When the knife wielder had shown up, she’d wanted so badly to rush out to Rowdy’s defense. With a cast-iron skillet in hand, she’d waffled, undecided if she’d help or hinder him with her presence—and the bastard had cut him.

She drew in a shuddering breath.

“Avery? Come on, honey. Ignore Logan and tell me you’re okay.”

“I’m okay.” She freed her hand and reached across him to straighten the coat over his shoulders. Since Reese had ripped away his shirt, he was bare chested except for the dish towels patching up his wound and Logan’s jacket, which he’d tried to refuse.

His body... Well, even so badly wounded, he made her want to melt. Her hand just naturally gravitated to his chest, smoothed over his downy, dark blond chest hair. She wanted to cuddle into him, put her cheek to his chest and feel his warmth, breathe in his vitality.

She wanted to reassure herself that he was truly okay.

But if she showed too much concern, if Rowdy realized how much she actually cared, would he push her away? So many times she’d seen him hook up with a woman and then the next day he’d give her his friendly but distant smile, the smile that said
we’re done.

She couldn’t bear the idea of getting that smile from him. But neither could she keep the words contained. Leaning against his shoulder, Avery whispered, “God, Rowdy, you scared me half to death.”

“Sorry.” He looked out the window at the dark night. “You shouldn’t have been watching.”

And if she hadn’t been, if Cannon hadn’t shown up or if that knife had stabbed him as intended, he could have died in the back of the bar with no one knowing. Those two evil cretins might have dragged his body away and...

Breath catching, hands holding his rock-solid biceps, Avery turned her face into him. He was here now, alive and well if a little bloodied. How many more fights would she have to witness?

And why did he want to fight so much anyway? She should introduce him to the tried-and-true method of conversation.

Rowdy slipped an arm around her. “Relax, babe.” And then with morbid humor, “You won’t get rid of me that easily.”

Logan glanced at them in the rearview mirror. “He really is fine, you know. I don’t want to stoke his already healthy ego, but he has a few good moves.”

This time Rowdy snorted, probably at the way Logan underplayed his ability.

“I know.” Avery couldn’t help but wonder what type of life had given him those skills. She recalled how he’d reacted to seeing Marcus—and her blasted heart cracked in two. She tucked her face in more, not wanting him to see her.

With a gentle touch, Rowdy smoothed his fingertips over her temple. “Where I grew up, you lost more than your lunch money if you couldn’t hold your own. Fighting isn’t a big deal for me, so don’t sweat it, okay?”

Not a big deal, and yet he’d looked so different after seeing the boy, devastated in a way no man should ever be.

She desperately needed to know why.

Even without a shirt, Rowdy felt wonderfully warm. She got as close as she could to steal some of his heat. “When Darrell mentioned that he had his son with him, I understood.”

“I know you did, and I appreciate it.”

He appreciated it? She straightened up and frowned. “What does that mean?”

“You handled it well. Did the right thing by calling Logan and getting Marcus inside.”

Dubious, Avery said, “Well, it didn’t take a genius to pick up the clues.”

“It’s called situational awareness, and not everyone has it.” He shifted. “Not everyone would have reacted, either.”

Avery couldn’t believe that. “Only a true monster would ignore something so blatant.”

He laughed with grim sarcasm. “If you say so.” And then, going serious again: “Give Ella a call and see what’s happening with the kid, will you?”

Logan replied before Avery could. “The social worker I called will keep me informed. I know him. He’s a good guy who really cares.”

Avery could tell that Rowdy didn’t like it, but he accepted that this was out of his control. The rest of the twenty-minute trip was made in painful silence.

Just as Logan pulled up to the emergency room doors, his phone beeped with an incoming message. He put the car in Park and read the text.

We sent a unit by Darrell’s place. No other kids.

Rowdy had suggested that they check, only to have Logan tell him it was routine to do so. Knowing he had a younger sister—a sister Logan had married—gave Avery more insight into how Rowdy thought about things, and why.

“They found the mom,” Logan added. “She was coked out of her head, unresponsive. Possible OD. They took her to the hospital.”

Rowdy shoved his door open and stalked from the car. Avery slid out of the seat behind him. Given the blood on his body, he drew immediate attention but didn’t appear to care.

Knowing he hurt in ways far worse than from a knife wound, she wished she could console him. “Rowdy?”

He paused, his back to her.

“Wait for me, please.” She caught up, stepping in front of him to once again arrange the jacket over his wide shoulders. She had to stretch up to reach, and Rowdy held her waist, patiently letting her fuss.

Logan turned his car over to the valet parking and joined them. “They’ll have questions for me on how this happened, so try to look more like a victim and less like a pissed-off marauder, will you?”

If anything, that only darkened Rowdy’s countenance more. He exuded menace, sending others to walk a wide path around him.

He entered the emergency room on his own steam, but Avery wouldn’t let him go through this alone. Not any of it.

If he wanted her to back off, he’d have to flat out tell her. Until then, she planned to stick by his side whether he appreciated her concern or not.

Unfortunately, Cannon proved correct. Rowdy filled out his insurance information, Logan explained the situation for a report and an hour later, after only a cursory check—presumably to ensure he wouldn’t die—they were still waiting.

When Logan took out his phone, Rowdy watched him. “Checking on the kid?”

“Calling your sister.”

Rowdy went still. “Does she know—?”

Logan shook his head. “When I got the call, she was already asleep. She woke long enough to know I was rushing out, but she didn’t know it was for you. She assumed it was routine police business.”

“Good.” Rowdy stood, removed the jacket and folded it before handing it to Logan. It would have to be dry-cleaned, but Logan didn’t seem to mind. “Don’t tell her.”

His eyes widened. “For that, she would kill us both.”

“Yeah, probably.” Rowdy ran a hand over his face, flinched at the pain that caused in his back and carefully dropped his arm again. “So how about you go home to her and handle things so that she doesn’t come charging down here? Think you can manage that?”

After scrutinizing Rowdy, Logan pushed up from his seat. “I’ll do my best, but I’m not making any promises.”

His best must have been good enough because even though Pepper called twice to talk with Rowdy, she hadn’t shown up in person. Avery was a little disappointed. She wanted to meet the woman who could make Logan and Rowdy quail.

During the phone conversations, feeling very much like an interloper, Avery had listened in. How Rowdy spoke to his sister filled her with a touch of envy.

Rowdy was the same and yet somehow gentler, his tone filled with unmistakable affection. At the end of the second conversation, Rowdy again insisted that he didn’t need Pepper to come to the hospital. “You have a husband to tend to.” Whatever Pepper replied had Rowdy groaning. “Forget it, I don’t need details.”

Avery bit back her grin, easily imagining what had been said.

After a few more words, Rowdy ended the call with a gruff, “Love you, too, kiddo.”

Emotion got a stranglehold on Avery’s throat. She was very, very grateful that Rowdy had someone special in his life.

He deserved that and so much more.

With the call complete, he put his phone in his pocket and again prowled the small space of the room. Like a caged lion, he drew the wary attention of every other hapless patient waiting to be seen. He went to a window and looked out at the parking lot, bright with security lamps.

He had to be exhausted and in pain, and she knew he was worried about Marcus. Avery needed to do something to help.

Coming up behind him, she examined his broad back. With the binding in place, the bleeding had stopped, but all round it, bruising started to show.

When she lightly touched her fingers to him, he stiffened.

Not knowing if it was pain and a rejection to being coddled that made him so tense, she moved to his side. “Do you want a drink?” He didn’t answer. “Or maybe I can find you a snack from a vending machine.”

His light brown gaze cut to her. “I’d rather you weren’t here at all.”

She flinched. That hurt worse than she’d expected. With no idea what to say, she stared up at him, helpless, hurting for him.

“Damn it.” Rowdy put his hand to her head, smoothed it over her hair. “Don’t look like that. I didn’t mean...I hate it that you’re stuck here with me. I’d ask you to head on home, except that as late as it is, I don’t want you going to your place alone.”

Praying he’d understand, Avery said, “I feel the same about you.”

He gave her a crooked, mean smile. “There’s a world of difference, babe.”

“You’re hurt whether you want to admit it or not.” Ready to insist if necessary, Avery said, “You’re going to need some help.”

“Yeah? What kind of help are we talking about?” His hand drifted from her hair to the side of her face. His thumb brushed her bottom lip. “You gonna help me out of my clothes? Maybe shower with me? Tuck me into bed?”

Even now, he was on the make. She shook her head and did her best not to react. “Listen up, Rowdy. You. Are. Wounded.”

“It’s not that big of a deal.” His heated gaze zeroed in on her breasts. “I sure as hell wouldn’t let it slow me down.”

His look was so carnal, she had to fight the urge to cover herself. “Well, it’d slow me down!”

“Shhh, relax.” The mean smile turned knowing and indulgent. “You’re drawing attention.”

Horrified by that possibility, she closed her eyes to count to ten.

His warm breath teased her ear. “Say the word, Avery, and we can go as slow as you like.”

Oh, God, he sounded serious. Did nothing get to him?

She met his gaze, and decided that no, not much did. She was saved from replying when a nurse appeared, ready to show him to a room.

It surprised her when Rowdy snagged her hand and tugged her along with him. The next few minutes were excruciating as two nurses gave her the stink eye while oohing and aahing over him.

Whatever happened to professionalism?

“Looks like you’re in overall excellent health,” one nurse cooed.

Avery glared at her.

Rowdy gave his charming, devil’s smile. “Thanks.”

Of all the... Avery laced her hands together. “Maybe if you check his back instead of his chest, you’ll find the injury.”

Rowdy’s smile expanded into a grin, and he used Avery’s hand to pull her close.

Both nurses wanted to know what had happened, which Avery supposed made sense, but they mixed in totally inappropriate comments, too.

“So this happened at your bar? What’s the name?”

“And where is it?”

Coy bitch,
Avery thought. “Does that really matter?”

The nurse didn’t take the hint. She teased Rowdy, saying, “What does the other guy look like?”

“Were you fighting over a woman?” the other asked. “How sweet.”

Sweet? “Fighting is never a good idea!”

Rowdy patted her hand. “Sorry, she’s had a rough night.”

At the breaking point, Avery opened her mouth to blast everyone in the room, but all she got out was “I—” before Rowdy kissed her.

With both nurses watching.

It wasn’t a wimpy little kiss. Nope. It was a hot, damp, tongue and teasing show of possession. Whew. Her insides went liquid and her anger melted away.