Be With Me(10)

“Stay right there. Let me get you a towel. I don’t want you stepping out onto this wet floor. It’s slippery.”

A moment later, he wrapped her in a towel then curled his arm around her and helped her out of the shower. The door opened, and Sawyer stuck his head in. He extended his hand with a folded pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt.

Cam took the clothes and tossed them near the sink.

“I think I can manage now,” she said in a low voice.

He touched her lightly on the arm. “I’l be right outside. Don’t be stubborn, Reggie. If you need help, ask for it. I don’t want to have to come in here and pick your ass up off the floor after you’ve taken a nosedive.”

She smiled and clutched the towel a little tighter around her. Her chest felt al fluttery, tight, like she couldn’t breathe around the little squeeze.

He opened the door and walked out, shutting it behind him. She sank onto the toilet seat and closed her eyes. Her hands shook as she peeled away the towel. She felt dangerously close to crying, and for the life of her she couldn’t figure out why.

Maybe because you nearly got your ass killed.

Maybe because the three men who mean the world to you have decided to launch a full-frontal assault?

She reached for the clothes, knowing they wouldn’t give her long before they came in after her. As she pulled on the sweats, she grimaced. She hated the idea of showing up to an interview with her chief in sweats and a T-shirt, but at the same time she knew that Hutch had chosen the only thing she could possibly be comfortable in. Loose and not confining, the sweats and the T-shirt wouldn’t irritate her bruised ribs. Then there was the whole issue of going into the police station without a bra. God help her.

Hutch’s leather jacket. The one he was never without no matter how damn hot it got. She could use it.

Feeling marginal y better about the situation, she ran her fingers through her hair after toweling more of the moisture from it. The curls spil ed around her head in disarray, and with a resigned sigh, she gave up on trying to make herself presentable. No one would give a shit what she looked like anyway.

She hesitated a fraction of a second before opening the bathroom door. Sawyer was there, as though he’d been waiting, and he probably had been. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and hugged her up close to his side as he helped her toward the bed.

Knowing she would be talking to a brick wal , she didn’t even bother offering a protest. She gave a disgruntled sigh and let him put her where he wanted her.

As he helped her back onto the bed, she looked over at Hutch.

“Thanks for the clothes.”

He smiled. “Anytime, baby.”

She was just about to lean back against the pil ows on her bed and indulge in some much-needed rest when the door flew open, startling her.

She tensed, causing a rush of pain to course through her body. As she viewed the man standing in the doorway, an ache began in her head that was absent before.

Her father.

“Regina,” he said with a frown as he strode in.

“Care to tel me why I had to hear about the incident you got yourself involved in from the media?

Damage control. How many times do I have to impress upon you the need for damage control?” Her hand fluttered to her forehead. God, not now.

What she wouldn’t give to make him go away.

Sawyer eased closer to the bed. It dipped, and she found herself securely resting against his muscled body. For once she had no desire to make him go away.

Peter Fal on looked around the room as if for the first time seeing that Regina wasn’t alone. His scowl grew.

“What is the meaning of this?” he asked, flinging his hand toward Hutch and Cam and then pointing toward her and Sawyer.

Cam stepped forward. “Mr. Fal on, I don’t think this is a good time. Reggie is tired and in a lot of pain.” Her father’s eyes flashed, and he rounded on Cam. “Her name is Regina, and what the hel are you doing here? What are any of you doing here?” He directed his ire back at Regina. “Do you have any idea how this appears? You’re a public figure, Regina. For God’s sake, it’s time to start acting like one.”

She eyed him dul y, the pounding in her head vicious and unrelenting. “You’re the public figure, Dad.”

Power. It was al about power to him. He wanted it, craved it, and it pissed him off that he’d never been able to establish power over his only child.

He ignored her and began pacing back and forth while Cam and Hutch stared at him, their gazes narrow and angry.

“We’l hold a press conference when you’re released. I’l need to issue a statement.” Press conference? She wanted to laugh. Who the hel cared about what went on in their little town? He might be able to pony up a one-man crew from Beaumont if it was a real y slow news day.

She closed her eyes and leaned into Sawyer. Why had he come? Why was he here? Of course. He was worried how what had happened to her would affect his public image, and then he walked in to see three men he loathed al standing around his daughter.

Three men he’d never approved of, had done everything in his power to keep Regina away from when she was younger.

“I’m going to have to ask you to leave, Mr. Fal on,” Hutch said evenly. “You’re upsetting Reggie.” She opened her eyes to see her father bristle with rage and then compose himself. He straightened his suit and then his tie.