Forged in Steele (KGI #7)(76)

She forgot to breathe and then it all came out in a rush when she realized she’d been holding her breath. And then she cocked her head, a completely random realization creeping into her mind.

“Do you know I don’t even know your name? Obviously ‘Steele’ is your last name and everyone calls you that, but what’s your first name? You told me your brother’s name but never said what yours is.”

Steele looked startled and then smiled ruefully. “I’ve been called ‘Steele’ for so long that I forget I have a first name. I don’t even think about it because when I do, it doesn’t sound like me. It sounds like someone else.”

She nodded but looked expectantly at him, waiting for him to share.

“It’s Jackson,” he said on a long breath. “Jackson Steele. Sounds funny, doesn’t it?”

She smiled. “Not at all. I like it. Very manly name. But I think I’ll still call you Steele.”

“Thank f**k,” he muttered. “If you started calling me Jackson, or God forbid, Jack, I wouldn’t even realize who you were talking to.”

She laughed and leaned in to kiss him, reveling in the intimacy created between the two of them. He kissed her back but then leaned back, adopting a stern expression.

“Now, we’ve talked long enough. You have to be starving. Are you ready to try out some soup and tea? I’ll see if I have any crackers that aren’t stale, but I can’t guarantee anything. Tomorrow, I have to go check in with Sam and I’ll make a grocery run and we’ll also get you some clothes while we’re at it. We need to get you new glasses too. Whatever you need, you’re going to have.”

Her heart softened at the sincerity in his voice. And that he’d pay attention to such small details like her not having her glasses.

“I’m going with you then?”

He lifted one eyebrow, his expression clearly that he’d thought she’d lost her mind.

“Where I go, you go, Maren. That’s a fact. Until I’m sure you can defend yourself—and I plan to teach you quite a bit in the next while—you don’t go anywhere without me, and I sure as hell don’t go anywhere without you.”

“Well, then, I guess I’m glad you like me,” she said cheekily. “It would suck if you didn’t, since we’ll be spending so much time together.”

He chuckled and then lifted her off his lap, setting her on the couch beside him.

“Get comfortable and kick back. I’ll get you something to sip on and when you’re done, we’ll turn in early. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day and I don’t want you overdoing it.”

“Yes, Dr. Steele.”

“Smart-ass,” he muttered.

CHAPTER 29

WHEN Maren awoke the next morning, Steele was already out of bed. When she blearily checked the clock on the nightstand, she was shocked to see it was already ten. She’d slept fourteen hours!

She didn’t even really remember going to bed. She’d sipped her soup and then savored a cup of hot tea, grateful that it had all remained down. Then she and Steele had sat on the couch and watched a movie. The next thing she knew he was carrying her to bed because she’d fallen asleep on the couch. He put her under the covers and then crawled in next to her. Bam. It was already the next morning.

So much for really hot monkey sex.

She yawned and stretched, extending her feet all the way to the end of the bed, and curled her toes against the soft sheets. Steele had really great bed linens. Nothing like the cheap ones on her bed in Costa Rica.

Thinking of her house and her clinic put a halt to the dreamlike quality of the morning. She’d worked hard to build her practice there. It was never a job that was going to make her wealthy, or even financially well off. But it had been rewarding. The locals all liked and trusted her. And now they were without a physician and the nearest hospital was two hours away.

She’d have to place a few calls to see if another physician could take over her clinic and her home. For that matter, she needed to retrieve her things from there. She had stuff she didn’t want to lose. Personal items and mementos. And in her clinic alone was thousands of dollars of medical equipment and supplies.

Just thinking about it all stressed her. She closed her eyes and rubbed her head, determined not to let it get to her. Her focus had to be herself and her child.

The bed dipped and her eyes flew open to see Steele hovering over her, his expression one of concern.

“Are you all right?” he demanded. “Are you sick again?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m good. I was just thinking about my house and the clinic. I was getting worked up over it and was trying not to let myself get stressed about it.”

“What about it?” Steele asked in a quieter tone. He’d obviously been concerned when he’d seen her in bed. His eyes had been bright with worry and now the lines eased around his eyes and his entire expression softened.

“I want my things,” she said. “Everything I owned was in that house. I don’t have a lot. I mean what I have isn’t worth a lot of money. But my stuff is important to me and I’d hate to lose it.”

“I understand,” he said. “I’ll see what I can do. Maybe Rio could arrange to have your house packed and everything delivered here.”

She rose up and flung her arms around his neck, toppling him over on the bed in the process. She landed atop him with a bounce and then she kissed him.