Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(63)

She walked over to the bed and took his hand. “I so want to yell at you.”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s difficult to scream really loud at a guy with a gunshot wound.”

“I’m weak,” he told her. “I can’t fight back.”

“I know. That’s part of the problem.”

There were shadows under her brown eyes and she’d pulled her hair back in a ponytail. Her T-shirt was one from the store, with the Brew-haha logo on the front. He wondered if she would wear only those shirts now. He understood the need to advertise, but he liked the dancing hippos and martini-drinking flamingos.

She continued to hold on to his hand, her fingers worrying his. “You were shot.” Her voice accused.

“I tried to duck.”

She pressed her lips together. “Don’t be funny. You could have died.”

“I didn’t.”

“That’s not the point. Dammit, Justice, what were you thinking? What do you really do at your job that you come home with a bullet in your side?”

Her worry wrapped itself around him like a blanket. Warm and comforting. No one had ever worried before. His team wanted him alive because it made their lives easier. He had friends who would miss him if he died, but no one worried.

“They took out the bullet in D.C.,” he told her.

“You know what I mean.” She shook his arm. “You scared me.”

“I’m sorry for that.”

“Stop apologizing. I can’t decide if I should kiss you or hit you.”

“Do I get to pick?”

She leaned in and touched her mouth to his. The light pressure did more for his battered body than any IV.

“I assume that’s the one you wanted,” she said, staring into his eyes.

“Good guess.”

She sighed. “You should have stayed put. You could have called. I would have understood.”

“I promised I’d be there.”

“You said you’d be at the grand opening. Not that you would risk life and limb flying the red-eye across country after checking yourself out of the hospital against doctor’s orders.”

He winced. “Felicia told you that?”

“I haven’t seen her, but she told my mom, who told me.”

He knew Felicia would have shared the basics, but nothing else. Not the details of his assignment.

“I needed to be there for you, Patience.”

He hadn’t meant to say the words, but now that he had, he wouldn’t call them back. She deserved him keeping his promises.

“That’s the drugs talking,” she muttered, straightening.

He knew it wasn’t, but decided it was better to pretend. After all, who was he to offer her anything?

“How long was I out?” he asked.

“Nearly twenty-four hours.”

“The opening was yesterday?”

“Uh-huh. You caused quite the scene. You’re on the front page of the paper.”

“Lucky me.” He frowned. “You need to get back to the store.”

“I will. Felicia’s coming to look in on you, and when she gets here, I’ll head back.”

“I don’t need you to babysit me. I’m in a hospital.”

“I’m clear on the where, mister. But I’m not leaving you on your own. You can’t be trusted.”

He’d been injured before. Dozens of times. In the army his C.O. checked on him. Once he’d gone to work for a private company, his boss had followed up with him. A few friends stopped by, but otherwise, he was expected to get better on his own.

“Thank you,” he told her.

They were still holding hands. Or rather she was hanging on to his with both of hers.

“The doctor is going to check your blood count. If it’s where it’s supposed to be, you’ll be released later today.”

“Okay.”

“Into my care.”

She made the statement defiantly, as if she expected him to argue.

“Is that so?”

“It is. The doctor wants a responsible adult around. You’re going to be tired and weak and drugged for a few days. So I’m taking you home. You can have Lillie’s room.”

Bummer, he thought hazily. Because he liked the idea of settling into Patience’s bed. “Where will she sleep?”

“Downstairs. She’s very excited. Right now she’s deciding which of her stuffed animals will make you feel better fastest.”

“That sounds like a lot of work. You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

“Sure you will. And go where? A hotel?”

She made it sound as if he would be bleeding to death on the street.

“A hotel works.”

“I don’t think so. You need someone looking after you.”

She was still holding on to his hand and looking so damned earnest. As if she meant what she said. What Patience couldn’t know was that no one took care of him. Not for longer than he could remember.

“I mean it, Justice,” she added. “This isn’t your decision. It’s done. The doctor is releasing you to me.”

“Okay. Then I guess I’m your responsibility.”