Shades of Gray (KGI #6)(48)

So instead, she nodded stiffly and kept her mouth shut.

“The other thing is, you’re not staying alone while you’re recovering.”

Again she opened her mouth and he damn near sliced her in two with his stare.

“This isn’t up for negotiation. You aren’t going back to your apartment and you aren’t staying alone. You’d be a sitting duck if Brumley tried anything. So here are your choices. You stay with me or you stay with one of the team. Doesn’t matter to me. But you aren’t flying solo.”

“You can stay with me,” Dolphin offered.

“Or me,” Renshaw broke in.

Baker also offered his place.

Cole was the only one who remained silent. She cut her glance sideways at him to see him sitting expressionless, his hand still cupped over her knee.

It was almost as if he were issuing her a challenge. He’d laid his cards on the table. Now it was her turn to meet him halfway. He wasn’t going to offer. He wanted her to make the next move.

Damn it.

She blew out her breath while her heart was about to beat out of her chest. It was such a silly thing, but making that move scared the hell out of her. It was like jumping out of a plane and hoping like hell the parachute opened.

“P.J.?” Steele prompted.

There was another long pause while she gathered her courage.

“I’ll stay with Cole, if he doesn’t mind,” she choked out.

His hand tightened on her knee. She could feel the imprint of his fingers on her flesh.

Dolphin cast a glance over at Cole, his brows gathering as if he didn’t quite understand the strong undercurrent flowing in the room.

“Seriously, I don’t mind, P.J.,” Dolphin said.

Cole’s voice was almost menacing. “She’s staying with me.”

“Alrighty then,” Dolphin said, expelling his breath.

Cole’s grip on her knee loosened, but he still kept his hand there, and this time when she peeked back at him, he was staring at her, his eyes full of satisfaction.

She was glad now she’d made that move. Something told her that he would have been hurt if she had wimped out of the challenge he’d thrown.

“First thing you’re doing is checking into the hospital,” Steele said.

“Aw f**k,” she muttered.

“Save it,” Cole said. “You don’t have to stay, but you need to get checked out, get some meds, stitches, whatever it takes. Then I’ll take you home and make you feel all better.”

Heat prickled up her nape and warm pleasure flooded her heart. She had a feeling he wasn’t simply talking about a little pampering and some good food. And if she was right, she knew he certainly would go a long way in making her feel very, very good.

CHAPTER 25

P.J. tried to get off the plane by herself, but even she had to admit defeat. Her leg was like one giant exposed nerve. Perspiration beaded her forehead and upper lip and she was clammy. Her breathing was shallow and rapid, and she wasn’t sure if she needed to puke or pass out.

After trying to take two steps, her knee buckled and she nearly went down. Cole was there to catch her, and without saying a word or bitching at her for attempting to walk, he simply swept her up and marched off the plane.

She nearly groaned aloud when she realized they’d flown into Henry County, which was the Kellys’ home airfield where they kept their jets hangared.

She was pleasantly surprised, however, when Cole whisked her into a waiting SUV. None of the Kellys were present. No one from KGI had met them, which meant there was no lecture to endure. Maybe her team would escape unscathed from all the trouble she’d caused.

Steele stuck his head in the door after Cole had laid her in the backseat.

“If you need anything, holler, Cole. I’ll be checking in periodically. Keep your ear to the ground and trust your instincts.”

“You heading home?” Cole asked their team leader.

Steele shook his head. “I have to give report to Sam.”

P.J. cringed. So much for her team not having any fallout. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have to answer for me.”

Steele eyed her coolly. “Who says I’m answering to anyone? And moreover, who says it’s about you? I make the decisions on this team and I stand behind every one. If there’s anything to be said, it will be said to me. Not my team.”

As he shut the door, Cole glanced in the rearview mirror. “And that’s the law according to Steele.”

P.J. smiled. “He’s a total badass. I love that about him.”

Cole snorted. “You would.”

“You’re a pretty big badass yourself, Coletrane. I like it.”

“Glad you approve,” he said dryly. “Now, what do you say we get the f**k home and eat some decent food. I wouldn’t feed my dog the shit we’ve eaten the last few days.”

“You have a dog?”

“Nope, but if I did, I’d feed him better than we’ve been eating.”

She laughed. “Can’t argue with that. What’s for supper?”

He glanced in the mirror again as he pulled onto the county road leading away from the airfield. “It’s a perfect evening. I was thinking about grilling some steaks on the back patio and counting fireflies over the pond.”

She closed her eyes and grabbed the image he described. It was so perfect it made her ache. “I’d like that,” she said softly. “I’d like it a lot.”