Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(21)

“Aren’t yours important to you?”

I can hear her sigh through the screen. “Yes. I get it, but I think it’s time to send in the reinforcements. The ones that Brayden and his family know nothing about.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Keep her safe, ladies. I’ll do what I can from here.”

“Is there anything more you can tell us,” Audrey asks as Ellie finishes bandaging my thigh.

“No. I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

“Are you going to be able to tell him what he needs to know?”

“There’s a small chance, but I doubt it.”

“We’ll protect you,” Ellie says.

“That’s not even a question. A threat to one of us, is a threat to us all,” Faith says.

“Thank you. I know I don’t deserve your blind trust, and I haven’t been the friendliest person over the years, but you all mean so much to me. More than I could ever tell you.”

“You don’t need to tell us, mija. We know.”

There’s a knock at the door, and Ainsley laughs. “Our hour is apparently up.”

“We could make him wait.”

“No, Faith. I don’t know how much time I have with him, and I don’t want to waste any of it.”

“You love him,” Ellie says.

“I’m trying not to.”

“Take it from someone who knows all about it—you won’t be able to stop loving him, no matter how hard he makes it.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

I hug them all, grateful for the women that I’m surrounded with. Ainsley stops to whisper in my ear. “I know it’s hard to be friends with girls after always hanging out with the guys, but it’s pretty awesome, too.”

“Yeah, it is.”

I nod to Audrey, and she opens the door for Brayden. “You can come in now.”

“I would promise to behave, but I’d be lying.”

“I don’t think she wants you to behave. At least not while the two of you are alone.”

“I don’t,” I call out. “Bye, girls.”

Brayden’s smile drops as he turns to me after locking the door. “Are you really okay?”

“Yes. I’ve been in fights before, you know. Injuries are pretty common in my profession.”

“I don’t want to even think about you being hurt,” he says as he walks over to me and cups my face in his hands. I seriously love it when he does that. “Is there anything I can do?”

I bite my lip, knowing there’s something I want him to help me with, but feeling shy again about asking. “Yeah. I mean, if you want.”

“I want. Tell me.”

“Well, I’m all sweaty from fighting, and I can’t get my bandages wet, so…”

“I can totally give you a sponge bath.”

“Are you sure? I mean, I’ll wash my hair over the sink, and I can do most of my body myself.”

He places his fingers over my mouth. “I’m washing your hair, and the rest of you. It’s going to be my pleasure, I assure you.”

“I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy it, too.”

“Oh you will. Even if I have to do it over and over again until you’re screaming my name.”

“You think I’m going to scream from you washing me up?” I ask with a laugh.

“Yes. Since I plan to wash you like a cat, before and after I wash you like a human.”

I pretend not to know what he’s talking about, but oh dear God, I think I do. “A cat?”

“You know—I’m going to lick you clean. Everywhere.”

“That’s an excellent idea.”

“I know. Wait here for a minute while I get everything set up.”

I curl up on the couch, being careful not to put too much pressure on my injury. Audrey offered me some of her specialized pain meds, but I declined because I knew Brayden was coming to see me. I want to be alert while we’re doing sexy stuff. And I need to be alert while we’re having any kind of conversation.

About ten minutes later, he comes back into the room, leaning over to scoop me up into his arms. “I can walk, you know?”

“But why would you do that when I can just carry you?”

“When you put it that way, I really don’t know.”

Once we’re in my bathroom, I see that he’s rigged the hand held sprayer from the shower onto the sink. There’s a chair piled with pillows in front, just high enough so I can lean into the sink without it being too uncomfortable. He sets me down and gathers my hair into the bowl.

“Wow. I’m impressed. I didn’t know you were a plumber.”

“I’m not, but I learned a few tricks from water fights with Jen when we were kids.”

“You two are really close, aren’t you?”

“Yes. We did everything together growing up. Well, until she had to move when I was 15. Then I did everything with Noah. He’s a few years younger than me, but I had always wanted a brother, so it worked out. I mean, I guess it didn’t really ‘work out’ since his dad died, but I was happy to have him here with me.”

“I’m glad for both of you,” I tell him, meaning every word. I can see the strong bond they have, and how they’ve helped each other out over the years.