“Where the hell have you been?”
Amber had been sitting outside Harper’s hotel room door for what seemed like days. When his tall, broad form walked up the hallway toward her, she jumped up and ran into his arms.
“Hold on. I’m tired as all hell. I can hardly stand, Amber.”
“Where have you two been? I’ve been worried sick. I’ve been out looking for you for the last hour. I just got back.”
Harper seized her shoulders. “You went out looking for us? Where? Are you insane?”
How she wanted to melt into his hard body. She held herself back. “I…I just went to Rachel’s. It was dark and empty. I drove around a little. I had to do something, Harper. I was worried sick.”
“Are you crazy? Jesus, Amber.”
Blake let out a yawn. “Sounds like you two have a lot to talk about, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m beat.” He ambled to his door and let himself in.
“We’re fine,” he said. “But I’m beat too, Amber. Can we talk in the morning?”
“Harper, it is the morning.”
“Not for me it ain’t.” He paused at the door. “I can’t talk about all this right now. But come in with me?”
Amber’s heart lurched. Did he mean? No, of course not. He looked like death warmed over. He and Blake had obviously been up all night.
But he needed her. He didn’t want to be alone right now, and she knew all too well how that felt. All she’d wanted was a little company the other night, even though it had turned into more.
What went down tonight? Harper was not himself. He seemed agitated and exhausted at the same time. His eyes were glassy with a faraway look in them. It was a look of resignation, of thankfulness, laced with a little bit of…fear?
The thought niggled at her. She had been right to be worried. Something bad had gone down.
But that didn’t matter right now. Harper was here, safe.
“Sure. Let’s get you to bed,” she said.
She followed him into the room. He plunked down on his bed, still gazing into space.
“Come on,” she said, “let me help.”
She pulled off his cowboy boots. Then she unbuttoned his shirt and slid it over his broad golden shoulders. Her fingers tingled as they brushed his skin.
He was so broad and manly, so incredibly handsome.
Her hands shook as she unsnapped and unzipped his jeans. The zing of his zipper rang in her ears. He lifted his hips for her as she maneuvered the jeans over his backside and pulled them off his legs.
Clad only in his boxers, he remained in his sitting position.
No hardness beckoned. He was flaccid. No matter. She wasn’t after sex. She wanted only to take care of him, to nurture him. He needed her, and she wanted to be needed right now.
She pulled down the covers on the bed. “Lie down, Harper.”
She gently eased him into a supine position. His head hit the pillow and his glazed eyes closed.
“That’s it,” she said. “Sleep now.”
She took off her jeans and put his lounging pants on. They were way too big, but way more comfortable than jeans for sleeping. She unsnapped her bra under her shirt and took it off, leaving the shirt on. Then she climbed in next to Harper and snuggled against his hard body.
“Amber.” His deep voice, barely more than a whisper, resonated against the walls of the quiet room. Dawn was breaking, and a sliver of light burst through the line in the curtains.
“I’m here,” she whispered against his neck.