“You asked them to come babysit me.”
“I did,” he confessed. “And I’m hoping they didn’t see the whole show when they arrived with the cattle.”
She blushed. “I was too busy loving on you to notice.”
“Whenever you’re around, you have my full and undivided attention, too, sweetheart. The house is yours. Do you need anything before I go?”
“I’ll just be waiting for you to come home.”
He leaned in and touched his forehead to hers. “You have no idea how good that sounds to me.”
Her eyes went wide. “I—”
He kissed her, long and deep, until she had her arms wrapped around his neck and was trying to pull him down on top of her on the bed. He pulled back, reluctant to let her go, knowing he needed to get to work. “I’m going to take what you said with me today and be happy to know you’re here waiting for me.”
She gave him a sweet smile and nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay.” He brushed his fingers down her thighs as he stood. “Your meds are on the kitchen counter if you need them.”
“I feel better today. I think you’re right, though, a dayof rest will do me good. And maybe just some ibuprofen to ease the pain where I’m stitched up.”
He gave her a nod, then went into the bathroom to clean up before he left for work. He found her in the kitchen with a cup of coffee, looking in his fridge.
“You are a healthy eater.”
“I try to be.”
She looked over her shoulder. “Please tell me there is something chocolate in this house.”
“Check the pantry. I usually have some cookies in there. If not, text me what you want and I’ll pick it up on my way home.”
She tilted her head. “Really? You will?”
“Sure,” he said, wondering why she didn’t think he would.
“That’s very sweet, Hunt.”
He shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.”
“It is to me.” She looked down into her coffee mug, but he caught the sincerity in her eyes.
He closed the distance between them. “Anything you want, Cyn, just ask.”
“You’ve done so much for me already, coming to my rescue at Rad’s place, searching for my sister and niece, giving me an amazing night and morning. Holding me when I needed you last night. Asking your brothers to watch over me today.”
“I just want to keep you safe.”
She studied him for a second. “You’re worried Rad will make good on his threat and come after me. Here.”
“Here would be a realfuck youto me. Hurting you in my house, on my land, when I’m not here . . . Yeah. I’m worried. And I wouldn’t leave you if the departmentwasn’t shorthanded and I didn’t have a lead that could help me put Rad behind bars or at least give me some leverage to make him tell us where Angela and Lana are.”
“What lead?”
“Right now, it’s just a hunch. I need some solid proof.”
“Then go get it. I’ll be fine. Especially if there are chocolate cookies.”
He gave her a goodbye kiss that was more a promise of what was to come when he got home tonight.