Loe raamatut: «Tempted By The Bodyguard», lehekülg 8

Chapter 10

Daniel paced in front of Kate’s desk. “I don’t like what’s happening. The attack at the school made it clear that Shelby is still a target. Whoever is after her won’t stop until they’ve caught her and used her for whatever they hope to accomplish.”

Kate sat in the leather chair in her robe, looking no less regal than if she wore one of her tailored gray suits. “I don’t know what else to do. She’s at risk because of me. Until I know who they are or what they want, I can’t do anything about it.” She rested her face in her hands. “All I can do is pray that you’re always there to keep her safe.”

“She’s got a mind of her own and she’s not afraid to use it.”

Kate smiled. “She’s like her grandfather. Stubborn man.”

“The point is, she doesn’t take kindly to being followed around and putting her life in someone else’s hands.”

“For the time being, she’ll have to get used to it. She’s not safe.” Kate stood and cinched the robe at her waist. “It’s late, Daniel. Even a good bodyguard needs his rest. Go to bed. We can worry about this again in the morning.”

He was ready. The few minutes he’d been talking to Kate, he’d been farther from Shelby than he’d been since he was assigned to protect her. His instincts were to go to her and make sure she was all right. Not that much could happen to her in the relative security of the Winston Estate. Still, he didn’t trust anyone but himself to ensure her safety.

Kate drifted off toward the kitchen for a cup of tea while Daniel hurried up the curving staircase and along the landing to the door to Shelby’s bedroom. He leaned his ear against the thick wood paneling and heard nothing. He tested the door. It was unlocked, and he debated whether or not to knock or barge in and demand she lock the door. Instead, he opened the door, reached in and twisted the lock, then closed the door again. No use alarming her. She was probably already asleep. Daniel went to his own room to get ready for bed.

As he closed his door behind him, he heard a noise from Shelby’s room.

He crossed to the connecting door and listened.

The noise sounded again…and he could swear he heard Shelby calling his name. He could be mistaken; the sound was so soft he could have imagined it.

Then the noise sounded again and Shelby’s voice called out, louder this time.

He tried the door and discovered it was locked and cursed himself for locking the other door before checking to see if Shelby was okay. Pulling his weapon from the holster beneath his jacket, he performed a hard side kick with his heel close to the locking mechanism. The door frame splintered, but the door didn’t give. He kicked again and the door flew open, the frame shattering.

“Daniel?” Shelby called out from inside the bathroom. “Please tell me that was you,” she said, her voice breaking as if it caught on a sob.

“It’s me,” he responded, arriving at the door to the bathroom as she opened it and threw herself into his arms. He caught her and held her against his body with his free hand, his gaze panning the room. Nothing moved; the room was empty except for the two of them.

“What happened?” he asked.

“I’d just gotten out of the shower when I heard a noise in my room. Then the doorknob twisted. I got to it in time to lock it.” She looked up, her eyes wide, her fingers digging into his shirt. “Please tell me it was you.”

He shook his head. “Sorry, sweetheart, it wasn’t.”

Shelby closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to his shirt. “I could have been imagining it. With all that’s happened, my mind could be playing tricks on me.”

He didn’t believe it for a minute. “Had you locked your bedroom door?”

She nodded. “I’m pretty sure I did.”

“Wait here.”

Her fingers tightened on his shirt. “I’d rather not.”

With her tucked in the curve of his arm, he led her through the connecting doorway to his bedroom door. He gripped her arms and moved her to the side of the door. “Lock this behind me and don’t open it until I tell you to.”

Opening the door, he pointed his weapon out into the hallway, then poked his head out, glancing in one direction and then the other. The hallway came to a dead end to the left, and the right led toward the staircase. No one stirred; nothing moved.

Carefully turning the knobs on the other doors in the hallway, he checked inside. Two of the rooms were empty. The room Patrick was to stay in was empty, as well. Daniel hurried down the hallway to the staircase and stared down at the floor below.

Kate Winston walked toward the stairs, carrying a cup. She glanced up and gasped. “Daniel? Is something wrong? I thought I heard a crashing sound.”

“I don’t know.”

“There must be, or you wouldn’t be carrying a gun.” She looked around her and back up to him. “Is Shelby all right?”

“Yes. If you don’t mind, I’ll do a security check of the house.”

“Please, by all means.” She waited at the bottom of the stairs as he checked the other rooms on the second floor. When he returned, she met him halfway up the stairs. “Anything I can do?”

He shook his head. “No. I’ll finish my check. You can go to bed. Your room is clear.”

“Thank you, Daniel.”

The sound of a key scraping in the lock on the front door echoed across the foyer, Daniel turned toward the sound.

The ornate door opened and Patrick O’Hara entered, closing the door quietly behind him. When he turned, he started. “Oh. I’m sorry, did I wake you?” His gaze went to Kate, his look one of longing.

“No, we were up.” Kate held up her cup, descending the stairs. “Can I interest you in a cup of tea? Daniel was doing a last-minute check of the house.”

“Shelby?” Patrick asked.

“In my bedroom for the moment. She’s okay.” Daniel descended to the first floor. “I’ll only be a few minutes.” He left Kate and Patrick in the foyer and checked all the rooms on the main floor, testing the windows and door locks to ensure they were secure. When he passed the kitchen on his way back to the stairs, he saw that Patrick and Kate sat at the bar, talking softly, mugs of steaming tea in front of them.

Daniel hurried back up the stairs and knocked softly on his bedroom door. “Shelby, it’s me, Daniel.”

She opened the door.

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, then opened his arms.

Shelby went to him, burying her face against his chest, her body fitting close to his. She wore nothing but a sheer nightgown that barely covered her bottom, and he could see teasing shadows of her breasts beneath the thin fabric.

Holy hell. If he’d thought he could resist her, he was sorely mistaken. Once he had his arms around her, there was no going back.

She ran her hands across his chest and around his middle, hugging him closer, her hips pressed against his.

His groin tightened, blood rushing to his head and lower to his throbbing member. The warmth of her skin beneath the sheer nightgown burned through, igniting flames inside him.

He lifted a hand to the back of her head, twisting his fingers in her hair, tugging her head back. “I didn’t want this to happen.”

“So why are you letting it?” She lifted her full, plump lips toward his.

“I can’t help myself.” He took her mouth, crashing down on her, thrusting through her teeth to caress her tongue with his. She tasted minty and fresh, warm and wet.

He reached down, cupped her bottom and lifted with one hand, the other still holding his pistol.

Her legs curled naturally around his waist and her arms went around his neck.

Her silky panties and his denim pants were all that stood between them.

Without breaking their kiss, he walked her to the bed and let her slide down his front to her feet.

Shelby pulled the weapon from his hand. “Can we set this aside?”

“I don’t know. I think I’m in dangerous territory.”

“Damn right you are.” She shoved his jacket over his shoulders and he let it drop to the floor. When she reached for the buckles on his shoulder holster, he shoved her hands aside and worked them himself.

Meanwhile, she unbuttoned his trousers and ran the zipper downward, releasing his member into her palm.

Daniel jerked the holster off and tossed it onto a nearby chair. Then his hands slipped beneath her nightgown, cupping the full roundness of both breasts—so warm, soft and tipped with the tightest buds. He pushed the gown upward and claimed one of the rounded orbs, sucking it between his lips and tonguing the intriguing tip.

Her back arched, her hand pressing against the back of his head, urging him to suck the nipple deeper into his mouth.

He complied, licking the areola, nibbling the bud with the edges of his teeth while his hands roved over her waist and down to the elastic on her panties. Sliding his fingers beneath the fabric, he cupped her bottom, tracing the line between her cheeks.

Her hands grew restless, shoving his trousers down his legs.

He stopped her long enough to unearth his wallet from his back pocket and toss it on the bed. Then Daniel toed off his shoes and stepped out of the pants, kicking them to the side. He yanked his shirt up over his head and threw it across the end of the bed. Impatient to reveal all of her, he grabbed the hem of her nightgown and tugged it up over her head.

The gown flew across the room and he stepped back, his hungry gaze raking over her naked body, the panties the only thing in the way of him feasting on her.

The longer he stared, the brighter the pink in her cheeks became. She raised her hands to cover herself.

He caught her wrists. “Don’t.”

“Then quit staring and do something.”

He laughed, dragged her into his arms and reveled in the feel of her breasts pressing against his chest. “Bossy much?”

“Don’t make me wait. I’m on fire.” She slipped out of his embrace and scooted up onto the bed.

Staring down at her delectable body, Daniel knew he was doomed. “This goes against all the rules.”

“I’m betting you follow all the rules.”

“I do.” This woman had him so tied in knots, he couldn’t back away.

Rules be damned.

The fire in his eyes had Shelby’s body burning. She caught the elastic of her panties, slipping them down her legs in a long, sensuous move designed to leave Daniel panting. “In this case, I think you can break them.” She let her knees fall to the sides.

Her entrance was slick and drenched with her juices. All she needed was him inside her, filling her.

He crawled up between her legs and kissed a path along the inside of her thigh to the center, the feathery-soft touches of his lips sending tingling electric shocks throughout her body.

Shelby ran her fingers down through the curls covering her mons, sliding a finger between her folds. She wanted him there.

Daniel tongued the tips of her fingers, pushing them aside to access the tiny strip of flesh packed with a plethora of nerves.

On the first flick, she moaned, her back arching off the mattress.

The second one had her grabbing his hair, her fingers digging into his scalp. “Oh, my,” she whispered, her voice choked with desire.

Daniel slid two fingers into her and tongued her nubbin at the same time, catapulting her to the edge. “Yes! Oh, my, yes!”

He focused on that spot, flicking and tonguing until she hurtled over the edge, her body growing rigid, her insides a cascade of sensations, rippling over and over one another. Just when she thought she could die like this and be happy, Daniel moved away. “No!” she moaned.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He reached for his wallet, extracted a foil packet and tore it open. In seconds he’d rolled the condom down over himself and slid up between her legs, his shaft poised at her opening. “Here’s to breaking all the rules.” He thrust deep, her channel stretching to accommodate his girth.

Shelby pushed up, meeting his thrust and urging him deeper, the sensations exploding throughout her. She gripped his hips, guiding him out, then back in. Soon he settled into a smooth, steady rhythm, pumping in and out, increasing in speed with the tension in his body.

One final thrust and he held still, his member throbbing inside her.

Shelby wrapped her legs around him, her heels digging into his buttocks, holding him as close as he could possibly get. At that moment, they were one, connected in the most beautiful way.

After a while, he rolled her onto her side and fell to the mattress beside her, maintaining their intimate bond.

Lying in the crook of his arms, she couldn’t think of a place she’d rather be. The lack of sleep and the strain of being kidnapped and targeted again, not to mention the two weeks in captivity, pulled at her eyelids and she gave in, feeling safe and protected in her bodyguard’s arms. If only real life didn’t intrude, she’d be happy to stay like this forever.

Daniel held Shelby, her body pressed against his side. She fit perfectly in his arms, her soft brown hair brushing against his skin, her breath warming him.

For a long time, he refused to think, to let the logical side of his brain spoil the moment. But as Shelby’s breathing grew steady and deep, he had to face the facts—he’d screwed up. He’d had sex with the woman he was assigned to protect. It went against every rule in the books. He’d lost perspective, lost his self-control and, if he didn’t get back on track, he’d lose his focus.

And if he lost focus, Shelby’s life would be at risk.

Daniel extricated himself from the bed, sliding his arm out from under Shelby’s head. Bending over her, he brushed his mouth across her swollen lips, tasting her one last time before he steeled his resolve and got his head back on straight.

At twenty-three, she was tough, independent and completely irresistible.

And she was the former vice president’s granddaughter. Out of his social league.

And the most important detail was that she was Daniel’s job.

He lifted her in his arms, careful not to wake her, and carried her into her room, laying her on her bed.

She snuggled into the sheets without opening her eyes.

Daniel wanted to crawl in bed with her. Instead he stepped away, ensured her door was locked and checked that the latch on her window was secure and then left.

When he reached the connecting door to his room, he heard a soft knock. He tensed, his body on full alert.

“Shelby?” Patrick O’Hara’s voice called out.

Shelby stirred, her eyelids flickering open. “Granddad?”

“Are you all right in there?”

She sat up, the sheet falling down around her waist. Her eyes widened as she came fully awake. Her glance shot to the pillow beside her and then around the room, landing on Daniel where he stood in the doorway.

“Shelby?” her grandfather called out again. “I was just heading to bed and I thought I heard a noise or something. Are you all right?”

“I’m all right, Granddad, just tired.”

“Oh, okay. Goodnight, sweetheart. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Her gaze never strayed from Daniel, her eyes narrowing in confusion.

He felt pinned to the wall, but he couldn’t reassure her when he needed to put distance between them. Without a word of explanation, and using every ounce of resistance he could muster, he pulled the door closed between them. He couldn’t lock it since the frame had been destroyed.

Walking away was the right thing to do, but it didn’t make it any easier. Shelby would be mad, and she had a right to be. He’d been a jerk to take advantage of her. But he’d be more of a jerk if he continued down that same path. Ultimately, the job would end and he’d move on to his next assignment. Leaving Shelby behind.

As much as he’d resisted being her bodyguard in the first place, he didn’t relish leaving her in the end.

Chapter 11

Daniel tried to sleep, but knowing Shelby was only a few short steps away left him wide-awake, and full-on frustrated.

When the early light of dawn crept through his window, he knew he had to get out, breathe fresh air and clear his foggy brain.

He pulled on shorts and running shoes and headed downstairs and out of the house. He slipped through the gate, making certain it closed securely behind him. Only those with a need to know had the security code to enter, but anyone could get out with a single push of a button. He made a note to talk to Kate about other options that were more secure.

Ignoring the ever-present pain in his leg, he half jogged and half walked a mile before turning back. He didn’t want to be too far away from the estate should anything happen. With Shelby asleep in her locked bedroom, she should be all right for a while. And he needed the exercise, or his injuries from that fateful day of protecting Kate would never heal.

The sun had yet to rise on his return. When he was within a hundred yards of the gate, he stopped to tie a shoelace that had come undone.

Leaning against a tree, he bent, tied his shoe and happened to look up just as someone exited the Winston Estate on foot, wearing shorts, a T-shirt and a baseball cap. Despite the hat, Daniel knew who it was and anger spiked in him.

Did she want to be kidnapped again?

Shelby turned away from him and set off at a jog.

Adrenaline spiked and Daniel took off after her.

At a crossroad, she turned right and disappeared around the corner.

Still a good fifty yards behind her, Daniel ignored the pain in his knee and sped up, concerned. Shelby was out on her own, now on a busier street and no one around to keep her from being taken.

Daniel raced for the corner. Before he reached it, a large white SUV like the one that had been at the university the day before sped by, heading the same direction as Shelby.

Sprinting as fast as he could go, Daniel rounded the corner without slowing, in time to see SUV’s brake lights flash and the vehicle slow next to Shelby.

His heart thundering, Daniel yelled, “Shelby, run!”

Shelby had already noticed the danger and stopped on the sidewalk.

Move, Daniel willed her, still running to reach her in time.

As the vehicle slowed beside her, Shelby spun and ran back toward Daniel.

Without a gun or any other type of weapon, Daniel would only be able to shield her with his body. But he’d throw himself in the line of fire before he’d let a single bullet hit Shelby.

The SUV whipped into Reverse and backed up after Shelby’s running figure.

Daniel reached her before the SUV, grabbed her hand and ran with her, dragging her faster and faster.

The SUV swerved in an attempt to hit them.

Daniel veered away from the road and headed through a stand of trees between two large houses. As he and Shelby emerged on the other side of the trees, the SUV was there, heading directly for Daniel.

Daniel had to let go of Shelby or risk her getting hit along with him.

Pushing her one way, Daniel dived in the opposite direction, narrowly missing the crush of the SUV’s tires.

Shelby staggered and fell to the ground.

As Daniel picked himself up off the pavement, a man wearing a ski mask leaped down from the SUV and ran toward Shelby.

She lay on the ground, motionless.

When the man reached out to grab her, she exploded from the ground, kicked the man in the face and rolled out of reach.

About the time the man reached for her again, the back door opened and another man with a ski mask leaped out. Daniel arrived at the SUV at that moment and slammed the man into the side of the vehicle.

Startled by the attack, the man swung, his fist connecting with Daniel’s jaw. Daniel’s head whipped back, but he balled his fists and aimed for the man’s belly, landing a hard one to the guy’s breadbasket. He doubled over.

A scream behind him gave Daniel the necessary incentive to end the argument sooner. He raised his knee with a hard jerk, hitting the man in the nose. He went down, holding on to his face, blood streaming from beneath the dark ski mask.

Daniel spun toward the other guy.

He had Shelby in a headlock.

“One step closer and I’ll break her neck,” the guy growled.

“I’ll give you one chance to let her go,” Daniel bluffed, wondering how the hell he’d get Shelby away from the gorilla.

Shelby’s face was red and she clawed at the meaty arm wrapped tightly around her throat.

At a standoff, Daniel edged closer.

Shelby went limp and collapsed in her captor’s arms. She’d done nothing to deserve this. She was an innocent pawn in a game of politics and deception.

His heart in his throat, Daniel lunged for the man, rage driving him forward.

As he reached them, Shelby jabbed her elbow into her captor’s groin. The man let her go and grabbed for his crotch. Daniel slammed his knee into the man’s face and shoved him backward; he tripped over the curb and fell on his backside.

Daniel gripped Shelby’s hand and ran back the way he’d come, dragging her along with him, praying she had the strength to keep up. If the men who’d threatened them followed, he wasn’t sure he’d be so lucky to get her away the next time.

Shelby ran next to Daniel, gulping air into her lungs and shooting glances over her shoulder to gauge whether or not the bad guys were still following. The man she’d bested helped the one with the broken nose into the SUV. The driver sent the vehicle up over the curb in his effort to get away.

Daniel didn’t let her stop until they’d reached the entrance to the Winston Estate. He punched the code into the keypad and the gate opened. Once he’d shoved her through, he hit the close button and the gate slammed shut behind them.

Shelby collapsed on the ground and lay there for a full two minutes until her breathing returned to normal. The adrenaline still spiking through her veins made her sit up. “Thank you,” she said.

Daniel paced away, the color high in his cheeks. His eyes blazed and he breathed through his nose like an angry bull. He stopped in front of her, towering over her. “I don’t know what was going through your head. I’m not here to make sure you have a good time. I’m not here to make love to you. My primary goal in this assignment is to keep you safe. If you insist on pulling stupid stunts like that, you can find yourself another damn bodyguard.” He stalked away, leaving her on the ground by the gate.

She rolled to her feet and went after him. “Really? You think I asked to be grabbed off the street? You think I planned on having a secret identity connected to the former vice president of the freakin’ United States?” She grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop, though he refused to face her.

She marched around in front him and stood with her arms crossed over her chest. “I didn’t want a bodyguard in the first place.” Jabbing a finger into his chest, she went on, “And I sure as hell don’t want one who has a problem with sticking around. You couldn’t get up and get out of my bed fast enough.” He stood rock solid, his face poker straight, his flashing green eyes the only indication she was making him angrier.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you afraid you might like me? Afraid you’re not good enough for me? ’Cause let me tell you, bubba, you aren’t. I need a man who doesn’t judge anyone based on their lineage. A man who will love me no matter who my parents or grandparents are or what they did.” On a roll, unable to stop her tirade now that she’d started, she poked him again. “You know what you are? A scaredy cat. A big ol’ scaredy cat.”

He grabbed her finger and yanked her hard, slamming her against his chest. He caught her lips with his in a crushing kiss that stole her breath away and made her head spin.

When he shoved her away from him, she reeled backward.

He poked a finger into her chest. “For the record, I didn’t ask for this assignment. I was stuck with it. For the record, I don’t like babysitting little girls who don’t know what’s best for them. And for the record, I didn’t run away from you. Did you ever think I might have left because I didn’t want to make love to you again?”

That hurt like a punch to the gut. Shelby fought to keep from doubling over at the slam. “Good. Because I don’t want you touching me.” Damn. She tried to stop it, but her eyes teared up and her bottom lip trembled. “Ever again.”

Daniel stared at her, his jaw hard, his face impassive. Finally he eased her back into his arms and pressed his cheek against her hair. “You scared the crap out of me.”

“I thought you didn’t care.”

“I don’t want to.” He stroked her soft brown hair, twisting his fingers in the silken strands.

“But you do.”

“Yes.” He sighed and took her hand in his. “Let’s get you back to the house.”

With her hand tucked in his big, warm one, Shelby leaned against him as they walked back to the mansion.

Kate met them in the foyer, her brows coming together in a worried frown. “What’s wrong?” She glanced at Shelby’s legs. “Why are your knees skinned?”

Shelby hadn’t realized she’d been hurt. The adrenaline rush and near miss had blocked the pain. “I fell.”

“The hell she did. She was attacked again,” Daniel said.

“Dear God.” Kate wrapped her arms around Shelby. “Are you okay? Should I call the doctor?”

Shelby hadn’t been hugged by a female relative since her mother died and she’d been almost too young to remember. Kate’s hug was warm, welcoming and seemed genuinely heartfelt.

After nearly being taken again, Shelby let the woman hug her. She liked the way Kate Winston smelled of honeysuckle, and she was warm and soft. She could see how a man from the Outer Banks could have fallen for the pretty socialite.

“Shelby?” Her grandfather hurried down the stairs, dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. “What’s going on?”

The front door opened and Thad entered, followed by Jed Kincannon.

Thad smiled. “Looks like I’m just in time for the party. What’s going on?”

Everyone started talking at once. Shelby’s head began to ache and her skinned knees stung.

Daniel whistled to get everyone’s attention. “We aren’t accomplishing a thing.” He curved his arm around Shelby’s waist. “We’re going to clean up.”

“Yes, yes. Of course. Shelby’s injuries need tending to.” Kate waved toward the hallway. “Let’s take this discussion into the kitchen while Daniel takes care of Shelby. I’ll make breakfast, and we can talk about what we want to do.”

“Are you sure you don’t need me to help?” Patrick asked.

Shelby smiled. “You patched up all of my skinned knees as a kid, but I think I can handle this on my own.” She leaned close and kissed her grandfather’s cheek. “I love you, Granddad.”

“Not as much as I love you, little girl.” He patted her shoulder and followed Kate toward the kitchen.

Shelby had always been the only woman in her grandfather’s life, and he’d never dated anyone that she knew of. She’d assumed he hadn’t dated because he’d been too busy raising his daughter and then his granddaughter. Could it be that he had never gotten over his first love?

Shelby stared after her grandfather’s retreating figure. A little nip of jealousy was quickly overridden by the thought that her grandfather might still be in love with the beautiful and powerful Kate Winston. How sad. With her in her mansion and him in his bar on the Outer Banks, they couldn’t be farther apart.

Her heart aching for her grandfather, Shelby turned to follow Daniel.

“Wait,” Thad said. “You’ll need the first-aid kit.” Thad ran to the kitchen and returned with a red-and-white box.

“Thank you.” Shelby reached for it, but Daniel got there first. She frowned. “I’m not an invalid, you know.”

“I know, but I’d rather you concentrated on getting up the stairs unscathed.”

“Again, I think I can handle climbing and carrying a little box.”

Daniel gave her lopsided smile. “Are you always this argumentative?”

Patrick snorted from the hallway. “She can be a pill sometimes.”

“You’re not helping, Granddad,” Shelby shot back, crossing her arms as she turned on Daniel. “Are you always this domineering?”

“Let’s agree you’re argumentative and I’m domineering and maybe we’ll get cleaned up sometime today. We have bigger fish to fry, and arguing down here isn’t getting the oil hot.”

Shelby started to give him a scathing reply, thought better of it and clamped her lips shut.

Daniel led the way to her room where she sat on the edge of the big tub in the bathroom while he cleaned the gravel from her skinned knees and applied ointment and bandages. His hand lingered on her thigh and she held her breath, waiting for him to lean close and claim a kiss.

When he didn’t, she wanted to scream with frustration. Instead, she turned the tables on him. “My turn.” She took the kit and stood. “Sit.”

“I can manage on my own.”

She gave him a meaningful stare and pointed to the edge of the tub. “Sit.”

With that gorgeous lopsided grin that made her go weak at the knees, he sat.

She wet a clean washcloth and dabbed at a gash on his cheek where he’d been punched. “You’re going to have a bruise.”

“I’ll live,” he said, his smile slipping as she leaned closer. “You don’t have to get so close.”

“Yes, I do.” She straddled his lap and sat with a smile. “I haven’t properly thanked you for saving me.” Shelby applied ointment to his cheek.

He caught her wrist in his hand and stared at her hard. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“When the threat is gone, you won’t need my protection. I’ll be reassigned.”

Her heart fluttered. She’d already come to that conclusion, but hearing him say it drove it home. Forcing a smile, she shook her hand free. “I know that. In the meantime, let me take care of you for once.”

His lips tightened, but he let go of her wrist. She applied a butterfly bandage to pull the edges of wound together and taped a gauze pad over it. “There. That shouldn’t leave much of a scar.” With her thighs rubbing against his, she could tell her position in his lap was having the desired effect. She patted his bandage softly and shifted her gaze to his mouth, tilting forward until her lips hovered over his. “Thank you for coming to my rescue.” She swept her mouth across his, her lips barely skimming his.