“Atlas?”Lily prompted.
He swallowed.Realized he’d clenched his hands into fists.Lily could have broken her neck on the tumble down the stairs.He could have woken up to find himself cuffed to a dead woman in the basement.
What in the hell would he have done then?
“You’re staying with me,” he rumbled.
She blinked.“For the rest of the night?”
Not like there was much night left.
But Lily nodded.“Okay, that’s good.I am a doctor, just saying.”
“I am aware.”Of so many things about her.
A quick sigh escaped her.“I meant that because I am a doctor, I could keep an eye on you.If you won’t stay here at the hospital, then at least you’ll have me to make certain nothing bad happens to you.I can monitor your condition.”
Plenty of bad things had already happened.And would happen again.“He got away, Lily.”
She inched toward him.“The cops are looking for him.He probably left evidence behind.”
Seriously?His brows shot up.“You mean evidence, in the cabin that must have burned down to its very foundation?”
“Yes.”A wince.“In there.”Then a nibble along her lower lip.“Ifit burned to its foundation, we won’t find anything.”
Obviously.Thus the reason the bomb had been a very wise plan of attack.A good way of covering the perp’s tracks.“He will know who you are.”
“Not like we exchanged names during our short fight scene?—”
“The press is already spreading the story about what happened tonight.Your name will be featured prominently.I’m big news.You’re big news.Pair us together, sweets, and we’re the lead story everywhere.”
She swallowed.“I don’t like being the lead.”
“‘If it bleeds, it leads,’” he quoted.“That’s the way it’s always supposed to work in the news.I’m bloody.A detective is dead.A killer is on the loose.There is no getting around the fact that everyone will be talking about us.”
Her delicate nostrils flared.
“When we leave, photos will be taken of us.”He probably could have avoided the photos.He didn’t want to do so.The sooner that the world knew Lily was under his protection, the better.
“So he knows who I am.”She nodded.Her voice was very level.No fear from Lily.“He knows who you are, too.Not to tell you your business but…youwere the target, not me.You need to get Desmond to step up your protection detail.”
Oh, he’d be stepping up his detail.“You’re staying with me.”
“Again, yes, I’ll stay tonight?—”
“No, sweets.”He cut through her words.Even smiled at her.
Her gaze dipped to his mouth.“Your smile is scary.”
She was the first who’d noticed that.
“But I still like it,” she added.
And I could like you.
“How long will I be staying with you?”Lily asked him, voice thoughtful, as her gaze lifted to pin his once again.
Forever.That was the reply that wanted to spring to his lips.But forever with him would be a very dangerous thing.So Atlas compromised and said, “Until our attacker is caught.”
