It’s a little embarrassing how fast I race down the hall to unlock the front door. Beckett is standing behind Sawyer, who’s on crutches and sporting a four-day old scruff that is wildly sexy on him. Enough to make me wish he wasn’t an active firefighter so he could keep it longer. Then again, he’s not exactly on active duty right now…
“Wherever your mind went, angel, hold that thought till we’re alone.”
I blush bright red and step to the side to let them inside. “Sawyer, stop.”
He pauses beside me and leans over to kiss me. “Never gonna stop loving you, angel.”
I blink open my eyes as his lips leave mine to see him crutch into my house and over to the couch. I hurry after him in case he needs help, but with his upper body strength, it seems easy for him to set the crutches to the side and sink down with the barest of winces. Then he does look up at me with a puppy-dog expression.
“Can you help me lift my leg? Who knew casts were freaking heavy.”
“Don’t listen to him, Tori,” Beckett brushes past me and drops a bag on the coffee table. “He can move his leg just fine.” Beck comes to stand over Sawyer and folds his arms across his chest. “Stop milking it, Sawyer.”
I bite my lips to hide my laugh as Sawyer pouts at his brother. “You’re mean, Becky-boo. I’m a broken man.”
“Not that broken,” Beckett mutters. Then he turns to me and gestures to the bag on the table. “All his prescriptions are in there, discharge paperwork, follow-up, all of it. You’re a brave woman to take this on; if you need a break, just call any of us. We went through something similar with Jude, but he was just a grumpy asshole, not the annoying fucker this one is going to be.”
Now it’s really hard not to laugh, because between his mom and Beckett, I’m starting to wonder just how much work it’s going to be with Sawyer staying here.
“Thanks, Beckett. We’ll be okay.” I try to sound reassuring, but Beckett just raises his eyebrows and shakes his head.
“Good luck.”
Sawyer gives his twin a middle finger salute from the couch as Beckett leaves, and I turn to him, hands on my hips. “You’re not going to be any trouble, are you?”
The smile he gives me is so sweet it could give me a cavity. “Definitely not.” His lips curl down slightly. “But could I please, pretty please, have a cup of coffee? Hospital coffee is gross.”
My face softens at his plaintive request. “Of course.” I move to go to the kitchen, just for him to call after me.
“Got any cookies? Maybe some Oreos?”
This time, I let my laugh ring free. When I reach the kitchen, I make him a quick cup of coffee, debating whether to take him seriously on his cookie request. On impulse, I do, reaching for the package I purchased at the store last week before everything in my world went sideways.
I place two on a plate and take it back to him, along with the coffee. Setting it down on the table, I say primly, “You’ll need to practice your tongue dexterity with these until you can have the real thing again.”
Those delicious chocolate eyes glint wildly. “Doc didn’t say anything about abstaining, angel.” He leans forward, at least as much as he can with a broken leg, and I dart back with a shriek of laughter.
“Stop, you’ll hurt yourself!”
“Then come here and kiss me properly,” he rumbles.
I’m not turning down that offer, so I move back over and bend to meet his upturned lips. His hands thread in my hair, holding me in place while he greedily plunders my mouth.
A knock on the door has him growling against my lips, but I know who it is, so I pull back.
Sure enough, I open the door to admit the whirlwind of a little boy and his puppy, my mother following behind more sedately.
“Careful, Coop!” I call out as he beelines to the sofa. Sawyer’s ready, however, his arms open wide as Cooper flings himself into them.
“Well, isn’t that the most precious thing I’ve ever seen.” I turn at the sound of my mom’s voice as she loops her arm in mine. “I can see why my grandson didn’t stop talking about Sawyer all weekend.”
I turn into her hug. “Hi, Mom. Thanks for bringing him home.”
“Our pleasure, honey. I must admit to being a little eager to meet the man who’s charmed my daughterandmy grandson so thoroughly.”
We move inside, and I lead her over to Cooper and Sawyer. “Hey Coop, why don’t you take your stuff to your bedroom and unpack.”
“But Mom,” he starts to whine, then Sawyer nudges him.
