Page 80 of Sterling Stone

“You need to be careful,” she says, lowering her voice and her gaze. Her hand hovers over the bandage again. “Does it hurt?”

“Only a little.” Going to sting and itch in a day or so, but nothing I haven’t dealt with before.

“Would a kiss make it better?”

I chuckle. “Definitely.”

She cups my jaw and pulls me closer to her, giving me a sweet kiss on the lips, instead of where my ouchy—as my niece June would call it—is. Her lips are soft and warm and gone too quickly from mine.

I’m still feeling a little rattled about seeing Andy in a security uniform at the hospital. Even more unhinged about what I heard him say to Taxi. His tone. The implication. The suggestion. She doesn’t need that kind of comment in her life. No one does.

But I settle a little under her kiss.

Andy Whitehall previously worked for the sheriff’s department, and I hadn’t been contacted about his employment potential at the hospital. Legally, I couldn’t say whether he’d been a good employee or a decent human being. I could only confirm he’d worked in the department, had they reached out to me for a reference. He was a little too squirrelly for my liking. Attempting to give big dick energy when he was a small man. He was the type of cop who had seen too many movies and was a little overzealous with his gun, as in, he liked to show it as a symbol of authority.

He'd been put on probation for an incident two years ago and was eventually let go from the department last summer. While working for the sheriff’s office, he’d also taken a job working security at my brother Ford’s baseball camp, but after a comment not too far off from the one he spoke to Taxi, made to our sister last summer, Ford fired him.

Andy did not have a good track record working with Sylvers.

“Let me take you to dinner tonight,” I whisper, tipping my head close to hers as she continues to hold my arm on her lap.

“Let me check on Trudy first.”

I nod to agree, and thankfully, an hour later Trudy gives Taxi her blessing to cut out of the hospital early.

“Get her out of here,” Trudy turns tired, teasing eyes on me.

“Are you sure?” Taxi looks back at Trudy.

“Yes. Please.” Trudy attempts to sound annoyed but offers a weak smile. “And don’t come back ‘til the morning.”

“Aunt Trudy,” Taxi admonishes.

Trudy responds with strained laughter that causes Taxi and me to meet eyes.

But the reality of Trudy’s suggestion hits.

I don’t want to let Taxi out of my sight until morning.

“Your house?” Taxi questions as we pull onto the gravel drive.

I shift my truck into Park and twist to look at her. “Figured you could use a home-cooked meal instead of more take-out or cafeteria food.”

“You can cook?”

Her skepticism makes me laugh. “I have many talents.” I tip a brow while shoving open my door. Rounding the hood, I get to Taxi’s door just as she pops it open. Holding out my hand, I help her out of the vehicle and keep her hand in mine as I lead her into the house.

I haven’t slept here in a week, and it’s almost strange to return to my place. I’ve only taken quick showers here lately.

“Your sister lives here, right? With your nephew.” Taxi looks around the living room after I’ve shut the front door and dropped her hand.

A year ago, when Taxi was here, Vale did live with me. “Actually, Vale got engaged in July. She and Hudson moved in with Cort a couple of weeks ago.”

I nod toward the kitchen and place my hand on her lower back to lead her toward the back of the house.

“Did they live here long?” she asks.

I pause near the kitchen island and pull out a stool for Taxi, patting it for her to take a seat.