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“If it’s caffeine you’re after, you’re better off drinking tea. It’s much—”
“Healthier. Yeah, yeah. I’m sensing a pattern with you. All this health-nut stuff must be why you’re in such good shape.”
He stretched his arm. “Not as good a shape as I thought.”
I smiled playfully. “Cut yourself some slack. Therewerethree of them. Most senior citizens would have been crumpled by a strong breeze.”
Jesse placed a hand over his heart and grimaced. “Ouch. Senior citizen?”
“How old are you?” I asked, fishing.
“Forty-three.”
I nibbled on my bottom lip, deep in thought. Forty-three. He was exactly twenty years older than me. “I see,” I mumbled softly.
“What about you?”
“You’re not supposed to ask a lady that question.”
He snorted, though he didn’t appear to be as miffed as he sounded. “Double standards.”
I giggled. “I’m teasing. Just turned twenty-three.”
“Hm,” was all he said.
A pregnant pause filled the room. Neither of us made a move nor said a word. We just sat in the quiet. It wasn’t awkward by any means. In fact, it was sort of nice. After all the chaos we’d been through, being able to just sit andbewas a nice change of pace.
“What are you doing up?” he asked after a while.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I said. “I’m really worried about my friend.”
He nodded. “We’re going to figure this out, Vivian. The men who attacked you are in custody. You’ll get her back.”
I managed a small smile. “Thank you. For earlier, too. I don’t know what I would have done if those guys came after me and you weren’t there.”
“Just part of the…” He thought for a moment. “Occupational hazard.”
I laughed. “Boy, I’ll say. You should really—” I noticed a bit of red trickle from his nose. “Oh!”
“What?”
“You’re bleeding again.” I reached for him, grabbing a couple napkins from the holder on the kitchen island. “Here, let me—”
He tried to wave me away. “I’m fine, Vivian. You don’t have to do this. It’s nothing to worry about.”
“Would you just shush and let me help you?”
Jesse pressed his lips into a thin line but didn’t argue, finally allowing me the opportunity to assist him. I cupped his cheek in my free hand and tilted his head back, determined to keep the blood from dripping onto his shirt. He was surprisingly pliant beneath my touch, moving where I needed him to go with next to no resistance.
He watched me the whole time, deep eyes focused on me and me alone. I didn’t shy away, too occupied with the task at hand.
“You’re pretty good at this,” he commented.
“The kids I grew up with got into all sorts of trouble,” I said absentmindedly. “Scraped knees, the occasional fist fights… That sort of thing.”
“The kids you grew up with?” he echoed. “You mean siblings?”
“No, not siblings. Not really.” Once I was satisfied that his nose was okay, I lowered my gaze. “It’s a long story. Wouldn’t want to bore you.”
