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"Time to check in with Lukus."
Ah, yes. We still have to deal with the outside world.
The bed seemed empty when Dylan rolled out to stand next to her, stretching for a minute before reaching for his cell phone on the bedside table.
Hannah was suddenly self-conscious of what she must look like. She'd been through hell since her last shower. She was in desperate need of a toothbrush and a toilet. Embarrassed, she hoped her morning breath hadn't turned him off.
She was just rolling to the other side of the bed to try to escape to the bathroom when she felt his hand holding her back by gripping her bicep, holding her in the bed.
He shook his head, giving her silent instructions to stay put as he spoke to his boss. "Hey, checking in. Anything new?"
She couldn't hear the other end of the conversation and had to wait not-so-patiently while Dylan got an update.
"Yeah, well, I figured we weren't going to be able to put him off for much longer. I'll let her know he'll be here soon. You coming back, too?"
Silence.
"Sounds good. Oh, and Lukus, can you stop by Hannah's and pick up a change of clothes? And did you get her purse yet from the warehouse?"
More silence.
"Great. See you then." He ended the call and turned his attention back to her, a small smile on his lips. "Now, where were we?"
"We were just about to help me out of bed so I can go pee and brush my teeth, that's where we were."
He grinned now, a sexy smile that lit up his grey eyes with mischief. "Really? I don't remember that at all."
She poked back playfully. "Well you were, champ."
Hannah's muscles were aching. She felt like she'd run a marathon the day before as she tried to pull herself into a sitting position. It only got worse as she put her weight on her shaking legs. Dylan was there in a heartbeat, holding her up, slipping his arm around her waist, taking the bulk of her weight on himself.
They were halfway to the bathroom when she broke the silence. "Are you always this good at taking care of people?" She'd meant it to lighten the mood, but Dylan pulled them to a stop, keeping her weight balanced on himself.
"Not really. It's a rather recent development, but I find I want nothing more than to take care of you, Hannah."
His words shocked her. "Me?"
"You. Now, let's keep moving. Lukus told me the police captain is on his way over again this morning, and I'm afraid he isn't going to take no for an answer anymore."
They had made it to the bathroom by the time he'd finished his sentence. She'd expected him to just get her into the room and leave, but instead, he navigated her towards the toilet and stood there, holding her steady.
She broke the awkward silence. "Okay. Thanks for getting me here, but you can go now." She dared to glance up into his eyes as he watched her carefully.
"You're still unsteady on your feet. Let me at least help you get seated," he said.
Her cheeks flamed, but she accepted his help as he turned her, lifting her utilitarian hospital gown only to realize she had no underwear on anyway. Just great. She'd already been flashing her backside the entire walk there.
Dylan at least had the decency to blush. "For what it's worth, I enjoyed the view very much."
She slapped his chest playfully as she took a seat on the cold toilet. They'd been through so much together. He'd found her naked on the floor of the warehouse, for crying out loud.
Before he turned to leave he let her know, "I'll be right outside the door. Call when you're ready for help back to bed."
He didn't wait for her to answer, but turned to leave. Like a gentleman, he closed the door all but a small crack. After she'd finished at the toilet, she struggled, using the handrail to pull her aching body to a stand. She managed to inch her way to the sink to brush her teeth with a waiting toothbrush. As good as that felt, what she really wanted was a hot bath. She looked longingly at the shower in the far corner of the room, but knew she was still too wobbly to make it there on her own. Desire to wash away the remnants of Jake Davenport warred with her reticence to ask Dylan for help.
"Hannah, honey. You okay in there?" He knocked lightly before pushing the door open tentatively. She glanced his way before looking down at her bare feet. She didn't want him to see how much she was struggling with her erratic emotions.
His boots appeared next to her as he wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her. He didn't ask. Understanding what she wanted, he steered her silently towards the corner slowly, helping her step over the lip of the shower basin. She felt his fingers on the ties holding the ugly gown closed in the back. Her mind told her she should protest. They didn't know each other well. It was her heart that had her holding her tongue.
