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When the sharpness of it eased a little, I slumped to the side. Darren smoothed back my sweaty hair and kissed my forehead. I smiled weakly. By wordless consent, we lay down on the bed, our bodies still tangled up, Jeremy’s hand on breast, Darren’s arm around my hips anchoring me to him. I kissed them both, first Darren and then Jeremy. Rory brought me a glass of water which I took gratefully.
“Not to sound too much like the naughty houseboy, but your bath is ready,” he said. I gaped at him and at so much pampering.
I thanked him and he kissed me goodbye. “I’m on the late shift tonight at the firehouse. See you tomorrow.”
I took a warm bath to clean up and washed my hair. Then I climbed into the big bed with the two remaining Beckett’s. I nestled into Jeremy’s arms with Darren spooned up behind me. I couldn’t remember a time I was felt safer or more satisfied.
21
JEREMY
Waking up with Julie in my arms was wonderful. It was also enough motivation to have me posted up at the desk in my home office by seven in the morning looking for any legal precedent, state or federal, that I could invoke to keep her safe.
A knock at my door told me that at least one of my brothers was up and about. “I’m not on a call. Come on in,” I said.
Both Rory and Darren came in and sat in the guest chairs across the desk from me. Rory was just getting in from the fire station, and Darren was dressed to go into the office.
“So that was wild,” Rory said with a grin.
“That isn’t the word I’d use to describe it,” I said.
“What would you use then? Something with about eight syllables?” Rory said.
“Incredible. Everybody okay with it still?” I asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“Hell yes,” Darren said.
“Count me in,” Rory said. “This is Julie. It’s not like we’re going to change our minds.”
“Obviously we intend to protect her, but I wasn’t sure how you two felt after last night.”
“Like I’m ready for round two, obviously,” Rory said. “I mean, I’m the handsome prince that ran her a hot bath and brought her a glass of water while you two frat boys fell asleep. I’m the king of aftercare, y’all,” he said.
I rolled my eyes and Darren snorted. “If you have to be king of something and you know it’s not the sex itself…” Darren said, just ramping up the day’s trash talk.
“Right, boys. Let’s save the spitting and kicking for outside,” I said wryly. “I’ve got a call in to Eric’s parole officer and expect a callback today. I’m looking at any legal inroads to block him from entering hospital property. Since Julie’s not scheduled to work today, I’m working from home so she’s not alone.”
“Good. I can post up at the hospital on her next shift, be the eyes and ears in case he turns up,” Darren offered.
“You can’t beat the shit out of him. We need him locked up.”
“I’ll just escort him off property, offer him a ride to another medical facility. Make sure it’s a real emergency,” Darren said, sounding too reasonable.
“You’re going to break his femur, aren’t you?” I asked grimly. “That would make it a real emergency. Listen to me. You cannot damage him unless he attacks you first. Then you can’t use an indefensible level of force given your training and ability.”
“I know that.”
“Good plan. I’m dead on my feet. We had three calls last night. I’m going to bed. Nobody wake me up unless the place is on fire. Wait, if it’s on fire, call whoever’s on duty at the damn station,” Rory said, and shuffled out of the room to go get some sleep. He’d be unconscious for the next ten hours.
“I’ll be back around six,” Darren said.
“Okay. I’m texting you both a couple photos of Eric so you’ll know him on sight.”
“Good thinking, bro,” he said and left.
An hour later I went downstairs to get fresh coffee and found Julie curled up on the couch. I sat down beside her. “Hey,” I said, “did you sleep okay? Too much snoring?”
She gave a soft smile and met my eyes.
“I slept really well, Jeremy. How about you?”
“I had a hard time getting out of bed. There was this beautiful woman asleep on my shoulder,” I said, watching as she blushed a little from the compliment. “It already feels like you belong here. Don’t worry about any of us changing our minds. We’re more than happy that you decided to take a chance.”
“Jeremy, what am I doing?” she asked, her eyes wide and unsure.
“You’re sitting on the couch deciding what to have for breakfast, I think. Don’t overanalyze it. I know coming from me that’s pretty ironic, but I mean it. There’s no trick, no other shoe waiting to drop. Face value, Jules. We care about you, and we want to keep you around.”
