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She kissed him, again, grinning at Wyatt when the man made retching noises then went to find a doctor. “I’m fine, Booker. Really. And, it’s over.”
Booker scoffed. “I doubt both of those.”
“How about, it’s over, for now.”
“And your leg?”
“Burns like a son of a bitch, but at least I’m not insisting on flying a helicopter for twenty minutes.”
“Life and death, sweetheart. And your life trumps everything.”
She leaned in, again, drawing her finger along his chest. “I hope you mean that, baby, because I have big plans once you’re back on your feet. And I intend on seeing them through.”
Booker smiled, his eyes already drifting closed. “I’ll be sure to get a doctor’s note. Now, scoot your ass on here until Wyatt brings back a doctor. And no arguing. We’ll get a double stretcher.”
“Deal. I still love your sorry ass, by the way.”
“Amazing ass, and I love yours more. Now, shut up and hold me.”
CHAPTER16
Booker stood in the doorway,watching Callie stare at the setting sun, the orange hue coloring her skin a brilliant gold. She’d been doing that every night since they’d finally been released from the medical center and shuttled back home. Stone had insisted they stay in a cabin on a fellow Brotherhood Protector’s ranch until everyone was confident they weren’t in further danger. That no one else in the DEA was going to send a wet squad after them.
Or maybe the cartel from Puerto Rico seeking revenge.
The change in scenery had put a lot of things into perspective for Booker, especially where Calliope was concerned. And with September only a couple of days away, he needed to get it all out in the open.
Her phone rang, and she sighed, checking the ID before silencing it. Shoving it back in her pocket.
Booker tsked, smiling at her when she turned to look at him, all ruby red lips and bright blue eyes. “You know, sweetheart, you’ll have to talk to DC sooner or later.”
Callie shrugged, focusing back on the sunset. “They can wait. I don’t want to miss when it turns to purple.”
He moved in behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. His side tugged a bit, but he ignored it. He’d been extremely lucky. The bullet had glanced off a rib, cracked another then made its way back out. Other than a bit of shrapnel they’d had to dig out, he’d come through fairly unscathed. The biggest hurdle had been weakness due to blood loss.
Callie snuggled into him, and everything clicked into place. Like a lock turning over. And he knew he’d do whatever it took to spend every night just like this one. Calliope in his arms. The world slowly passing them by. “Does this pull on your ribs?”
He nipped at the soft spot behind her ear. “What ribs?”
“Jackass.”
“I definitely prefer baby. Jackass makes me think you’re dreaming of Wyatt.”
She laughed. Deep. Genuine. “The guy’s impressive, I’ll grant you that. The way he took out all those men…”
She sighed, and Booker knew she wasn’t concentrating on them, anymore. That the pressure of deciding if she was going to accept the DEA’s offer was still eating at her soul. He just wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t want to accept it, or because she did.
He took a breath, ran over the speech in his head, then groaned when a truck turned onto the gravel road, the tires spitting out rocks as it bounced along.
Callie glanced over his shoulder, grinning. “It’s like they know I was just about to take advantage of your weakened state.”
Booker tapped her on the ass. “The only thing that’s weak is your sense of humor.”
She stuck her tongue out at him then walked down the path, greeting his crew as they scrambled out of Wyatt’s truck. There were a few cat calls about how the two of them needed to stop screwing on the porch, before they headed inside. Unloaded all the takeout.
Wyatt handed him a plate, thanking Callie when she handed him a Coke instead of a beer. “So, you finally ready to get your ass back to work? Or are you going to laze around for another couple of weeks?”
Booker held up one hand. “I was ready to come back the next day, but you were all antsy about me flying around half-baked on pain meds.”
