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Finley turned when Levi said something. Her mind was wondering so much the last day and a half. Exhaustion, Finley told herself. Nothing more. And that thought disappointed her. She kind of wanted to have some honest, raw feelings for Levi and Cash. Sleep first.
Chapter 11
Day one after the abduction and rescue, Finley spent in bed with Levi and then later on the sofa watching everyone else. Her body hurt like hell and if she hadn’t had Mallory pushing her pain pills consistently, she would have been crying in pain. She was glad no one expected her to do anything because that was all she could do...exist. She’d never hurt so badly in her life.
The women took turns checking in on her and covering her when she fell asleep. She hurt all over and when Cash wanted to pick her up, she refused to let him.
“It’s easier for me to walk with assistance than to endure being carried.”
“Okay, sweetheart, but I need you to go back to bed. I’ll get your dinner brought up to you, and I’ll help you change into something easy. You need to rest comfortably.”
“Nothing is comfortable.”
“I’m so sorry that you are having to deal with this pain. I’d do anything to take it from you but since I can’t, I’ll do my best to keep you well taken care of.
“Thank you.”
Cash kissed her lips lightly. “Of course. Let’s see if we can get you into this tee shirt without too much pain.” He helped her into his tee shirt, and she settled under the cover. Sleep was drawing her under quickly.
Dinner was taken away by the housekeeper with a frown. Cash watched it leave, and he frowned too.
“I tried to get her to eat, but she says she isn’t hungry. She ate just enough to have her night pain pill.”
“I guess we can’t expect too much right now.”
“I’m in the room, guys.”
“You are,” said Cash. “And it’s time for you to get ready for bed.”
“I can put you in the bath or stand in the shower with you,” said Levi.
“I don’t know if I can do that yet. I can’t get out of the tub because everything hurts.”
“I can life you out,” said Levi.
“No, because there is no place you can touch that I don’t hurt.”
“Okay, shower?”
“No, the thought of a spray of water on my skin incites fear. No, not tonight guys. But I do need to get in the bathroom. Alone.” Her expression swept the room to encompass the two men. Levi rolled his eyes and Cash said, “You’re lucky that you hurt, otherwise that look would have earned you an ass warming. Instead, I’ll go finish the security measures and be back soon.”
Levi smiled and nodded. “Probably every female is getting ready for bed with at least one male telling her to hurry. Now move, woman. Get in and get out. You need your sleep.”
Yet he waited until she closed the bathroom door before he snagged his shaving kit and sleep pants he’d borrowed from the house supply. He’d planned on hanging out with Finley yesterday, then taking her out for some barbeque. She loved that stuff. However, all hell broke loose and while he had been pissed and scared for her life and Storm’s, there was no doubt in his mind that she would take care of business every time. If Cash would ever let her.
He was a man who wanted a kickass woman to handle herself but was comfortable asking for help when she needed it. Cash was the one who encouraged her to cozy down. It wasn’t that Levi didn’t like a soft woman, but he respected the place they chose for themselves. Cash was not bothered by stepping on her “I can do it myself” mentality. He would say she could, but why would she want to if he could do it for her?
She would protect her charge and anyone else she could, but who would protect her if not them? Levi knew that Finley had stayed on the fringes of their little community that Jac had formed. She would participate but often hide behind her little charge, using him as a reason to opt out of going to activities the other women did.
He felt her withdraw when it appeared as though she would be included too tightly in the shenanigans of the women or the tightness that military life engendered in the men. He imagined it had felt awkward at first, being an employee, female, but not a significant other. He thought she was being cautious, but now he wondered if it was just habit or fear. Her behaviors could have been so ingrained now that she didn’t know how to let down her guard. Afraid to join in just in case she wasn’t good enough. Accepted unconditionally. Levi, Cash and the others knew that was an error in thinking, but did Finley?
He and Cash had been having a few conversations about where they wanted things to go and had even encouraged Finley to dream with them, but it was as though she wasn’t trusting they would last. And while no one could predict with absolute certainty the success of their relationship, a lack of trust was not helpful. Something had to give if their girl was to ever find true happiness.
Levi wanted to live his life, and it was becoming increasingly clear. Strike that,no doubtthat she was the one he wanted to spend it with. He’d never thought of marriage and the thought,even now, made his mind stutter, but not as much as in the past. He got hard when he thought of Finley, and that had started when Ryker found Oakley. But it had really begun in earnest when Cash told him to get his head out of his anal cavity. It was like he needed the way cleared for him and a kick in the ass to stop dinking around.
This kidnapping event really affected him. He had always been a protective guy, but he could be that with total strangers for his job, and it rolled off him once that assignment was done. But with Finley, it was a different story. He had started to take more notice of her own self-care and risky habits, which were few, but when there was the first hint of danger, it nearly debilitated him for a split second, watching her take on the challenge. That was his job. His and Cash’s.
Yesterday, Finley, after he had gotten his head out of his ass in point five seconds, he was maneuvering her and Storm to safety. The problem with that was they were following two different rules of engagement. He fell back in the defender mode and let her jettison her and her charge out of harm’s way. Unfortunately, their enemy had calculated this move, and they hadn’t enough time to come up with more than a quick plan. Then he was hit, and she was alone. Even now, the slight throb of his head didn’t compare to the loss of contact with her during the ambush.
