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“Even if he had, I would’ve come up with an excuse.” He stroked his thumb across my knuckle, directly above where my fictional engagement ring would have gone. “No way in hell was I going to let you out of my sight after I saw what that bastard did to you.”
There was no missing the mixture of regret and guilt that shone from his grayish-blue orbs. Twisting my hand, I gave his a squeeze. “What happened to me wasn’t your fault. Things could have been so much worse if you hadn’t been there, parked so close to the building.”
He shook his head with a sigh. “Never thought I’d be happy about anything connected to my injury, but that damn temporary disabled person parking permit might’ve been part of the reason that guy took off instead of doing something else to make sure you couldn’t go after him and Tucker.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I thought about the sweet dog, wondering if that man was mistreating him while I was safely ensconced in Kade’s bed. Sniffling, I whispered, “I hope it doesn’t take long for the police to find him.”
“With the help they’re gonna get, it shouldn’t,” he assured me.
My brows drew together as I stared at him. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll explain later, baby.” After putting on his brace again, he stood and tugged the sheet off me and clasped my arm to help me off the bed. “First, you’re gonna take a long, hot shower to ease those aches. We can talk while we’re eating. Do you like eggs? I can make us a couple of omelets.”
“That depends. Are you a decent cook?”
He nodded, his lips curving into a cocky grin. “Yeah, baby. When it comes to eggs, I’m damn good in the kitchen.”
“Then that sounds like a perfect plan to me.” I was hyperaware of my lack of clothing as I padded into his bathroom. The hem of the shirt he’d put on me last night hit my upper thigh, so it was as long as most of the shorts I wore, but somehow totally different. Probably because it was his. And I was so attracted to him…with a bed nearby.
When the bathroom door closed behind me, I fanned myself with my hand before taking in my reflection in the mirror with a wince. I definitely needed that shower because I looked awful.
About half an hour later, I felt—and looked—so much better. Even dressed in the oversized pair of sweats Kade had left on the bed for me. I rolled the waist of the pants down a few times as I headed toward the kitchen.
“Something smells good.”
Kade looked over his shoulder at me from where he stood in front of the stove. “It’ll taste good, too.”
“Anything I can help with?”
“Nope.” He jerked his chin toward the small, round table with four chairs to his left. “Grab a seat. Everything’s just about ready to serve.”
As soon as I got settled in the chair that faced the kitchen so I could see him while he finished, my cell rang. Glancing down and seeing my dad’s name on the screen, I heaved a deep sigh. Kade’s eyes narrowed as he set a plate in front of me. “Problem?”
“Just my dad calling. I was hoping to be more awake before I had this conversation.”
The tension eased from his large frame as he murmured, “Gotcha.”
I tapped the screen to answer the call before pressing the device against my ear. “Hey, Dad.”
“Where are you?” he growled.
“Why in the hell aren’t you home?” Andrew chimed in before I could answer.
Dealing with both of them at the same time after what happened last night wasn’t ideal, but at least I would only have to go over the story once. “I’m…uh…at a friend’s house.”
“A friend?” Kade mouthed, his plump lips curving into a smirk as he sat across from me.
“Which friend?” My dad’s tone was suspicious. “Tori? Amelia?”
“Or was it the guy who was with you last night after you were attacked at work and got a concussion?”
My draw dropped at Andrew’s question. “How did you find out what happened?”
“The better question is how come you didn’t call to tell us yourself?”
“I was going to call you first thing this morning,” I mumbled, meeting Kade’s eyes when his phone vibrated on the table. Picking up the device, he jerked his chin to let me know he was going to take his call in another room, and I nodded.
“But you didn’t,” my dad pointed out.
