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Sabrina
“You’re looking tired,sweets. Why don’t you go have a nap in the other room?” Chloe says, fussing with the blanket wrapped around me.
“I’m tired of being in a bed, and I like the company,” I say, while she steps back toward the kitchen. I look over my shoulder and see the table on the other side of the room becoming more and more filled with food. Chloe made sausage rolls and quiche. Zeke picked up four different kinds of wings. Caleb brought cake and cookies, along with beer, wine, and sodas. The table is packed with delectable goodness, and my stomach starts to growl.
Underneath all that goodness is this awesome extra-long country harvest table for twelve, with matching chairs and black leather padding. The dark wood floors are perfect for this place and work great with the rest of the furniture. The chocolate-brown leather sofa, matching armchairs, and the tables also are made of that solid old wood. This is definitely a man’s house, but it’s so very warm and inviting.
The kitchen, dining, and family rooms are all open-concept design. The modern kitchen appliances somehow work with the dark wood cupboards and black countertops. The kitchen island has a butcher’s block. I can envision myself cooking in Alex’s kitchen and preparing a special dinner for just the two of us.
I haven’t seen much else since Alex sat me on the sofa and said, “That’s where you stay. You need anything, you call me, and I’ll get it for you.”
When we were driving and turned into the neighborhood where Damian and Chloe live, I was surprised. I always thought that Alex would be a condo dweller. Instead, we ended up in front of this amazing ranch-style bungalow with a cobblestone walkway. I couldn’t hide my surprise.
“I work in the city. I don’t want to be in the heart of it when I come home,” he told me. I totally get that. Especially when he went undercover and lived that life daily. I’m sure because of all that, he just wants to be in a place that feels like home.
The aroma of food is giving me more of an appetite. I tug the blanket off to one side and pull myself up to my feet, taking it slow. The concussion still causes me to get dizzy if I move too fast. Slowly, I make my way over to the table.
I take a bite out of one of the mini sausage rolls and moan with pleasure. Hospital food has a tendency to make you appreciate the flavor of good food.
Chloe turns to me and smiles. “These are excellent. I snuck two when they just came out of the oven,” she says and lets out a giggle. “Let’s make you a plate.”
“Are you eating?” I ask. I don’t want to be rude and start without everyone.
“Absolutely. Those guys are still having their meeting, and I’m hungry,” she declares. “I’m just going to grab the veggies and dip. Go ahead and start. I’ll be right in.”
I reach for the paper plate and set it on my wrapped hand, using my good one to grab the food. As I’m moving back to the sofa, the door at my back slams open with a wallop, causing me to jolt. Try as I might, I can’t hold on to the plate. All I can do is watch it fall and land with a splat on the beautiful wood floor.
“Oh no. What have I done?” I cry out. I try to get down on my hands and knees to clean up my mess. Alex is by my side in seconds, lifting me out of the way.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he snaps.
“I’m sorry. I’ll clean it up. I didn’t mean to drop it. I thought I had it,” I ramble.
“I don’t give a fuck about the floor.” His eyes search mine and must find terror gazing back at him.
“I can replace the food. I have a credit card,” I say. Alex looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. He gently sets me in one of the chairs, then drops to one knee, his palms holding my face, making sure that I’m hearing him.
“Baby, I don’t care about the food. I care about you,” he says quietly. That’s when I notice my breath is ragged and I’m reacting like I would if I’d made this mistake with Cameron.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper.
“For what?” he asks, but then says, “You got nothing to be sorry for. I should have realized you hadn’t eaten in hours. I was too deep into what I was doing to pay attention. This is on me. I’m supposed to take care of you.”
“Not your fault,” I manage to say with a lump in my throat. He wants to take care of me, he says. I can’t remember the last time someone wanted to look after me.
He plants a kiss on my forehead. “I’m getting you another plate. Then I’ll clean it up.” As Alex goes to get me more food, Damian and Zeke pick the food up off the floor, and Caleb comes back with a mop in hand.
“Do you think we can wash it off?” Zeke asks, looking at the wing he picked up.
In unison, they all shout, “No,” including Chloe, who immediately starts laughing. Everyone joins in, including me.
Later that night, they’ve all left for their own places and Alex carries me to the bedroom. The dove-gray walls combined with his royal blue comforter and soft lighting make me feel cozy. It totally suits Alex.
“Do you need help getting undressed?” he asks.
Crap! I’m not sure I’m going to be able to get my T-shirt off. “I might need help with my shirt. Or I can sleep with it on.”
