Page 44 of Bedding the Biker Next Door

“It’s not just bruises! That was your home, your safety. Your business. I shouldn’t have left…” He shook his head and turned his face away.

“What do you mean? How can you possibly be feeling guilty for this?”

He lifted her hand, pressing a single kiss on each knuckle then her entire hand to his mouth. “I’m just…I’m so sorry you got hurt.”

She sucked in a quick, shaky breath. “Cole…”

“Shh, it’s okay.” He soothed her hair back from her face. The gesture made her close her eyes. Sleep pulled at her again. “It’s okay, Jill. You can rest. Don’t worry about a thing. I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.”

* * *

Cole watched Jill’s facial muscles relax. He listened to her breathing even out. He held onto her hand, wishing he could kiss away her injuries. She looked so beautiful in sleep, but it pained him to see the purple bruises blooming up one side of her face. Her left eye was black and swollen, making his stomach flip over. Her left arm was in a sling to keep her from moving it.

Jill looked like a porcelain doll, one he’d break if he so much as bumped into her. Her hand felt so delicate in his. How could someone do this? Rage filled him, and he had to take deep, even breaths to control it.

His phone buzzed. He looked down, seeing it was Luke calling. “Hello?” he said softly.

“Hey, man,” Luke jumped right in. “Is Jill okay?”

After getting Liz’s call earlier, Cole had called Luke about the break in, but at the time he hadn’t known much.

“Hang on just a sec,” Cole said leaving the room so he wouldn’t disturb Jill’s sleep. “She doesn’t have a severe concussion or any broken bones, but she’s black and blue.”

“God, I’m sorry, man. Any leads?”

“No, but there was a daycare dad who seemed interested in her. I’m going to check it out. And Luke?”

“Yeah, buddy?”

“I’m not leaving her side until I know she’s safe,” Cole said.

There was the buzz of silence over the line before Luke said, “I’ll ask the senator if he’ll accept another body for the job since you’re out of commission at the moment.”

“Thanks.”

“You okay, man?”

“I…I don’t know.” Cole paced to the corner fifteen feet away and back. “It’s hard to handle. I should have done something to prevent this.”

“Cole, you didn’t know. If you had, there’s no way you would have left her.”

True. But same as with his mom, he hadn’t been there when Jill needed him most. “Yeah, well, I’m sticking close to Jill now. I don’t want her alone if there’s even the slightest chance that someone out there might come back to hurt her.”

“Well, don’t worry about things back here. We’ve got everything under control. Take as much time there as you need, okay?”

“Thanks, man.” Cole said goodbye and went back to Jill’s bedside.

Liz came into the room right behind him, and they nodded to each other. Liz sat down on the other side of the bed. “Seems like we’re all feeling guilty about this,” she said quietly.

He nodded, glad to have someone understand.

“I didn’t mean to, but I heard part of your conversation. You’re going to stay with her?”

“Yes. We’re also going to be upgrading security on the house, doing some investigation to make sure you’ll all be safe before opening your door again.”

Liz smiled slightly.

“What?” Cole asked, confused by her expression.

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