Page 46 of Bedding the Biker Next Door

“It’s okay. We’ll make it okay. Just let me take care of you right now. No pressure. No expectations.” Cole slid an arm under her shoulders and gently held her.

“Okay,” she finally whispered. “I’ll stay at your place.”

* * *

“This feels odd.” Jill looked at Cole, jammed in the driver’s seat of her little two-door, which Liz had left in the hospital parking lot for them. His cologne floated around her, making her swoon a bit, whether from meds or Cole’s body, she wasn’t sure.

“Leaving with me?” he asked.

“No, sitting in the passenger seat of my own car.”

They shared a laugh. Cole drove them through a flashy neighborhood to a tall but sleek building that didn’t look anything like the houses back in the suburbs. He slung her smaller bag over his shoulder. She felt bare not carrying anything but her small purse, but appreciated his help. They took the elevator up to his floor.

“Welcome to my abode.” Cole swung the door open and gestured for Jill to step inside.

Definitely a man’s home, it was an open space with a weight set taking up the main part of the room and not much else for furniture. A black leather couch sat against one wall facing a large flat screen TV. Across from that was a small kitchen. She moved further into the space, looking around and wondering if this felt like home to him. The one decoration was a painting resting against the wall—it wasn’t even hung up—of a dark-haired woman leaning over a cafe table. Startled, Jill realized who it looked like…

“I saw that in a street fair a few years ago and had to have it,” he explained. “I didn’t know why.”

It definitely looked like her. Did he see it?

“Are you okay?” he asked. “Do you need a pain pill?”

She shook her head. Her head spun a bit, but the ache that had started earlier was blissfully gone.

“Jill?” Cole craned his neck to look at her.

“I’m just sleepy…” She said, feeling weak all of a sudden. The room began to swirl. He lifted her gently in his arms and carried her through a doorway into his bedroom. She came down on a soft pillow top, a perfectly fluffy bed. The light flicked off, and she was falling… But I wanted more time with him. Not sex, just more time. To talk. Look at him. Hold him.

Breathe in all that was Cole.

And cherish him for as long as she could.

Before it was too late.

Chapter Eighteen

While Jill slept, Cole made some calls to get her house cleaned up and her security upgraded. A couple of hours passed, and when she finally emerged from his bedroom, hair ruffled, he fixed her a late breakfast. He noted her black eye was starting to fade. It still pained him to see her hurt, but he smiled. “You look better already.”

She stifled a yawn. “I didn’t mean to kick you out of your bed. But it’s amazing what some sleep in a handsome man’s bed can do for a girl’s constitution.”

He chuckled. “When you’re feeling better, maybe we can explore what other things we can do in my bed to make you feel better.”

She didn’t brush away his comment, didn’t say no, only blushed, looking so cute he wanted to grab her up in his arms. He forced himself to turn back to the meal he’d been preparing, dishing out two plates of scrambled eggs, fresh peach slices, and buttered toast.

“This smells beyond amazing. Thanks for cooking,” she said. They sat down to eat while he poured them coffee. Jill lifted her mug to inhale the strong aroma then took a sip. “Hmm, this is good too. All of this is really nice, but…am I keeping you from work?”

“I took the rest of the day off.”

After their food was gone, and they’d drank several cups of coffee over conversation, Jill said, “Would it be okay if I…if I took a shower?”

“Of course. I’ll show you where everything’s at.”

* * *

Cole headed to the bathroom with Jill trailing behind him. He opened a cabinet and she watched him pull out everything a person could possibly want for their shower. Towel, soap, shaving cream, razors… Was he trying to tell her something?

She laughed, and when he glanced at her she just gently shook her head.

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