Page 65 of All the Missing Pieces

I swallowed hard, my throat sticking on the action. It was the drugs. I was high out of my mind, and that’s why I was thinking about kissing the grumpy bastard. That was the only plausible answer. It had nothing to do with those broad shoulders and fathomless eyes.

Colt’s brows pulled together in concern. “Chaos?”

“I’m good,” I said, the statement more rasp than actual words.

“You sure?” he pressed.

“Promise,” I whispered. “Just trying to get a little more with it. They gave me the good stuff.”

Colt chuckled and lifted the small pharmacy bag. “There’s more where that came from. But not until tomorrow.”

“Pretty sure if I had more tonight, I’d be comatose.”

“Can’t have that,” he said. “I’m going to come around and help you out.”

“I can?—”

Colt cut me off with a pointed look.

“I can wait for you to help me out,” I amended.

“That’s better.”

Colt slid out of the SUV, tucking my meds into his pocket. I waited in silence, my nerves ratcheting up with each moment that passed. Then the back door opened, and Tater let out an accusing meow.

“Don’t worry, Tripod. I got you too,” Colt said.

“I wouldn’t?—”

“Ow!” Colt yelped. “She bit me through the damn cage.”

“I told you we should’ve started you on rabies shots.”

The back door slammed and a second later, my door opened. I was greeted with that familiar scowl that somehow made Colt hotter. Something was seriously wrong with me.

“This cat needs one of those behavioral specialists or something.”

“Good luck with that,” I said, grinning.

Tater hissed but it sounded more like a viper spitting.

Colt’s scowl only deepened. “Maybe she needs to be on medication. A nice sedative.”

Tater lunged for the bars and nipped Colt’s pinky.

“Goddamn it!” he cursed.

I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of me, but the moment it left my lips I regretted it. The pain along my ribs flared to life. My laugh cut off, and I sucked in a breath.

“Chaos,” Colt said softly. “He get your ribs?”

I nodded. “Got off a punch or two. Nothing’s broken.”

He glared at my side as if he could see the injury. “Probably bruised though.”

“Maybe,” I hedged. “But I’m sure it’ll feel better tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” Colt said, but it didn’t sound as if he believed me. “Come on. Let’s get you inside.”

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