Page 75 of Baby One Last Time
Chapter 20
Six days later,I was barefoot and wearing a silver sundress with little blue flowers on it. It was the day before New Year’s Eve with nary a snowflake in sight. But my luck might be about to change.
I rolled forward on the balls of my feet, my toes sinking into the plush carpeting of the penthouse in the trendy Miami hotel where Derek and I had holed up in the days since he’d been released from the hospital. Our seasonal gifts to each other—not Christmas gifts, because my mother would have a fit if we slighted all the other winter holidays—were open but still under the seven-foot, fresh-cut evergreen Derek had somehow arranged to have set up and decorated before we’d arrived.
“How’s our patient?” I asked Bond, who was winding a fresh bandage around Derek’s shin.
Derek shot me his annoyed look. “I’m no longer a patient.”
I grazed my hand over his stubbled chin. “Oh, I’m sorry. I assumed since you’re too weak to shave that you must still need ’round-the-clock care.”
“That I definitely need,” he said. Annoyed turned to interested as he looked me up and down, taking in the sundress that had been my solstice gift.
I returned the suggestive once-over. My man, wearing dark gray board shorts and a black tee shirt, had never looked so hot. I didn’t mind his whiskers, either, despite my teasing. I’d take him any way I could get him. Often. Constantly.
Bond cleared her throat, breaking up the steamy stare. “Wilder, the incision’s healing nicely. Your temperature and blood pressure are excellent, and you have a strong radial pulse.” She glanced at me. “You’re now free to resume your... relations.”
Derek sat statue-still while I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. I realized a beat too late we were revealing our guilt.
Bond frowned. “Yeah, that’s what I figured. Well, I’m glad you didn’t rip any stitches. At least try to... Oh, never mind. Call me if you do anything that might cause permanent damage.”
She stood and crossed to the kitchenette. She peeled off her neoprene gloves and dropped them into the trash can, then washed her hands in the sink.
“As far as calling you”—I glanced at Derek, who nodded—“we were hoping we could get away from here. Get on flight. If he’s cleared to travel.”
Bond raised her eyebrows at us while she dried her hands with paper towels. “I’m surprised you waited for a medical opinion. But yes, you can travel. Just remember to take all your antibiotics and change the dressing daily. And as long as you don’t have any increase in pain, you can start using your crutches in a few days. It will be good for circulation. The stitches will come out next week, if you need me to—”
“I have it covered.” Derek’s face gave away nothing about where we would be by then or who would be covering his medical treatment.
“Call me if you need me.” Bond hoisted her medical bag and gave Derek a wave. I walked with her down the short hallway to the suite’s elevator.
“I didn’t get a chance to thank you for sticking around this week to look after him,” I said. “Thank you for that. And for everything.”
She smiled. “I appreciate it, but it’s what teammates do. He’s a civilian now, but he’ll always be an honorary member of Alpha Team. And taking care of him means taking care of you. We’re all on board with that.”
I must be getting used to all the feels that came with being part of an extended family, because I didn’t even tear up. Much.
“Enjoy your trip, wherever you’re headed.” She pushed the elevator button. “As long as no farther than a half-a-day plane ride.”
“Derek hasn’t told me the destination yet,” I said, “but—wait, what? Is another mission coming up soon?”
She shrugged. “Nothing I can confirm nor deny nor discuss.” She gave me a sidelong glance. “But some nasty shit could be about to hit the fan.”
“You want to be more specific?”
“No, other than to say it’s going to require HEAT’s best and brightest.” She grinned. “That’s us.”
I sighed dramatically, but we both knew it wouldn’t do any good. She wouldn’t tell me anymore than I was allowed to know. Besides, I had better things to think about for the next week or month or however long we had before the shit she mentioned caught up with us. “Anyways, thanks for giving up your holiday plans.”
“I didn’t,” she said. “I would have, but it wasn’t necessary. My folks retired to the Keys, and my boyfriend lives about half an hour from Miami.”
“Boyfriend?” I asked as the elevator doors opened. “Is that who you were sneaking out to see in that slinky dress?”
She shook her head as she stepped into the elevator. “That was a different one. But the one who’s a half hour away is one of my favorites, so it’s been a very happy holiday.” She winked as the doors slid shut.
“Go Bond!” I smiled all the way back to the living room, where I found a very naked man lying on the sofa.
His eyes were closed, but it was clear he wasn’t napping.
