Page 19 of Sergeant O'
My sister leaned down to pick up Penny and casually said, “Thanks for letting Brian crash here.”
I did a double-take.
Brian?
“What about you?”
“Conor’s at the O’Brien’s, so I’m going to hang out with them while Adam goes to work.”
“Besides,” Adam added as he walked into the kitchen. “We have to get Granny’s car back to her.”
Brian came in behind him and didn’t even have the decency to disguise his grin when he asked. “You don’t mind me staying here, do you, Sunshine?”
Penny took one look at the crutches, wiggled out of Lainey’s arms, and hightailed it out of there.
I watched her run down the hall, then looked back at him as if to say, “My cat does.”
Of course, I didn’t voice that out loud and instead answered his question with a question. “Wouldn’t you be more comfortable at your folks’ house?”
“The media’s camped out there, too. Your place is perfect.” He asked again, “You don’t mind, do you?”
I wondered what he’d do if I said I did mind. He was acting cocky because he knew my Southern manners wouldn’t let me leave him in the lurch.
“I think the bigger question is, doyoumind? Just yesterday, you didn’t want me anywhere near you.”
The fucker winked at me and patted his hip. “I got my boxer-briefs on now, I’m good.”
I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help but ask, “How often are you supposed to change your bandage?”
“Daily. Brady said I could come to his office tomorrow, and he’d do it.”
Brady being Dr. Williams. I guess playing softball puts you on a first-name basis with the guy.
He continued, “But considering the whole town is overrun with media, I’m not going anywhere near his office or the hospital.” Amusement danced in his brown eyes when he continued, “Maybe you can do it for me.”
I think the thing that pissed me off the most was I knew I would.
****
Brian
Jade pursed her lips. “How long are you planning on staying?”
“Just until I get something else figured out. Overnight, tops.”
“I’m going to need to nap soon,” she warned.
“Me, too. These pain meds make me tired. Maybe we could sleep together.”
Her eyebrows shot to her hairline, and I realized how what I’d just said sounded.
Although the idea had merit…
“Not likethat. Just, you know, at the same time but in different rooms. Unless you don’t have a guest bed, then maybe we can share your bed.”
I felt she was a little too quick to let me know, “I have a guest bed. A very comfortable one, from what Lainey tells me.”
Her little sister nodded. “It is really comfy. I slept in it when I lived here the last two summers.”
