Page 66 of On the Chase
“Theo’s right.” Despite her words, she stopped attempting to pull back, telling herself that she didn’t want to jostle his broken arm. The reasoning part of her brain scoffed at that, but she ignored it, as she usually did when it came to Hugh. “I gave in too easily. I should’ve held firm until you promised to never do stupid hero stuff or almost die again.”
His laugh was low and husky, running up and down her spine like a physical touch. “Can’t promise that, Gracie. It’s kind of part of the job description.” He cocked his head as if thinking. “And dying is kind of part of thelifedescription.”
His cheek looked scruffy with a few days of stubble, and she was tempted to stroke it. Since she didn’t have a hand free, she closed the distance between them and brushed her lips against his jaw instead. He sucked in an audible breath.
“Is this you punishing me?” he asked, his voice even lower, even rougher than before. Grace shivered. “Because I have to tell you, I’m going to want to be punished all the time after this.”
“Want me to tie you to the bed?” she asked huskily, moving so she could nip at his earlobe. It was his turn to shudder.
“Yes, please.” His response was so quick that she almost laughed. Shewould’velaughed if she hadn’t been so turned on.
With a huge effort of will, Grace shifted back so she could look at him. “Well, too bad. For as long as you’re stuck in this hospital, all rope-burned and shot and concussed and arm-broken, we can’t do anything. This is your punishment for being reckless and almost getting killed.”
Tipping his head back, Hugh groaned as if in agony. Grace had a second of anxiety when she worried that he was really hurting, but then he peeked at her, and the corner of his mouth quirked up. “You’re so mean,” he said.
He gave a gentle tug on her hands, one that she could’ve resisted if she’d actually put forth an effort. It was too hard, though. He drew her in, as if he had his own gravitational pull. His lips touched hers, lightly brushing before returning with a little more pressure. To her surprise, he didn’t try to deepen the kiss. Instead, he kissed her sweetly, almost chastely.
Breaking the contact, Grace pulled back and studied him closely. The muscles in his face were tight, strained. She kissed the bridge of his nose before asking, “How badly does your head hurt?”
Immediately, the lines between his eyebrows smoothed, and he gave her an easy grin. “You take away all my pain.”
With a sigh, she brushed her lips against his bristly cheek a final time. “I wish that were true.” Carefully detaching herself, she pulled a visitor’s chair closer to the bed and sat. “Tell me when you need to sleep, or if you need more drugs or water or anything.”
He laughed and then winced ever so slightly. “Thank you, Nurse Gracie, but just having you here is all I need.”
“Uh-huh.” She didn’t believe that for a minute. She’d had a concussion when another girl had kicked her in the head during a high-school soccer game, so Grace knew the drill. “How much do you feel like you need to hurl?”
Surprise flickered in his eyes before he smiled again, more honestly that time. “Don’t worry, Grace. I’ll give you at least a second of warning so you can get out of the way.”
Her nose wrinkled. “Please do.” Despite her teasing, seeing Hugh injured was horrible. Her mind replayed the day’s terrifying events, and she shuddered.
“Thinking about bomb stuff?” he guessed, his tone gentle.
“Yeah. Bomb stuff.” Even after everything, he made her want to laugh. “So no one at the FBI knew that Barrett—Truman—sold drugs?”
“So they say. We’ve worked with Shankle before, and I believe he’s honest. How do you not know something like that, though?” His forehead creased as he reached for her hand again. Although she worried that he’d pull her back in for more kissing, she allowed his fingers to close around hers. It was reassuring to touch him, to feel his living warmth, after her terror just a few hours ago. He absently ran his thumb over the back of her hand as he continued to speak.
“Truman’s in jail, and he’s been denied bail. We should be able to go outside without people taking potshots at us now.”
Grace sighed. Her current situation—involving hit men and drugged coffee and exploding drugs and a dirty FBI agent—was a long way from her previous peaceful, even slightly humdrum, existence. “Will everyone know the contract is canceled, or are you still in danger?”
“His arrest is all over the news, so word will get around quickly. No one will want to kill me anymore.” Hugh made a wry face. “Well, at least no one will get paid for it. I can’t honestly say thatno onewants to kill me.”
Ignoring that last bit, which Hugh meant to be joking but Grace still found terrifying, she asked, “So we’re safe?”
“Except for the situation with Martin Jovanovic.” He gave her a serious, intent look as he said the name. “Agent Shankle is anxious to talk to you about him.”
Swallowing, Grace said in a small voice, “Oh. So, Uncle Martin is a big deal?”
“A really big deal.”
The idea of leaving Hugh to go to the police station to face a judgmental Blessard and an FBI interview was not appealing. “Do I have to go right now?”
“Want to have them come here? I could sit in on the interview.” It really seemed like Hugh could read minds. Although it was tempting to take him up on the offer, she could tell he was flagging. His face had paled under his tan, and there were white lines bracketing his mouth. He was hurting and tired, and he didn’t need to be putting on a show of strength for her and the FBI agents.
Leaning close, she pressed a kiss to his furrowed forehead. Although she meant it to be brief, she couldn’t help but linger. The feel of his skin under her lips was addicting, especially when, a short time earlier, she’d been terrified that she wouldn’t be able to kiss him anymore. At that thought, she moved to press her mouth to his. He enthusiastically participated. If not for the knock on the door, Grace might never have stopped.
Dazed, she pulled away from Hugh as the door swung open and Otto stepped into the room. He lifted an eyebrow, as if asking if he was interrupting, and she gave him a smile in response.
