Page 38 of Only Her (K2 Team)
“Kay.” It was nice knowing he’d be there when she woke up. “Cats?” she said, suddenly thinking of them.
“Taken care of.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t have the energy to ask how as she drifted off, knowing Cody was there, keeping her safe.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Riley wasn’t happy. That was apparent by the glare she was sending him and Brooke. “You’re not returning to work until you get checked out on Wednesday, and that’s final,” he said. “Doctor’s orders.”
Brooke gave a vigorous nod. “I rescheduled all your appointments and called Dr.Andrews. If there’s an emergency, he’ll cover for you.”
“Why don’t the two of you go away?” Riley made a shooing motion with her hand. “I don’t like either of you right now.”
Cody grinned. “Funny woman.” That got him another glare.
It was Monday afternoon, and the doctor had only agreed to allow her to come home if she promised to rest and had someone with her round the clock. Cody didn’t plan to leave her alone, and she was going to rest if he had to sit on her to keep her from going to work like she wanted to do. She was prone on her sofa with a pillow under her head, and her protests that she should be at work were halfhearted. Riley’s three cats held positions on her body, sitting like sentinels bent on guarding her. The little one finally grew bored with that task and began to play with the fringe on the afghan covering her.
“Can you stay for a few more minutes?” Cody asked Brooke. “I need to let my dogs out and then feed them.”
She nodded, her pretty blonde hair bouncing around her neck. Riley had told him Brooke and the cop were dating, and that news had pleased him because it meant Kilpatrick was no longer going after Riley. Although she was probably better off with the man. Mike, at least, seemed to have his head on straight. Cody didn’t care. Riley was his for as long as it lasted, and in his mind, he’d already stretched that time from a few weeks or a month to open-ended. Until she wised up and realized she could do better.
As he made his way across the street, his phone buzzed, and Kincaid’s name came up on the screen. “Boss.”
“How is she?”
“Grouchy. Doesn’t like ordered bed rest.” He’d called Kincaid that morning, asking for a few days off so he could stay with Riley, and after he’d explained why, his request had been granted.
“Maria said she’ll shoot you over an e-mail list of cars with those first two letters as soon as she has it. She’s also going to come stay with Riley tomorrow afternoon so you can keep your appointment.”
No way was he leaving Riley. “I appreciate it, but—”
“You will show up at Tom’s office promptly on time. Maria and Riley are already friends, so Riley won’t have a problem with that.”
Cody opened his door and let the dogs out. They raced to the yard to do their business. He’d left them alone too long. “I didn’t know that. I guess if it’s okay with Riley, that’s fine.”
“Good. Stop by here after you finish with Tom.”
Cody recognized that as an order. “See you tomorrow.”
Kincaid hung up without responding. Cody chuckled as he shoved his phone back into his pocket. His former SEAL commander still knew how to get his men to ask how high when he said jump. The thing was, Cody would jump to the moon if the boss gave the order. There was no other man he knew who would take on a screwed-up, PTSD-suffering warrior, while also turning over all his resources to keep a woman who Cody cared for safe.
After the dogs were fed, he told them to stay as he made to head back to Riley’s. They both looked so pathetic as they watched him walk to the door that he paused. “If I take you with me, will you promise to behave?” He went back to them and knelt. His team claimed he was a dog whisperer, but that was about to be put to the test. “There’re cats where I’m taking you, and they outnumber you by one. If you go after them, you’re going to end up with bleeding noses. You can go with me if you promise to ignore them.”
Sally and Pretty Girl heard the word “go” and, unable to sit still, their butts bounced on the floor. “That’s not the same meaning you’re thinking it is.” He stood. “I’m telling you right now, the minute you ignore my orders, you’re going to prance yourselves right back home. You understand?”
Both barked their understanding, but he didn’t quite trust them. He’d never trained them to be around cats because it had never occurred to him that he’d fall for a woman with the creatures.Fall?No, he hadn’t fallen for her. He just really liked her and wanted to have sex with her. Nothing more to it than that.
“Heel,” he said as the dogs followed him down the porch steps. At the end of the yard, they stopped and planted their butts on the ground. He clipped on their leashes. “Come.”
Riley was probably going to freak when he walked into her house with his dogs, but if he was going to spend time with her, that was going to include his dogs getting to know her cats. It was going to be an interesting evening.
At Riley’s front door, he said, “Sit. Stay.” Both obeyed, looking up at him expectantly, as if asking what next? He opened the door and stepped in. Riley was asleep, and he crooked a finger at Brooke. She rose from the chair where she sat and came next to him.
“She conked out about five minutes ago,” Brooke whispered. “After telling me what she thought of us both.”
Cody chuckled. If nothing else, Riley never hesitated to speak her mind. “Thanks for staying. If there are any further poisonings, call me. Give me your phone.” She handed it to him and he put his number in.
“Cool. Now I have Stud One’s and Stud Two’s phone numbers.” She tossed him a wave as she skipped out.
