Page 52 of Mountain Rescue
“Just keep our girl safe.”
As usual in conversations with TG, he disconnected before Dallas could respond. TG was right. It was time to raise the threat level.
Chapter Fifteen
“I think you could use a hug,” Dallas said, coming back inside.
Rachel attempted a smile. It hadn’t been any easier hearing what Robert had done to Henri the second time around. “Hugs are always welcome.” Especially from him.
He wrapped his arms around her and put his hand on the back of her head, pulling her face against his chest. “He’ll pay for what he did to your friend. He’s got every cop and federal agent on the lookout for him.”
She squeezed her eyes shut against the burning tears. Hopefully they’d find him soon. She’d never thought this about anyone, not even someone she didn’t like, but she hoped he burned in hell.
“Go take a nice bath.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll get the kitchen cleaned up and take Bella out.”
“I can help.”
“Nope.” He leaned back and looked at her. “By the way, you’re sleeping in the big bed with me from now on.”
“I am?” She wasn’t ready for that yet.
“Yes, ma’am. But all we’re doing tonight is sleeping. From now on, when we’re at the cabin, I want you close. Hopefully Hargrove won’t find out about this place, but we can’t take a chance. If you can’t handle being in the same bed with me, I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“No, I can handle it.” No way would she make him sleep on the floor, and he was right. Sleeping in a separate room wasn’t safe any longer.
“Good.” He stepped away, then patted her butt. “Go take your bath.”
She saluted him. “Yes, sir.” She stopped in her room. What should she sleep in? Not that she had much of a choice since she’d only bought the necessities when she’d shopped for clothes before leaving LA. Since she hadn’t unpacked, she gathered up her Kindle, phone charger, and grabbed her suitcase, taking everything to the bigger room.
After deciding on a T-shirt and her running shorts, she headed for the bathroom, opting for a quick shower instead of a bath. Dallas wasn’t in the room when she came out, but he’d moved Bella’s bed in, and she was busy giving her baby a bath. Rachel kneeled on the floor. “Aren’t you just the best mommy?”
Bella nosed her hand, then returned to caring for her kitten. The dog had come a long way in the short time she’d been with Dallas. He really was great with Bella, and she was sure that carried over to other animals. It was sad that what he’d most like to do on his family’s ranch wasn’t an option for him.
“Sweet dreams, Bella Boo and Blue.” She chuckled. “Sounds like a nursery rhyme. Bella Boo had a kitten named Blue...” She tried to think of words that rhymed with blue.
“...and off they went to the zoo where a cow taught them how to say moo.”
Laughing, she glanced over her shoulder. “Now there’s a surprise talent I never would have guessed you had.”
He was leaning against the doorframe, and he’d obviously showered in the other bathroom since his hair was damp. Even though he was covered from neck to ankles in a light gray long-sleeve T and plaid pajama bottoms, he still took her breath away. “I have all kinds of hidden talents, sugar.”
She just bet he did. He sauntered toward her, and her gaze fell on his bare feet. Who knew men’s feet could be sexy? She gave Bella one last head scratch, then stood. “So, um...ready for bed?” She’d never gone to bed with a man just to sleep, and she was a little weirded out. It wasn’t like they both didn’t know that something would happen between them, but she wasn’t ready...not tonight.
“Oh, I’m definitely ready for....” He grinned. “Sleeping.”
And just like that, he’d un-weirded her. She rolled her eyes, then walked to the bed. “Which side do you sleep on?”
“Doesn’t matter. Take your pick.”
Since she was standing next to the right side, she’d take that one. When they were both in bed, him facing her, he got a funny look on his face. “What?”
“Just trying to imprint on my brain not to dream about you, thinking I’m making love to you, and try to do it for real.”
“You dream about me?”
“Since the night you tried to brain-bash me.”
“Oh,” she whispered.
