Page 44 of Mr. Fixer Upper
She didn’t even attempt to argue with him, and that worried Gannon. He went back in the bathroom and pulled on his underwear and jeans. By the time he came back out, Paige was dozing. He sat on the mattress next to her and pulled out his phone and texted Cat. He’d finally connected with his sister after showing up at the hospital and being told that thanks to HIPAA the ER desk couldn’t confirm if Paige St. James was a patient. Thankfully Cat had finally answered her damn phone before Gannon had deemed it necessary to yank the doors off their hinges and go looking for Paige himself. She was in the pharmacy picking up the newly discharged Paige’s prescription and had given him what details there were to be had.
Paige had saved the little boy’s life. That part was clear. The kid would probably be scared shitless of thunderstorms for the rest of his life, but he was going to have a rest of his life thanks to the woman next to him who wiggled a little closer to his heat.
For the first time since he’d nearly ripped her shower curtain down, Gannon let himself take a deep breath. Paige was alive and, after a carefully monitored recovery, she was going to be fine. He rubbed a hand over his chest. He hoped to God his heart would recover, too. He’d thought the worst, had fought those demons on the drive back, holding on to that terror until he saw her with his own eyes.
He distracted himself by perusing the doctor’s instructions on recovery and wound care.
His phone vibrated against his leg.
Tony’s got footage of it if you want to see it. Pretty messed up.
Before he could fire off a pissed off reply about what the hell Tony was doing standing around filming the disaster rather than helping Paige, Cat texted again.
Calm down, Lover Boy. It’s not what you think. Tony ended up playing hero. Saved a little girl and dug Paige out. But the second the network heard about the accident, they demanded the footage. No way it’s not making it into the show.
Paige would be pissed and humiliated. Gannon had no doubt about that. And it would also mean Paige sitting through some lengthy, invasive interviews to milk it for every ratings point possible. That pissed him off.
There was a knock at the door, and Paige stirred next to him.
He levered himself off the mattress and answered the door. Room service consisted of a scarecrow of a kid with a shock of white blonde hair and a face full of freckles.
Gannon cut the small talk short and took the tray from the kid before sending him on his way with a ten spot.
“Oh, hell. Did you answer the door like that?” Paige demanded from the bed.
He looked down at his bare chest and unbuttoned jeans, shrugged. “Princess, again, you’ve got bigger problems. Besides, the kid’s more likely to be a fan of Cat than me.”
She sniffed the air. “What smells so good?”
“My burger and onion rings. I got you chicken noodle soup.”
“Awh.”
“Serves you right for being a health food snob.”
They ate side-by-side against the upholstered headboard, and she shot longing looks at him until he finally ripped off part of his burger and gave it to her.
“Happy now?”
“Mmm,” she sighed, eyes closed to savor every bite. “Okay, chewing made me tired.” Energy gone, Paige slumped back against the pillows.
“Bed time,” Gannon agreed. He cleaned up the dishes and left the tray in the hallway. Tomorrow was going to be a long ass day, starting with a conversation he was going to have with Andy during which he would make it crystal clear that no one was going to turn Paige’s accident into ratings.
He turned off the lights in the room and secured the locks before shucking off his pants and climbing under the covers next to Paige. She felt like an ice cube under the sheet, and he shifted closer, offering her his heat.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she yawned. She had no energy to fight him, and Gannon sure as hell wasn’t leaving her to sleep by herself.
“I’m sleeping here. Don’t bother trying to argue.”
“This is also not how I pictured our first time in bed together.”
He could hear the smile in her voice. “That makes two of us,” he admitted and immediately tried to stop thinking about how hehadpictured their first time in bed together.
Paige went quiet, and after a minute or two, he thought she’d fallen asleep. But she tried to roll to her side and muffled a yelp of pain.
“What are you trying to do?” he asked gruffly.
“Get comfortable.” Pain and exhaustion laced her tone yet still no complaints from her.
