Page 72 of Hot Response
Her arms around him helped. She was so calm, and her firmly spoken belief he’d done everything he could eased some of the tightness in his chest. After a long moment, he kissed the side of her neck and pulled away.
“I’m going to take a shower.”
“Okay.”
Once he’d washed away the grime and smell, he toweled off and pulled on his favorite pair of sweatpants. He went into the bedroom, intending to crawl into his bed and stay there until sleep finally came, but Cait was waiting for him.
“I knew you’d come this way. Come sit down and eat first.”
“I’m not really hungry.”
“I know. It’s not much, but you need something in your stomach.”
He sat on the couch, noting that she’d already changed the television channel from the local station, which might show the news, to a random cable channel showing repeats of a crime drama. And when he looked at the paper plate sitting on the coffee table, he actually smiled.
“What is that?” he asked, looking at what appeared to be a slice of toast smeared with peanut butter, with sliced bananas spread over it.
“It’s a light meal, but with good stuff to help you get your strength back while you’re sleeping. My mom always made it for us when we were sick or too upset to eat.”
“What about you?”
“I ate mine while you were in the shower. Now eat.”
He did as he was told, and was surprised by how good it was. He’d had peanut butter on English muffins before, but the banana twist was new. And she was right. It did settle his stomach a little, having food in it. She’d also gotten him a small glass of milk, and he drank it all.
Then, instead of going and crawling into the big bed, he laid down on the couch and put his head in Cait’s lap. She stroked his hair and he closed his eyes, letting himself relax under her touch.
When her phone chimed, he was surprised to realize he’d been on the verge of sleep. He thought it would be hours before his mind calmed enough to let him drift off.
She reached across him to the coffee table, and he watched her flip the switch to silent before she leaned back and resumed stroking his hair.
“It might be Diane or Carter,” he said, unable to keep his voice from sounding flat. “Your mom might need you.”
“Youneed me.”
He closed his eyes, holding back the words.I love you.
He didn’t want to say them now, in this moment. Today was dark with loss and sorrow and guilt. When he told Cait how he felt about her, he wanted nothing but happiness on that day.
Maybe he’d take her back to the beach, he thought drowsily. Walking the rocky beach had been one of their favorite dates and it was a perfect excuse to go back. He could picture her with her hair blowing in the ocean breeze. Her cheeks rosy from the cold, but her eyes sparkling with joy.
I love you, Cait.
I love you, too.
Chapter Seventeen
Cait’s phone rang at the usual time, which was shortly before she would leave for work. Unless he was busy, Gavin always called her in the mornings. To keep her company while she drank her coffee, he said.
“Good morning,” he said when she answered. “It was probably too late to call when I had a chance last night, but how was your shift yesterday?”
“Busy. Pretty much nonstop.”
“At least you don’t have to shovel snow.”
She didn’t have to shovel, but a weird March snowstorm had definitely kept EMS on their toes. It had been a heavy snow, due to the warmer temperatures, so they’d been chasing back injuries and cardiac calls all day. “It seems stupid to shovel. It’s going to melt, anyway.”
He snorted. “I can’t even count how many hydrants we shoveled out yesterday. It was somewhere in the area of not-sure-I-can-lift-my-arms-this-morning, so I’m just hoping I can climb into my truck.”
