Page 74 of Hot Puck
The beep of the door lock has me spinning around and lunging for the handle. Yanking the door open, I stare at the woman using her keycard to get in.
“You’re here.” The relief I feel is bone dissolving. And I’m helpless to stop myself from reaching out and pulling her inside—into my arms.
“What—?” Air bursts from her when she slams against me.
“You’re here,” I repeat, whether for her benefit or mine, I’m not sure.
“Chase?” She tries to pull free, but I don’t let her and a second later she sighs, her body relaxing against me. “Damn. I didn’t know I needed this.”
I don’t know how long I hold her. Long enough to reach out and shut the door then slowly shuffle us backward to the sofa.
When I have her back to the couch, I ease up my grip and lower her to the cushion. “Do you need a drink? Water? Wine?” I ask, slipping to my knees in front of her.
“No. I’m—” I unbuckle one shoe. “What are you doing?”
“Taking your shoes off. You don’t have to go back out, do you? You’re home now, right? Finished for the night?”
“No. Yes, I’m done for the day, but I’m expecting a call at some point.” She glances around the room. “I need to charge my phone.”
With her second heel removed, I hold out my hand. “Give it to me, I’ll plug it in.”
Pulling it from her pocket, she holds it out but doesn’t let go when I grab it. “Are you taking care of me, Chase?”
“Yes.” I give the phone a tug. “Now give it to me.”
“I don’t need taking care of.”
“I know you don’t. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to do it, or you should stop me from doing it.”
“I can take care of myself.”
I don’t know why the sudden stubborn streak to be an independent woman, but she’s not alone, not anymore. If we’re going to take care of my sisters together, then we’re a team. “You can. And you will. But I’ll also do things to make sure you’re looked after. It’s what people do when they’re partners.”
She eyes me suspiciously.
“I swear, I don’t want anything.” I do. I want her to fall for me like I’m falling for her, but I can’t tell her that. “All I want is to give you a few minutes where you don’t have to think, don’t have to be the one in charge, getting everything done.”
Closing her eyes, she leans her head back on the couch. “God. That would be nice.”
“Then for the next ten minutes the only thing you have to worry about is if you’re hungry or thirsty, telling me what you want so I can get it.”
“I want a cheeseburger.”
Her words have me going still. “That’s very specific.”
“They were on tonight’s menu except with everything going on I didn’t get one. And I really wanted one.”
“I’ll order one now. Water or wine?” I ask because I know they’re her usual choice.
“If I have wine, I’ll fall asleep. And now that we’re talking about food my stomach is rumbling, and my mouth is watering. I really want that burger.”
“I’m on it.” Tugging the phone from her grip, I stand and head for the desk where my phone is currently charging. Switching the devices then picking up the hotel phone, I glance back to see Gem hasn’t moved.
If it wasn’t for the continuous tapping of her fingertips on her thigh, I’d think she was asleep. Those tapping fingers tell me she’s still thinking, probably worrying too.
“Room service.”
The voice in my ear snaps me back to what I’m doing. “Yeah, can I get a cheeseburger? With fries.” Gem might not have asked for them, but I know how she feels about eating a burger without fries.
