Page 38 of Bachelor Cop Finally Caught? (Hot off the Press! 2)

She smiled ruefully. “I’m fine. Another bruise, maybe, but nothing serious.”

“Sorry.” He touched a hand gently to her forehead, brushing his fingertips over her skin as if feeling for lumps. His eyes were still a bit glazed from sleep. “I guess I was really out of it.”

“I know.” Very aware of their close proximity, and the feel of his hand against her face, she spoke apologetically. “I hated to disturb you, but I thought you’d want to know how late it’s getting.”

He glanced at his watch. “Nearly noon. I bet you’re hungry.”

“Actually, I was on my way to the kitchen when I saw you.”

He stifled a yawn and stretched, his arm brushing hers with the movement. “I’ll fix us something. What are you in the mood for?”

Still tingling from that accidental contact, she blinked in bemusement. “Don’t you need to get to your office?”

“Everyone knows how to reach me if they need me. I told them I’d be busy today, but I’ve been checking in regularly. By the way, I called the newspaper office and let them know what happened to you this morning. Cameron said for you to take as much time as you need, to recover.”

It was too much information to process all at once. “You’re taking the day off to take care of me? You called the newspaper a

bout me?”

“Didn’t I just say that? So what do you want to eat?”

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so touched by anything. Dan never took days off. Doing so now for her, during such a critical time in his job—that had to mean something. Didn’t it?

She devoutly hoped he wasn’t doing these things for her only out of pity or a misplaced sense of loyalty to her brother. She wanted to believe there was more to it than that.

Which only proved, of course, that she’d made no headway at all in getting control of her feelings for him.

“Stay put,” he ordered her, rising to his feet—which, she noted dazedly, were clad only in thick white socks. “Since you don’t seem to have a preference, I’ll make whatever I can find.”

She was already scrambling to her feet. “I’ll help you—”

“No.” Very gently he pushed her back to the couch. “You sit. I’ll cook.”

“I’m really not hurt all that badly,” she reminded him. “It’s only a few bruises.”

“Stay,” he repeated, as if she were a trained poodle.

She sighed. “I’m not an invalid, Dan.”

“I know. But even you have to admit you were shaken up pretty badly.”

“Well—”

“Do me a favor, Lindsey. Let me take care of you. It’s the least you can do after giving me such a scare.”

She couldn’t help smiling. “Letting you cook for me is a way for me to apologize for scaring you?”

His hands still resting on her shoulders, he chuckled. “I’m sticking with any argument that works with you.”

Because having him leaning so close to her was totally destroying her self-possession, she decided it would be wise to concede. “I’m out of bread,” she said weakly.

“Then I won’t make sandwiches,” he replied, a bit smugly.

Lindsey only nodded.

Dan’s gaze drifted down to her mouth, and his smile seemed to slide away. They froze in that position for several long, silent moments, his face hovering only inches above hers, his hands tightening on her shoulders. Either of them had only to move just a little to bring their mouths together. To send them into each other’s arms.

Lindsey didn’t quite have the courage to make that move. And Dan didn’t seem inclined to make it himself.

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