“I’ve had worse.” I got my breath back and straightened. “Abbott warned me to take it easy.”
Worry pinched his features. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“I hurt me.” I rubbed my side and regretted it. “I shouldn’t have forgotten I’m not an Olympic gymnast.”
“I held you all day,” he fretted. “Maybe we should drop in on Abbott, get your x-rays done again.”
“You’re the only reason I slept all day.” I shoved him and regretted that too. “And besides, Abbott is mean to me.”
“He didn’t throw that bedpan at you.”
“It hit at my feet,” I reminded him. “He could have crushed a toe.”
“It slipped out of his hand.” Midas kept his face blank. “It was an accident.”
“An accident?” I yanked down the collar of my tee to expose my clavicles. “What about this?”
Scrawled in black permanent marker were the words Highly Flammable.
“You did get blown up twice in one week.” Midas tried and failed to hide his smile. “He’s under a lot of stress.”
“I’m not going back to the infirmary, and you can’t make me.” I jutted out my chin. “So there.”
“How can I counter such a mature and rational argument?”
“It’s impossible.” I shrugged. “I win yet again.”
“Can you get to HQ solo?” He checked the time. “I can take you to the general area if you need a lift.”
“I bet you fifty bucks Bishop is on the fire escape waiting for me to let him in.”
Remy had been out there when we got in last night. She wanted to check and see if I was alive. Bishop hadn’t been letting me out of his sight since Natisha entered the picture. I didn’t see him relaxing his vigil now that we had declared all-out war on the coven.
“That’s a bad bet.” Midas shook his head. “I’ll take it if you take mine.”
“What’s on offer?”
“I bet you the same fifty dollars Ares is waiting for me in the hall.”
“How weird is it we’ve got people waiting to walk us to work like we’re children? Do they think we’ll bolt without adult supervision?”
“I notice you’re implying we’re not adults or able to supervise ourselves.” His lips pulled to one side. “That lends weight to the argument we should be walked to work.”
Peeling my lips away from my teeth, I growled at him until my ribs protested the vibration.
“I really do love you.” He kissed the corner of my mouth. “Even if newborn pup growls are scarier than yours.”
“I’m offended, but I’ll let you get away with it this time because you kiss pretty good.”
“Pretty good?”
“Eh.” I rolled a shoulder. “It’s been so long since you kissed me, I forget.”
“I just kissed you.”
“My grandma kisses deeper than that.” I wrinkled my nose. “Gah. I had to go and make it weird.”
“You always do.” He rested his forehead against mine. “It’s one of the things I like best about you.”
“That I’m weird?”
His eyes sparkled. “Yes.”
“Then you’re in luck.” I flung my arms around his neck and hid my grimace. “I was blessed with a lifetime supply.”
“A lifetime sounds good.” He took me by the elbows and lowered my arms gently. “Where do I sign up?”
“I’ll have my people call your people. They can fax over the details.” Smiling, I started down the stairs from the loft into the living room. “Ignore the fine print, and I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
As soon as my feet touched the downstairs floor, Midas was there, hemming me in.
“You’re not scaring me off, Hadley.” He ducked his head to put us at eye level. “I mean it.”
“I know you do.” But it was hard to believe he knew what he was getting himself into with me.
Voice low and gritty, his jaw set, he asked, “Do you think you can ever trust me again?”
“I do trust you.” I did my best to let him read it on my face. “I also worry one day you’ll regret this.”
Regret me.
“Do you know how many one days have passed since I came home?” He drew back, and his past darkened his eyes. “You know what dating was like for me. You saw me at Joelle’s.” He cupped my face in his hands. “Do you think I would choose another decade of staring out a window across from a stranger over you?”
“I have issues.” I bet that shocked him to his core. “Mostly in the self-esteem department.”
“I’ve noticed,” he said carefully. “I don’t understand them, but I want to, when you’re ready.”
A knock on the glass ruined the moment, but Bishop was clearly tired of waiting on me.
Supernatural hearing meant he might as well have pulled up a chair to listen to us pour out our hearts. Linus might not have gotten around to making copies of the penthouse key to pass around, but it was clear Bishop had no qualms in climbing the fire escape to achieve the same direct access. Along with everyone else.
“That’s my cue.” I backed away from Midas. “Do you get more privacy at the den?”
“You’ve been to the den.” He quirked an eyebrow. “What do you think?”
“I hear it’s nice.” I mashed the button to raise the curtains. “Or that’s the rumor.”
“I’ve heard the same rumors.”
“Well?” I flung open the window on Bishop. “Where do you stand on privacy?”
“Currently, I’m standing on the fire escape of the woman who would be potentate.” He climbed in and shut it behind him. “Anyone who lobbies for an office can expect to pay for it with their privacy.” He flicked Midas a glance. “Same goes for anyone born into a dynasty.”
Squinting at Bishop, I got the drift. “You’re saying I only have myself to blame for this.”
“Pretty much.” He shrugged. “You can walk away.” He stared at me earnestly. “There’s still time.”
Curious about the tension in his shoulders, I wondered out loud, “Is that what you think I should do?”
“Hell no.” He ruffled my hair. “Who else would sign off on my expenditures?”
“You’re talking about the flamethrowers again, aren’t you?”
“I will never not be
