He eased himself from the bed, went to take a leak, then headed into the kitchen to fix coffee. When he’d downed a cup and poured another, he went back to the bedroom to check on Angie. It was time for some meds and he needed to make sure she got them before he let her keep sleeping.
“Ang,” he said softly as he sat beside her and put a hand on her cheek. “Minette.”
Her eyelids drifted up, her green eyes red and watery as she peered at him. “Colt?”
“Yes, baby. You need to take some medicine. Can you do that?”
She groaned. Then she pushed herself onto an elbow. He handed her the Tylenol and held a glass of water for her while she sipped. When she finished, she flopped back down again.
“I’m sorry I puked on your floor.” She looked miserable.
“I told you it’s no big deal.” If she knew the kinds of things he’d had to deal with as a Marine and then a mercenary, she wouldn’t be apologizing. Puke was nothing in the grand scheme of things.
“You’re sweet.”
“If you think so. I’m telling you the truth. Are you hungry?”
She shook her head back and forth on the pillow. “No. I couldn’t eat a thing.”
“You’ll have to eat something later. Maddy’s fixing chicken soup. You can sip the broth. It’ll be good for you.”
“I’ll try.” She pulled the covers up and rolled to her side. A few moments later, she was asleep again.
Colt showered and dressed and returned to the kitchen to fix something for breakfast when his phone rang.
“What’s up? Don’t tell me Maddy’s already made the soup and wants to bring it over.”
Jace didn’t laugh. Always a bad sign. “She’s working on it. That’s not what I’m calling about.”
“Did someone break into Angie’s place?” Because if they had, then BDI would have footage of it. And audio. Might help find whoever was after her.
“Not that. Somebody found a body in a car this morning.”
“Shit. Martinelli?”
“No. Another accountant who worked at Barton, Barnes and Blake. Jennifer Clark.”
Chapter Twelve
Angie felt like hell. She didn’t remember the last time she’d had the stomach flu. And no wonder because she must have blocked the memory. She huddled beneath the covers in Colt’s bed, feeling badly that she’d taken his bed but also perversely glad she was here with him. She’d hate to be dealing with this at home alone.
She wasn’t certain, but she felt like he must have slept beside her last night. She recalled snuggling against a solid shape that had all the warmth she wanted for herself. It was possible she’d imagined the whole thing.
She drifted in and out of sleep, waking and bolting for the bathroom a few times. Colt brought her medicine and juice and plain toast. Eventually, her head stopped hurting and her fever broke. She stopped feeling like she was going to puke every time she moved.
More than anything, she wanted a shower. She sat up and pushed the covers back. Her things were in the other bathroom, and her clothes were in the guest room. She stumbled toward the door. It wasn’t closed all the way and she pulled it open. Colt was coming down the hall. He stopped when he saw her.
For the first time since this had started, she worried about how awful she must look. She remembered that she’d puked on his floor and he’d cleaned it up. He must have since she hadn’t. Mortification rolled through her. She gripped the door tightly and met his gaze.
“Hey, baby. How you feeling?” he asked in a soft voice.
“Not great, but better enough to want a shower. My things are in the other bathroom.”
“You feel good enough to stand up that long?”
“I think so. But I can sit in the tub if I have to. I just need to get some clothes first.”
“Tell me what you need. I’ll get it.”
She thought of him handling her underwear and felt a pinprick of embarrassment. But what was the big deal? He’d held her while she threw up all over his floor. What was underwear after that?
“I need panties and a bra. Socks. I have some black yoga pants, and a sweatshirt that says Best Cat Auntie on it. Maddy gave it to me as a joke. I watch her cat when she’s traveling.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were thinking it.”
He grinned. “Possibly. But Kitty loves me too, remember? I’ve watched her for Maddy a few times.”
“Then you’ll be getting your own shirt one of these days.” It was amusing to imagine him wearing a Best Cat Uncle shirt. And if she was capable of amusement, maybe she wasn’t going to die.
“Hit the shower, Ang. I’ll get your clothes. Leave the door unlocked and I’ll set them on the toilet.” Before she could say anything, he said, “I’ll knock first, don’t worry. If you aren’t in the shower, I’ll wait.”
She trusted him. She went into the bathroom and turned on the shower before peeling out of her clothes. When she was standing under the spray, warm water running over her aching body, she heard a light knock. “I’m in the shower.”
The hinges squeaked. “Setting everything on the toilet. I’ll throw your other stuff into the wash.”
It felt nice to be taken care of for a change. She’d lived alone for so long that she’d forgotten what it was like.
“Thank you, Colt.”
“No problem. When you’re done, Maddy brought the soup over. I can bring you some in bed.”
She started to protest and say she’d go to the kitchen, but the thought was exhausting. “That would be lovely.”
The door closed again and Angie put her hand against the wall to brace herself. She felt a sob forming in her throat. He cared about her, and she’d spent months acting like a bitch to him. Hot and cold, ignoring him, pretending he didn’t exist. But she knew why she’d done those things.
He scared
