Lucky Like Us

by Jennifer Ryan

  “I’m sorry. I’m a mess. This is probably the last thing you needed, some hysterical woman crying all over you.”

  “You’ve been through one traumatic thing after another. I think you’re entitled to a crying jag. I’m surprised you’ve held up so well.” He liked the feel of her pressed up to him. Reluctant to let her go now that she was recovering, he stayed put.

  “Traumatic is right. Some fake fiancé you turned out to be. You didn’t even save me a piece of chocolate cake.” She tried to overcome her embarrassment with humor.

  His laugh rumbled up his chest pressed to her back. She loved the solid feel of him and his amusement made her feel lighter. He gave her a warm, soft squeeze.

  “I’ll get you some cake if you want it. I’ll get you anything you want if you stay awake.” He nuzzled his nose into her hair behind her ear and said, “I’ll be the best fake fiancé you’ve ever had if you get better. I don’t think I can take much more of you being unconscious.” His lips brushed the ridge of her ear, and her whole body tingled. “I like your new sexy voice too. Talk dirty to me, baby.”

  He was trying hard to keep things light and make her laugh. She couldn’t manage. “He tried to kill me.” Shaking again, it was okay, because Sam held her tight and waited for her to go on. “He came in while I slept. I thought, maybe it was . . .” She stopped, not wanting to make him feel guilty because she thought it was him coming to see her. She’d been so excited to see him again. Only it wasn’t him.

  “You thought it was me,” Sam finished for her. “It’s okay, Elizabeth. I came to see you several times late at night. You thought I came into the room. Finish the story.”

  “I opened my eyes and was about to make a smartass remark about sneaking into girls rooms in the middle of the night, but it wasn’t you. He’d already pushed the needle into the IV line and I tried to pull the needle out of my arm, but he grabbed my wrist. My eyes were about to close when he grabbed my hair and pulled my head up. He said . . . he said the Hamilton name wouldn’t buy my way out of death. He knows who I am. I know you kept the majority of the story out of the papers, but he knows who I am. I can’t help but think he knows me from somewhere else.”

  “So you saw him again with the lights on. You can be sure of his description now.”

  “I’m already sure. This time, though, he disguised his appearance. He wore a heavy, thick coat and a ball cap. His face was the same, but with the coat and hat it would be hard to say how much he weighed or the color of his hair. He’s slim, but the bulky coat made him look bigger. I guess he figured that if someone in the hospital saw him, they’d get the description wrong.”

  “Okay, so it’s the same guy. We knew it based on the drugs he gave you. They were the same thing he used on a couple of his victims and me.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t here. You asked me to protect you and I didn’t.” He continued to hold her, his face pressed against her head.

  So sincere, his voice rough with emotion and laced with guilt. “Sam, we had a guard on the door, a hospital full of security, and doctors and nurses who check on me every hour on the hour. It isn’t your fault the guy got past everyone. You aren’t supposed to be with me until I go home.”

  “I should have known he’d try to get to you. Dickweed got in, didn’t he?”

  “Dickweed? You mean Jarred. Well, he’s a psychotic stalker who thinks we’re getting married. You can’t protect against that kind of obsession. I’d take you as my fake fiancé over him any day.” She eased her sore body over toward him. The fog from the drugs still blanketed her mind. “None of this is your fault. I couldn’t leave you lying in the street. I’d do it all again to make sure you were alive and safe.”

  “You like me, huh?”

  “As fake fiancés go, you’re not so bad. Except for the chocolate cake thing, of course.”

  “Of course,” he mimicked her serious tone.

  She wrapped her arms over his arm lying across her and leaned her head against his chin and closed her eyes. “You really know how to hold on to a girl when she’s feeling scared and alone. I always feel safe when you’re here with me. That’s why I asked Deputy Director Davies to assign you to me. Well, that and the fact you need to work. I know you’re struggling with what happened, and you blame yourself for shooting me. I thought maybe you’d make it up to me by being the one to protect me until you guys catch this maniac. That, and I loved the look on Jarred’s face when you said you were marrying me. Absolutely priceless. He never gives up. Maybe now he will. One maniac down, one to go.”

  “So you just want to use me to get rid of Dickweed.” He knew that wasn’t the case. It amazed him she understood his feelings about the shooting and the importance of his work.

  “No, now that I know how safe I feel lying in your arms, I might make you sleep with me every night.” The wheels started turning as she replayed that in her head and gave him a lopsided smile. “My head is foggy, and that came out wrong.”

  “I think it came out fine.” He leaned down and kissed her long and soft. She gave herself over to him; leaning in, she melted in his arms. Nothing could have made him stop kissing her at that moment. Until she squealed in pain. He backed away immediately. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”

  “No. I rolled onto my thigh and the pain streaked up my hip. Oh man, that’s better than a cup of coffee to wake a person up.”

  Sam shifted to get up, but she grabbed him by the shirt.

  “Don’t. Don’t go yet.”

  Her eyes pleaded. How could anyone resist her? She was so beautiful, even in her condition. He couldn’t wait to see her well again. “I need to move so I don’t hurt you. I’m not leaving. You couldn’t pry me out of bed with a beautiful woman begging me not to go with a crowbar or a stick of dynamite. You said it before, I’m not stupid.” He helped her get settled and arranged the wires and IV lines so they weren’t tangled. He managed to scoot to the edge of the bed so she had enough room. “There. All better.”

  “No.” She tried to get more comfortable and scoot closer to him. He was so warm and strong. Groggy and tired, she wanted to fall asleep before he left. Without him there, she’d stay up all night worried the man would come back to hurt her. If she could fall asleep before he left, maybe she wouldn’t realize he was gone and she could sleep.

  “Don’t pout. What’s wrong?”

  “If this fake marriage is going to last, we need a bigger bed.” She gave him a crooked smile while her eyes were closed. Her body began to relax and she drifted off.

  “Stop it. A man can only take so much.” She set his whole body to flame. That kiss had started a slow burn that flashed each time she wiggled closer. He wanted to kiss her again and run his hands over her. The only thing separating her from him was a sheet and a flimsy gown, which he’d already noticed didn’t close in the back. She had the softest skin. He brushed his hand up and down her arm while she nestled against his chest. She felt so good curled up to him with her full breasts pressed against his side. Oh God, what sweet agony.

  “Since I’m still foggy from the drugs, and I can use that as an excuse later, can I ask you something?”

  “What?”

  “Will you kiss me again when I get out of here?”

  Sam groaned. He put a finger under her chin and lifted her head, so he could look at her. Her eyes, barely opened, appeared groggy and half asleep. “I’ll kiss you anytime, anywhere.” He kissed her softly, beginning slowly and nibbling at her lips. He traced her lower lip with the tip of his tongue. She sighed with pleasure, and he took the kiss deeper. He kept it slow and lingered over the task. She was so sweet, his mind went numb and his body raged with fire. He slid his tongue into her mouth. She opened for him and responded with long, slow thrusts of her tongue, sliding over his. They kept things slow and soft and warm. He pulled back just enough to trail kisses over her cheek to her temple.

  Tucking her head in the crook of his shoulder, he said, “Go to sleep, sweetheart, before you kill me.”<
br />
  Kissing the top of her head, he held her while she drifted off, her hand resting on his chest over his heart. Damn if his heart didn’t already rest in her hands.

  He stayed with her for two hours, watching her sleep and keeping her close, everything inside him in agony being so close to her and wanting her. He found it even harder to leave her, knowing she wanted him to stay and protect her, but he couldn’t let her family find him in bed with her in the morning. A nurse had already come in to check on her and gave him a wide, knowing grin. Besides, two of his fellow agents were stationed at the door. They’d never let him live it down if they caught him in bed with his witness. Clothes on or not.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  * * *

  Thursday, 1:30 P.M.

  FOUR LONG DAYS passed since she’d woken up from the coma. Monday morning she awoke to discover Sam had left her in the middle of the night. She missed him, but knew she couldn’t ask him to stay with her every minute of every day just so she felt safe. She spent the day doing physical therapy, respiratory therapy, and having nurses and doctors poke and prod at her. Doctor Watts wanted to order more surgery to repair the scars on her back. He told her a plastic surgeon could make them almost invisible. She’d had enough of the hospital and the last thing she wanted was more surgery. They told her it would only take a couple of hours. Since Doctor Watts and her parents ganged up on her, she conceded.

  The evening after the surgery she awoke to find herself lying awkwardly on her stomach. Sam sat in a chair next to her bed, holding her hand. He kissed her on the head and told her he’d spent much of that day in and out of meetings with his superiors, before attending his mandatory psychiatrist appointment.

  So sweet, he told her he got more from talking to her than he did from talking to the mind benders. She had to laugh at the term and the disgusted look on his face. She was about to fall asleep after they’d talked for over an hour when his phone rang. He’d be back on the job the next day, so it surprised her when he told her he had to go to work. He’d kissed her on the head again and gave her butt a soft caress that made her smile and her blood heat.

  Sam spoke to her guards and left her alone to worry about him and whether the elusive Silver Fox would try to kill her again while Sam was gone.

  Tuesday and Wednesday were more therapy and visits from her family. Kay tried to visit, but the guards refused to let her in. Kay made a fuss in the hallway, and Elizabeth rescued her, grateful for the chance to confide her mixed up, overwhelming, strong, and deep feelings for Sam. He hadn’t come to see her since Monday night. It worried her, but he was trying to find the man responsible for shooting and drugging them. She reminded herself, she wasn’t his only case.

  She hoped she wasn’t only a case.

  As Kay expressed her excitement about her friend’s possible new love interest, Elizabeth simply hoped Sam was different from the others. She’d been proven wrong so many times. If Sam turned out to be like the others, she’d give up on men all together. Maybe it wasn’t in the cards for her.

  Irritable and cranky, she hadn’t slept well in the noisy hospital since Sam left her Monday. The nurses checked on her every hour on the hour, and she was in a constant state of unreasonable fear. As soon as she saw her parents this morning, she announced she was leaving the hospital and going home. She refused to stay even one more day cooped up in that room.

  She called Deputy Director Davies and told him he could find her at home that afternoon. She told her father to either get the hospital to release her, or she was simply walking out. Apprehensive at first, her parents saw her determination and made arrangements with the doctor for her release.

  Her next call went to Patrick. Since he had been staying at her house, she asked him to bring her some clothes. He’d chosen well. Black yoga pants, a long sleeve white T-shirt, and a pair of tennis shoes. Comfort and convenience were the order of the day, since her thigh and back were still bandaged. She’d have to use crutches for several more days until the thigh muscles healed and could support her weight for longer than a few hours.

  Before she dressed, she managed to take a shower and wash her hair and felt almost human. Two weeks without a proper bath, she needed one.

  The shower tapped almost every ounce of her energy. She managed to get her underwear and pants on. The bandages on her back and the healing wounds prevented her from putting on the bra. She’d have to go without and find a better shirt when she got home. Her arms in the sleeves, she couldn’t lift them to put it over her head. Her back to the door, it swooshed open, and she assumed her mother was coming in to help her finish getting dressed so they could leave.

  “Mom, I can’t get the shirt over my head. My arm hurts, and I’m too tired from the shower.” She put her head down, her gaze on the floor and her bare feet. How was she going to do this at home alone? Well, she’d take her time and get it done.

  With her arms in the sleeves, the shirt covered her breasts. She thanked God for small favors when a large pair of men’s boots appeared next to her bare feet.

  It didn’t surprise her anymore to simply know without looking. Sam. “I’m stuck.” She tilted her head back to see him. His mouth tilted up in a mocking half smile, punctuating the absurd situation she’d gotten herself into.

  She’d had surgery on her back on Monday, but he hadn’t actually seen her back until now. Black, blue, and green bruises bloomed across her skin. He wanted to remove the bandages, see for himself the damage done by the bullets. When he got close to her, he saw the long scar on her arm where he’d shot her. Nearly healed, he hoped in time the scar would fade so she wouldn’t have to look at it and be reminded of what he’d done. He couldn’t see her thigh, but imagined it was healing well too.

  Her dark hair hung wet down her back past her shoulders. Her face was pale with black circles under her bloodshot blue eyes. She trembled from the exertion of trying to get dressed. Exhaustion had depleted all her strength. Speechless, he stared. Regardless of everything else, she was so beautiful.

  “Sam, can you help me? I can’t lift my arms.”

  “Sorry. Yeah, here let me do it. Let go of the shirt, and I’ll pull it over your head.” He grabbed the shirt and her arms and lifted them both over her head. He had a nice view of her lush, round breasts, but that didn’t hold his attention. Well, for long. He’s a guy after all.

  A scar ran at least six inches along the underside of her breasts. “Oh God, honey. That must hurt like hell.” He didn’t pull the shirt down, but stared at the line marring her creamy skin. Red and healing, he could imagine how much it hurt and what she must have gone through in surgery.

  “Sam, let go.” She tried and failed not to be self-conscious about him seeing her breasts. They were just breasts, after all. He’d probably seen a lot of them. Okay, she was embarrassed she couldn’t hide her response to him. Her breasts grew heavy, her nipples tightened, and her whole body became aware of his intense scrutiny.

  Lust didn’t hold him enthralled. No, the scar bothered him, but not her, really. “They took the stitches and staples out the day before yesterday.” She pulled her shirt down and grabbed the pair of socks from the end of the bed. Unable to meet his eyes, she tried to scoot back on the bed to pull her feet up and put her socks on. With her thigh bandaged and making it difficult to move, she couldn’t manage.

  Sam took the socks from her and picked up one foot and then the other and helped her put them on. He grabbed her shoes, slipped them on, and tied them. Before she slid off the bed, he planted his hands on each side of her hips and leaned down, his face close to hers.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t want to do this with you again. You didn’t do this. I’m fine. See. Here I am going home.”

  “You’re fine, huh. You can’t even put your shirt on.”

  “Thanks for pointing that out.”

  Already on shaking ground because, as much as she wanted to go home, facing the street and car where she and Sam had been attacked f
rightened her.

  “Yeah, well, we both know I’d rather take your clothes off.”

  “You might get your wish. I’m so tired from putting them on, I may never get them off again.”

  “Never fear, fake fiancé is here.” He gave her a wolfish grin.

  “Funny. Very funny.” She laughed and gave him a playful smack on the shoulder. “You look good. I forgot to tell you I like the haircut. You’ve gotten some sleep too, I see.”

  He did look good. In addition to the black work boots, a nice snug pair of blue jeans showed off his long, muscular legs. He had a dark blue T-shirt on and a flannel shirt over that. The T-shirt was tucked in and on his belt he wore his gun and badge. He looked good. Dangerous and strong were good words to describe him, but he was also in complete control and self-assured. Things she used to be, to feel. But as of late, she felt unsure and scared of her own shadow.

  “My sister gave me a haircut. Apparently I was scaring my nephews. They didn’t like the fact I didn’t look like Jack anymore.”

  “You sure do now. When he came in this morning I knew it wasn’t you, but God, the resemblance is uncanny. I bet most people can’t tell you apart.”

  “You saw my brother this morning? Why was he here?”

  “He and Jenna came to thank me personally for saving your life. Jenna wants to talk to me about a business opportunity. She wanted to know what my plans for the future included for my bakery. Odd of her to ask, but she’s really nice.”

  “I hope you told her whatever it is you have planned. She’ll make it come true. She’s like a fairy godmother.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She takes care of people and grants their every wish when she considers them family. I’d say she feels like you’re family, since you saved me.”

  “I don’t expect anything in return.” Remembering what Sam had said about Jenna and all she’d done for his brother, Jack, and sister, Summer, she wondered what Jenna had gifted Sam.