“Have anything to do with you staring at her at the diner all the time?”
He didn’t answer, just stared at Sadie’s face, waiting for her to wake up again.
“I guess that answers my question.”
Rory glanced at Luna and followed her gaze to his hand over Sadie’s. He hadn’t realized he’d held hers again to keep her calm and reassure her she was safe.
Luna gave him a nod, pulled out her chirping cell phone, and checked her messages. Rory went back to his vigil, waiting for Sadie to wake up and talk to him. What he’d say to her, he didn’t really know.
Sadie woke up to the chatter of a little girl and slowly opened her eyes. She stared through her lashes at the last image she ever thought she’d see. Rory sat in the chair beside her, a beautiful little blond girl in his lap.
“This not good. Mommy says clean first.” The little girl dabbed the cotton ball on the top of the bottle she held in her other hand, then pressed it in the middle of the big hand Rory held up for the little girl.
Rory hissed with the sting of the antiseptic. The little girl pulled the cotton ball away. “Blow make it butter.” She blew on Rory’s hand with short little puffs of air. Rory smiled at the top of the little girl’s head as she bent over his hand. Everything about him changed. His face and eyes softened. His shoulders eased. She’d never seen the man look anything but intense. But when he smiled . . . Wow.
“Butter?” the little girl asked.
“All better. Thank you, angel baby. Now what?”
“Mommy says goo.”
Rory’s smile grew and he let out a soft chuckle that made Sadie’s stomach flutter. The deep rich sound made her insides warm.
“That’s right, the goo.”
The little girl unscrewed the cap, pressed with both hands to push some of the ointment out of the tube, and then swiped her finger over the top to grab it. Rory held his hand open for her. She smeared it in place, a look of utter concentration on her sweet face.
“And aid.” She looked around her, searching.
“Here it is.” Rory held up the princess bandage. “You sure this is the one we want?”
“Oh yes.”
“Okay,” he conceded, letting the girl put the pink bandage on his hand. He held it up so she could see her handiwork. “Great job, baby. I’m all better.”
“Not yet. Kiss make it butter.” She leaned in and kissed Rory’s hand. “Der. All butter.”
“Yes, I am.” Rory hugged the girl close, noticing Sadie staring at him for the first time. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she said back.
“You’re awake.” Her best friend, Luna, leaned over from her other side and hugged her close. Sadie let out a heavy sigh and leaned into her friend, trying not to move too much. Everything ached. But she needed the warmth and reassurance of a good friend.
Choked up Luna came, Sadie asked, “When did you get here?”
“About twenty minutes ago. I’m so sorry, Sadie, if I’d known what happened I’d have been here sooner.”
“It’s fine. I’m fine,” she said automatically.
Luna released her far too soon and stood beside the bed. “You are, thanks to him.” Luna cocked her head toward Rory.
Avoiding him and what his presence meant, she changed the subject. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
“I had to see you, but yes. They can’t survive with both of us out.”
“Go. I’m fine.”
“Oh for God’s sake, stop saying that. You’re not fine. Look at you.” The tremble in her friend’s voice upset Sadie even more. She hated to make her friend sad.
Sadie tried to clear her fuzzy head, but couldn’t bring herself to look at the damage. The images in her mind were enough to make her cringe. Luna’s steady gaze grew even more worried, drawing lines across her friend’s forehead.
“Please, go to work. I’ll be okay. But come back and see me after your shift if I’m still here.”
“Count on it. In the meantime, call me if you need anything.” Luna leaned down and hugged her again, whispering in her ear, “I want to know what happened, and where I can find that brother of yours so I can kill him. Also, I want to know more about the hot and very intense cowboy.” Luna stood and brushed Sadie’s hair back from her face. “You need me to stay, I’ll stay.”
She eyed Rory still sitting quietly with the little girl, watching her. “I’m fine.”
Unconvinced, Luna’s mouth dipped down on one side. “I will call you later, unless you call me first.” Luna eyed Rory. “I take it you’re staying, making sure she gets what she needs.”