The nurse handed him the glass of water. “I’ll be back to check on Mr. Higgins in just a little while. Uh, there’s a bathroom two doors down if she’d like to get cleaned up.”
“Thanks, I’ll take care of her.”
Rory waited for the nurse to leave. He held Sadie close, his cheek pressed to her head. Her breath washed over his neck in uneven gasps and hiccups. She lay curled into his chest on his lap. He rubbed her back in soft circles until her breathing evened out and she rested quietly against him.
“Sadie, sweetheart, drink some of this water. You’ll feel better.”
She sat up on his lap and took the plastic cup. She sipped the water, then set it on the nearby table. The sigh she let loose reverberated through him.
“Better?”
“Not really, and yes.” She finally looked him in the eye. Hers filled with unshed tears again. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
He leaned in and kissed her softly.
She leaned back. “I’m sorry I cried all over you.” She wiped his shoulder, over his wet T-shirt.
He took her hand to keep her from fussing for no reason. “I don’t mind. I’m sorry about what’s happened and that you’re sad. It kills me when you cry.”
Rory gently pushed her forward to stand as he rose from the chair. He took her hand and led her to the door.
“Where are we going?”
He held her hand up for her to see. “You need to get cleaned up. We’ll only be a few minutes,” he added when she stared back at her father. He picked up the bag he’d dropped on the floor.
“Where did that come from?”
“Your closet.” He led her down the hall to the bathroom door. He knocked once to make sure it was empty, opened the door, and pulled her inside behind him.
“You went to my house and packed my clothes?”
Rory turned the water on in the sink and adjusted the hot and cold to make the water warm. “When you didn’t show up at my place, I went hunting for you. I saw your father’s room. Man, Sadie, that scared me to death.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you.”
“You were taking care of your father. Now, let me take care of you. Come here.” He took Sadie’s hands and held them under the water.
“I forgot.” She held her hands up, staring at the red water running over her hands.
“I’m here to think about the mundane. You’ve got far more important things to think about right now.”
“My heart is in that room with him, but all I can think about right now is how lucky I am to have you here with me.”
Rory stopped in the process of scrubbing soap over Sadie’s hands and forearms. He rubbed his thumbs over the scars on her wrists. “I almost lost my chance with you, and now all I think about is being with you. You’re kind of driving me crazy.”
That earned him a small smile.
“I am, huh. Well, I’ll try to stop.”
He shut the water off and pulled two paper towels from the dispenser. He patted her hands dry. “It really is your fault I get nothing done anymore. I find myself wondering what you’re doing. I lose all track of time daydreaming about you.”
“What am I doing in all these daydreams?” Her husky voice and the way her eyebrow cocked up made him grin.
“You don’t want to know what I picture you doing,” he teased. To keep things light, he distracted himself from looking at her by picking up the duffel bag and setting it on the lip of the sink.
“Maybe I do. How else am I going to fulfill your every fantasy?”
He groaned, reached out for her neck, and drew her in for a soft kiss. He lingered over the task. His pleasure to take his time and taste her sweetness. He brushed his lips to hers, then pressed his forehead to hers. He didn’t open his eyes, but held the image of her and him in bed together in his mind. “You win. I’ll stop.”
“Please don’t. Not on my account.” She pressed her lips to his, sliding her tongue along his, tempting him to take more. He did, taking command of her mouth and holding her close, her breasts pressed to his chest. Mindful of where they were and why, he didn’t mind distracting her from reality, but he wouldn’t give in to her temptation here. He wanted her with a desperation that went beyond a simple hunger that could be slaked with a quick romp. When he made love to her, he wanted to take his time, explore all the wonderful things about Sadie, and tap into this sultry, seductive side she hinted at with her bold statement about fulfilling his every fantasy.
Just the thought made him ache, but he kept the kiss tame with a hint of the heat they could share.
She pulled away and pressed her rosy lips together, her eyes still closed. “Rory.” His name on her lips sounded so sweet. Like a siren’s song. But he didn’t answer it. He reined in his baser needs and brushed his hands down both sides of her long blond hair, remembering his true reason for being here. To comfort her.