"Arrange it with my attorney." Chase went to where Tessa stood. He took his jacket off and placed it around her shoulders. "Ms. Burke won't be answering any more questions at this time. Please refer your inquires to my attorney." He wrapped his arms around her trembling form to comfort her.
The officer looked over at the detective who gave him a nod. "No problem," he said as his gaze lingered on Tessa for entirely too long. "Sounds like you've had a crazy day. If you need anything don't hesitate to call the precinct. They can put you right through to me."
"Thank you." Tessa smiled as she inched closer to Chase. "That won't be necessary."
That's my girl.
"Oh, okay," the young cop said. "Take care."
"Bye." Tessa waved as the officer hurried down the steps practically tripping as he went.
"Even the police officer?" Chase lifted her up and set her on the railing, holding his arms around her waist. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Me? I'm not the one who attracts kidnappers. Any more psycho bitch girlfriends you need to tell me about?"
"I'm so sorry about that." He had failed to protect her. Everything that happened today was his fault. "Audra needs help. I should have realized just how far gone she was. I'll never forgive myself for everything she did to you. If I had any idea how messed up she was I would have removed her from the situation weeks ago."
"It's not your fault." She took his face between her hands. "You had no control over what she was going to do. You couldn't have known."
"I should have told you what I knew." He would spend the rest of his life making up for what he had kept from her. "I thought I was protecting you but I should have warned you."
"It's over." She kissed him. "We're together. That's all that matters to me."
"We need to get you to the hospital."
"Hospital? No, I'm good."
"I don't think so." He looked her over. "You took a nasty bump to the head and your feet have been cut. You probably have glass in them. Did you lose consciousness when she hit you?"
"I think so."
"What does that mean?"
"I don't remember Audra bringing me here. One minute I was in the foyer and when I woke up I was here."
"Let's go." He scooped her up and carried her down the steps. "I'm taking you to the emergency room."
"There's a paramedic right over there." She pointed to the ambulance. "Can't they check me out? I want to go home."
"Let them deal with Audra." He called over to Tanner, "I'm taking Tessa to the hospital. Can you get a ride home with Seth? You can fill him in on what happened and tell him to call me in the morning."
"Sure." Tanner crossed the porch and looked at Tessa. "Are you okay?"
"Chase is overreacting." But she snuggled against his chest as she said it. "I don't need to go to the hospital."
"It's not negotiable." Chase kissed the top of her head. "Tanner, thank you for finding her."
"I'm glad I could help." He kicked the dirt on the ground with the toe of his shoe. "I'm real sorry about the part I played in all of this. I had no idea Audra would take it this far."
"It's cool, Tanner," she said. "I just want to put this night behind us. Thanks for helping Chase."
"I'll talk to you tomorrow." Chase carried her to the car. "I have a friend on the board at the hospital."
"Of course you do." She managed to giggle but he could tell she was spent both mentally and physically.
"I'll make sure you're seen right away." He held her close to his chest with one arm as he opened the car door with the other. "I want to get you home." They had spent the night before in separate beds because of his stupidly. "I just want to hold you, sweetheart."
"Thank you for rescuing me." She kissed his cheek before he helped her into the passenger seat and buckled her in. "I knew you would find me."
"Always." He gently kissed her lips. "I love you."
"That's how I knew you'd come for me."
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chase was quiet on the car ride home from the hospital. Tess knew he blamed himself for what had happened to her. As mad as she was at him the night before for not telling her about his relationship with Audra, she didn't blame him for her actions. No one could have guessed that she would freak out and hold Tess hostage. That shit didn't happen in real life.
Her feet had been bandaged up after the doctor removed the slivers of glass from them. They looked worse than they were. Chase had insisted on a CAT scan because of the blow she took to her head but everything was normal. She'd just been shaken and bruised and had a mild concussion. He'd assured them he would be there to check on her all night.
"None of this was your fault."
He didn't respond.
"I'm okay," she told him as he carried her into the house. "You don't have to worry anymore."
"Maybe he doesn't." May hurried toward them. "But I've been just sick."
"Hey, May." Tess waved. "What are you doing here? It's late."
"I needed to see with my own eyes that you were all right. When he called me from the hospital, I rushed right over." May looked her over. "What did the doctors say?"
"She's one tough girl." Chase finally broke his silent streak. "She's just a bit battered. I'm going to take her upstairs and put her to bed. Can you get her some tea with honey and lemon?"
"Of course." She took Tess's hand. "How about something to eat? You must be starving."
"Chase got me some crackers and juice in the ER. I'm not really that hungry. I'm just tired and I'd like to take a shower." She was cold and sore all over. All she wanted to do was stand in the hot shower under those massaging jets and then crawl into their big comfy bed and let him hold her.
"May, please start the tea and I'll take her up and help her get ready for bed."
"Are you sure you don't want anything else?" May asked. "I can run to the store and get whatever you want."
"Thanks but I just want to get ready for bed." She rested her head on his shoulder. "Can you take me upstairs? I'd ask you to put me down but..."
"You'd be wasting your breath." He headed up the stairs. "I'll help you put your pajamas on and get you into bed and then I'll bring you your tea."
"I want to shower," she reminded him. "I can do it."
"You can do that in the morning. The doctor said you should rest tonight."
"I'll rest after I get washed," she said. "I feel grimy from being in that old cabin. I'll sleep better after a steamy shower."
"You're not going to let this go, are you?" He sighed as he brought her into the bathroom and sat her gently on the counter. "You don't think I'm going to let you go in there alone, do you?"
"I had hoped not." She tucked her hair behind her ear and bit her bottom lip. "I could use your help."
"It's going to be a quick one." He turned on the faucet. "In and out."
"Whatever you say, boss." She reached for the buttons of his shirt. "Let's get you naked."
Once she removed his shirt, he tugged hers over her head. He unclasped her bra and tossed it on top of their clothes before helping her wiggle out of her pants. He was careful not to hurt her feet as he pulled the garment over her ankles.
"Are you sure the shower won't irritate your feet? Maybe a bath? We could prop up your feet."
"That will take too long." She unwrapped the bandages from her feet. "Look, they're fine. They're not even bleeding."
"You're so beautiful." He kissed her lips as he pulled her into an embrace. "If anything had happened to you..." His muscles tensed around her. "I'm so sorry."
"Nothing happened to me. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. It's going to take more than your unstable psycho attorney ex to scare me away."
She unbuckled his belt as he kicked off his shoes. Reaching down, he pulled off his socks, then dropped his pants and stepped out of them.
"When I couldn't find you today I felt something was wrong. In my heart I knew you would never leave me. No matter how mad I made you, I trusted that you wouldn't walk out on me."
"You have really good instincts because nothing could ever make me leave you." She trailed her fingers over his lips. "I know what I mean to you. What we are to one another."