Jake shook his head and closed the door.
“You know, Silva, you can be a real pain in the ass.” Darien slipped on Lelandi’s sock, his back to her while Silva pulled off her gown.
“You love me anyway, boss.” Silva winked at Lelandi. “I couldn’t find a pretty lace bra to match your panties. This crummy place isn’t very style conscious, though Lacy Garments & Accessories has some nice see-through nighties. If we wore such a thing. But I thought this white lace bra was pretty and cut a little lower so it wouldn’t touch your wounds and irritate them.” She drew the bra up to cover her.
Darien paused before he put on her other sock, and she wondered if he wanted to look to see how low-cut the bra was. It was low. Nearly exposed her nipples, and it was a push-up.
“Looks nice, sugar, although you really didn’t need anything pushed up.”
Darien’s heart beat harder, and she could smell his sex again.
Silva was pushing the poor gray over the edge. “I bought you this nice, loose, button-down shirt so that it would be easy to dress.”
Darien growled low. Or moaned. Lelandi’s hearing wasn’t what it should be either because of the medication.
“Help me get her jeans on, boss, and she’ll be ready to go. She doesn’t need to put her boots on. We have to wheel her out to your SUV, and I’ll follow behind in my car.”
Darien focused on the shirt, and then his gaze shifted to Silva, who shrugged. “Ready to help with the jeans?”
His eyes strayed to Lelandi’s new panties, and she wished she could see what made them seem so appealing to him. He was having a time helping her into her jeans, although she imagined he’d be a whiz at taking them off. Why she was even thinking such a thing, she hadn’t a clue.
The jacket was last, and it was heavy and cumbersome because she felt so weak. Once she sat in the wheelchair, Darien pushed her out of the room where Jake waited beyond the door.
Walking beside Darien, Jake said. “Everyone’s slowly waking from the drugged coffee—Doc, Ritka, the new Janitor, parents of a patient, Peter, Sam, and Uncle Sheridan. But, man, was Uncle Sheridan hotter than a summer heat wave. Even in his half-groggy condition, he’s ordering Trevor about, taping off the break room. He warned us the attempted killer probably didn’t leave any fingerprints behind. Sam’s throwing a beer and pizza party at our place later.”
“What?”
“You missed the leader’s meeting because you were investigating the shootings. Figured now that you’re taking the lady to your house, you’ll want to have the meeting. And,” Jake said, “since his barmaid will be there, she can serve, like always.”
Silva gave him a disgruntled look, although the annoyance appeared faked. Lelandi figured she loved being the center of attention in a room full of men. Or at least tried to be, or was it that she secretly had a yearning for Sam?
Jake shoved his Stetson on his head and pushed the side door to the hospital open. “He said you’ve got to earn your keep somehow.”
“Like I don’t work lots of overtime so the guys can drink longer? Ahem, is Trevor going to be working guard duty?” Her voice sounded suspiciously hopeful.
Lelandi wanted to kick the deputy next time she saw him act disinterested in Silva when she wanted so much to please him. Why did women chase after men who showed them no affection in return?
“What are we going to do about the sleeping arrangements?” Jake asked.
Silva looked back at Darien. “Yeah, boss, who gets to sleep with whom?”
Lelandi held her breath, waiting for Darien’s word, feeling a mixture of hope he wanted her, and at the same time wishing he’d want to steer dear of her. She had a mission to accomplish. She didn’t need any more of his kisses. And she sure as hell didn’t want them.
Her tongue traced her lips, just thinking of the way he’d kissed her, and she closed her eyes and moaned. Could any other man make her feel like that? And if he could, she wanted to find him next. Forget about looking for her damned rogue brother.
She opened her eyes and found everyone watching her.
Darien’s brows lifted slightly. “Lelandi sleeps alone.”
She let out her breath, and he cast her a smile.
“I don’t want anyone bumping into her wounds in the middle of the night. Unless one of my brothers wants to give up his bed to you. Silva...” Darien tilted his head to the side as if to ask if she had any objections, yet finality censored his words.
Silva frowned back at him. Obviously, she wasn’t interested in his brothers.
“Not my bed. I stayed up most of last night and gave enough blood, I’m ready for a good night’s sleep,” Jake said.
“You’ve got guard duty from four to six in the morning, Jake.” Darien wheeled the chair outside to the SUV.
“I can handle it.” Jake said to Silva, “Guess you can sleep in whoever’s bed isn’t occupied during guard duty.” He opened the passenger door for Darien. “What about Tom? He’s doing pretty well, but you don’t plan on having him serving on guard duty, do you?”
“He’s champing at the bit to pull it. Think he’s in love.”
Jake frowned. “Tell him he’d better find a new girl.”
Silva chuckled. “Yeah, this one for darned sure’s already taken.”
Lelandi stifled a growl. Once she found out who the blackmailer and killer were, and heck, found her gun and took care of them, she was out of here.
She caught a glimpse of her cousin Ural watching from across the street at some old movie theater, the sign faded like most everything else in Silver Town. Her heart nearly stopped. He wore his hood up, hiding his face, but everyone was sure to be looking for him, and that coat was like an orange prison jumpsuit on an escaped convict.
Damn him for hanging around. If the grays caught him, they’d crucify him, figuring he had something to do with her sister’s death and the shootings. Plus, Mrs. Hastings had seen him manhandle her, and Darien was pretty hot about that. They wouldn’t use kid gloves on him either, not like they did with her when they were trying to find out the truth. All because he wanted her home before the pack leader found out where she was, or maybe he wanted her to run away with him. She wasn’t really sure what he had in mind.
Quickly, she looked away so no one saw what had caught her attention, but Silva saw, and Jake, too. Then Darien.
Chapter 10
JAKE CURSED AND TOOK OFF RUNNING AFTER LELANDI’S cousin.
Her heart hammering, Lelandi tried to climb out of the wheelchair, pain filling her chest. “Leave him alone!” she screamed.
“Calm down before you hurl yourself further,” Darien ordered, and lifted her flailing body out of the wheelchair and into the backseat of his SUV. “Get in, Silva, and make her stay put.”
“But I was going to follow behind and—”
“Get in!” he snapped, trying to keep Lelandi still. “Hell, drive the vehicle. I’ll keep the hellion in her seat.”
Lelandi struggled to get free when someone opened the other passenger door to the backseat of the vehicle and grabbed her arm.
She cried out. “Tom.” she croaked.
The poor guy’s head still bandaged, he gave her a toothy grin, but it looked like his struggle to calm her pained him, and she ceased fighting him. What did it matter anyway? She wasn’t going anywhere, and Jake was sure to catch her Cousin since he was longer-legged and had a lot more strength in his movement than the shorter red.
Darien leaned over her and locked her seat belt in place. The strap pressed against her injuries, and she gasped.
“Sorry, Lelandi.” Darien’s eyes turned to midnight as he motioned to Silva. “Drive.”