Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I felt tired but not the bone-deep exhaustion that had hit me last night.
He walked in, smiling when he saw that I was awake.
“I was coming to check on you. Order in breakfast.”
“What time is it?”
“Ten.”
“Oh God, I didn’t mean to sleep that long.”
His smile was gentle, his voice tender. “You needed it—and more. You were shattered.”
“I have things to do.”
He took my hand. “I’ve called the hospital and spoken to her doctor. She is doing well. We’ll go see her once you’ve eaten and gotten ready. I spoke to Georgia at The Haven. We’ll see her later to go through options for Lynn, and you can discuss with her what you decide. Then we’re having dinner with Finn, Niall, and their wives later. I have also arranged someone to sit with Lynn to give you a break. Georgia helped with that. Lynn is fond of one of the staff at The Haven, and she was looking to make extra money. I hired her and she is trained, so you can’t argue about it.”
I blinked. “I see. You’ve been very, ah, productive while I slept.”
“Your aunt asked me to look after you, and I am.”
“You are,” I agreed. “Above and beyond.”
He grinned. “Not really, lass. I can’t go back and tell her I followed all her instructions now, can I?” He held up his fingers, counting. “I got you a good meal. Some sleep. Took care of important tasks. But you’re still lacking the Irish injection. She’ll not be happy about that.”
I stared at him, unable to resist the smile pulling on the side of his full mouth. He looked sexy and irresistible. His scruff was thick, his hair tousled, and he only wore sleep pants, his chest and torso on display, the muscles taut. Tempting. His gaze was warm. Hot. Smoldering, almost. It made me feel warm all over.
Tingly.
“We can’t have that,” I said, sounding breathless.
He leaned over, pulling me onto his lap. I felt his erection pressing against me. “You need that injection,” he muttered. “You going to take your medicine like a good girl, Autumn? Take it all with a smile and thank me for it?” He ran his hands up my legs, cupping my ass and pulling me down tight to him. “I think it may take more than one to be effective. Can you handle that?”
“Oh God, yes,” I whimpered.
“Good,” he grunted, rolling us over. “Good girl.”
Our visit with Lynn was short and sweet. Anna and Una were there, fussing over her. Lynn looked better than she had, her eyes clearer, the bandage around her head gone and replaced by a neat square covering the jagged cut she’d gotten when she’d hit her head on the table edge.
“I look like a tough old lady now,” she quipped as I bent to kiss her.
“You always have,” I teased, relief almost making me giddy.
She studied me. “You look better.” Glancing at Sully, she smirked. “Took my advice?”
“I always listen to my elders,” he replied, lifting her hand and kissing it. “Irish injection administered.” He winked. “A double dose.”
“Oh, keep this one,” she informed me.
“I plan on it.”
Sully sat with her as I spoke to the doctor and the girls. Lynn made him laugh often, and he met my eyes more than once, winking at me as if to say, “I’m in.”
We stayed until Lynn fell asleep. Una encouraged us to leave.
“We know you have things to take care of,” she said with a smile. “We have this. They are managing her pain well, so she’ll sleep most of the day.”
I hesitated, and she squeezed my hand. “Go. Make the arrangements you need to make. She’ll be fine. We’ll make sure of it. We’ll see you tonight.”
It was hard to leave, but I knew she was right.
Georgia showed us a suite in the upgraded, next-level care section of The Haven. It was bigger, equipped with more safety features, including handrails and an intercom, plus the additional hands-on care Lynn would require. But the view wasn’t as nice, and I didn’t like the layout. I wasn’t sure I had much say in it, though. Lynn liked it here—she liked the staff and had many friends. I didn’t want her to have to try to deal with a new place and people, as well as her diminished capabilities.
“When is she returning to us?” Georgia asked, her eyes following Sully with admiration.
I tried to hide my amusement. Georgia was lovely and cordial to deal with, but she never took this much time out of her schedule for me. But a personal tour and endless time for any questions was fine for Sully. She was at least twenty years older than him and married, but I couldn’t blame her. He looked especially sexy today in jeans and a cable-knit Irish sweater in a green that set off his dark coloring. His overcoat was a deep black, completing his compelling look. His accent seemed thicker, richer today, making him totally irresistible. And not only just to me.