The Romeo Arrangement

“Sure did. I just doctored it up.”

“Doctored?” She takes another drink and holds it in her mouth for a moment, then swallows. “Vanilla. Coconut. Ohh, I definitely taste vanilla.”

“Bingo. A couple drops. Makes all the difference in the world, doesn’t it?”

“Jesus, yes. I’m going to remember that.” She sets down her cup. “I wish I’d known it before now. This stuff would’ve sold like gangbusters at the pumpkin patch.”

Taking my cue, I set my cup down and look at her. “There’s something else we need to talk about. Jackie Owens needs a place to sleep.”

Swallowing, she takes another sip of hot chocolate, revealing nothing in her eyes.

“Right. I told her she could sleep in the other bed, and I’ll crash on the couch.”

I shake my head. “No way to live. You’ll wake up every time she checks on Nelson and run yourself ragged.”

“Well, I’ll want to wake up and check on him, too.”

“That’s Nurse Owens’ job, darlin’. We’re paying her very well to take the load off all of us and give him the care he needs. I already told Tobin to bring your stuff over here soon, after we’ve had a chance to talk. There are several spare rooms upstairs. You can pick your favorite and tell us what you need.”

“Ridge, no, I—”

“You agree? Awesome. Look at it this way—if he was in the hospital, you wouldn’t be able to stay there. Frankly, if we weren’t able to get the nurse and Dr. Abrams out here, that’s where he would’ve wound up.”

She tries to deny it, the little firecracker, but I watch her lips twitch and whiten as they pinch shut.

“Fine,” she whispers.

Ouch. I’m old enough to know that’s one of the most cryptic, lethal words in a woman’s lexicon.

“Grace, I’m not just doing this to shut you down. I’m trying to look after your health the same as Nelson’s. If he were in a hospital, they’d tell you to go home and get some rest. That’s what you’ll do here, too, as long as we’re sharing one roof.”

“But—”

“Too late for buts. Save the effort. Your dad needs rest and Owens needs to do her job with no one else in the way. There’ll be plenty of time during the day to visit. Look, I know you don’t like it. I know it’s hard as shit after everything that’s happened, and you’re both used to looking after each other. I just want to hear one thing,” I say, holding out a hand. “Will you trust me on this? Will you let me take care of you?”

13

No Place to Hide (Grace)

Common sense tells me what he’s saying is true, but this is my father we’re talking about.

I need to be at the cabin.

I stare at that big, thick hand he’s holding out with my heart on fire.

“If you won’t do it for your dad or the nurse, or even yourself, then please…do it for me,” Ridge says quietly. “You want to help, I get it. Trouble is, you won’t be much help to anybody if you’re so exhausted and sick with worry you can’t switch off. When people use up every last ounce of mojo, they have an ugly way of screwing themselves over. I learned that in the military, too.”

Guilt hits my stomach like a stone.

He’d been visibly repulsed when he’d mentioned his mother not wanting a son in the military.

I wonder again about what I read concerning Judy Barnet’s death.

Possible suicide.

I wonder if us being here, and Dad being critically ill, brings back bitter memories.

I’m not comfortable asking because he’s already given up more than he should.

Answers about his murky private life are his, and his alone. Whatever secrets he’s hiding, I’ve decided one thing.

I can trust this man.

He hasn’t asked me for anything outrageous, either, not even now, when all he wants is for me to stay out of the nurse’s way and get some sleep.

“Point taken,” I say, taking his hand. “I’ll spend the night here.”

“Nights.” He emphasizes the plural S. “Until Nelson gets well enough not to need a nurse.”

Just when I’m about to pull my fingers away, his hold tightens. It’s like grasping some gentle beast’s paw, thick and strong and pleading.

Those bright-blue stares he beams at me send a hot current down my spine.

Sighing, I nod in agreement.

I may hate it, but there’s really no argument.

Besides, Jackie Owens seems very competent, and the cabin is a lot closer than if Dad was shuffled off to the nearest hospital.

“Glad that’s settled,” he tells me, tracing his fingers lightly over mine one last time before letting go.

Dear God.

What am I even doing?

Letting my body freak out over a man who’s helping me without being creepy.

A man who’s so freaking far out of my league, I wonder if he’s even from this planet.

Ridge Barnet lives with the immortals, gods of good looks and wealth and adoration.