Igot up early the next morning so I’d have time to call my parents and fill them in before Dad went to work. I tried to spare them most of the gory details, but they were appalled nonetheless, especially when Mom realized Abigail was the person she’d let into my condo. For a moment I thought she was going to jump in the car to come make sure I was okay, but I told her in no uncertain terms I was fine and didn’t have time for visitors. My focus was Jude right now, and them being here would only stress me out.
Once the shock had passed a bit, I think Mom was glad I hadn’t let her follow through with her impulsive plan, as it would’ve wreaked havoc with her tight schedule. They settled for assuring me they were there if I needed anything, and I hung up soon after, relieved to have that call out of the way.
I got to the hospital at nine sharp and was delighted to be wheeling Jude out of his room by ten. His doctor had discharged him with prescriptions for antibiotics and pain medication and an order to “listen to his body.” In other words, don’t do too much too soon.
Thankfully JP had had the presence of mind to bring his brother a change of clothes yesterday, so I threw the bloody shirt and jeans away. I had no desire to launder them. No desire to see his blood ever again.
Jude wasn’t at all happy about his forced wheelchair exit, but it was hospital policy and the nurse refused to let him leave his room without being in it. When we got to the front door, I left him with an attendant while I went and brought my SUV up, shaking my head when he hopped out of the chair before I was even stopped.
I hurried around to help him, but he was already in the car and fastening the seat belt before I got there.
“I’m not an invalid,” he grumbled.
“Maybe not, but I plan to fuss over you anyway.” I leaned into the car to kiss his cheek, then put my hand lightly over his front bandage. “You okay? Need the seat reclined or anything?”
“I’m fine. Just get me outta here.”
I concentrated hard on my driving, careful not to swerve or stop abruptly. Jude teased me about driving like one of my old-lady friends, but I refused to speed up. I didn’t want to cause him anymore pain.
We made it to my house without incident. I tried to get him to lean on me for the walk inside, but he just gave me a warning look and headed for the porch.
I held up my hands, palms out. “Sorry. I’m just really glad to have you here. And I can’t help but want to take care of you at least a little bit.”
He surprised me with a slow, shiver-inducing smile. “Maybe you can show me how glad you are a little later on,” he suggested.
I closed the front door behind us, anticipation sliding up my spine. I was about to ask him how much later when the doorbell rang. I jumped at the sound, because I’d been staring dazedly into his baby blues and the world had gone away for a moment.
When I realized it was the doorbell that had brought me back to my senses, I reached around and opened the door back up.
Hannah and Chase stood there, both of their gazes going immediately to Jude. I motioned them in and Hannah hurried over to him.
“Where are you hurt?” she asked. “I want to hug you but I don’t want to hurt you.”
Jude chuckled. “Here,” he said, putting his left hand over the bandage and holding out his right arm. “You can hug me from this side.”
“Oh my word, Jude, we were so shocked when JP called. You got shot!” Hannah’s expression showed her disbelief. “No one gets shot around here. The whole town is in an uproar. You’re quite the local sensation.”
Jude grimaced. “Let’s hope they forget about it quickly. I have zero desire to be a sensation.”
Chase took his turn with a side hug, laughing at his buddy’s lament. “You don’t have a choice. The elderly gal who was involved was holding court at the Coffee Club when I stopped in this morning. She had at least a dozen people hanging on her every word. To hear her tell it, you’re a hero. Next thing you know, you’ll be staging meet-and-greets and selling your autograph for charity.”
“Not in this lifetime,” Jude growled.
“I’ll talk to Donna,” I promised, “but you need to sit down, Jude. Come on in the living room, you two,” I told Hannah and Chase. “You can keep him company while I get a pot of coffee going.”
The doorbell sounded again just as I finished grinding the coffee beans. I quickly dumped them into the coffee maker and pushed the start button before hurrying back to the front door.
This time it was none other than Priscilla and Evvie. I had no idea how they knew Jude was here, but I wasn’t surprised that they did. Priscilla handed me a big jar of soup, gave me a perfunctory hug, then marched straight into the living room.
Evvie hung back and whispered that Priscilla was highly irritated that Donna and Rosie had been part of the most exciting thing to happen to Hidden Creek in decades, while she herself had been in no way involved.
“It kills her to have everyone flocking to Donna,” Evvie said. “And, of course, Donna is eating it up.”
“I have to say, Donna was a superstar,” I replied. I understood Priscilla’s envy, but I wasn’t going to take away from Donna’s brave attempt to save me from Andrew—or from Rosie’s sprint to find Jude, for that matter—just to appease a jealous friend.
“Well, I’ll just warn you, Priscilla wants to hear your side of things. Says she wants to make sure Donna isn’t exaggerating.”
And so the day went. Next to come were Jude’s parents, followed by Pastor Dan and Alicia, then JP, then Jude’s own pastor, then Donna and Rosie themselves. I got emotional when I saw the two ladies, and the three of us shed a few tears right there by the front door. I thanked them for what they had done, but they brushed it off and said anyone else would have done the same thing. Which wasn’t true, but I didn’t push it. Then they were off to the living room to see their hero.
Jude took it in stride as people came and went, but by early afternoon I could tell he was tired and hurting. Plus, we hadn’t had a chance to eat lunch.
When there was a lull in the parade of well-wishers, I quickly made a sign and stuck it on the front door to inform anyone else who dropped by that Jude was resting, and to please check in later to see if he was up to having visitors.
With the notice posted, I went to the kitchen and heated Priscilla’s famous chicken noodle soup. While it simmered, I made a grocery list, hoping I could make a quick run to the store while Jude was taking a nap after his late lunch.
He wandered into the kitchen as I was dishing up the soup.
“Your pain pills are in the bottle on the window sill,” I told him, “and don’t even try to tell me you’re not in pain, because I can tell you are.”
“I am, but I’m not taking those pills. Do you have any ibuprofen?”
I got him some and didn’t hound him about not wanting to take anything stronger. It was his choice, and I’d promised myself I wouldn’t baby him.
After lunch, he sprawled out on the couch and went to sleep almost instantly. I’d told him I was going to go to the store, but didn’t admit I was a little worried I might find myself surrounded by curious townsfolk who wanted to hear the story all over again.
As it turned out, the only person in the store with me was Marlene, the friend from church who had warned me about Devon my first Sunday there. She gave me a warm hug and told me she was glad everyone was okay, and if there was anything she could do to help to please let her know.
Fifteen minutes later I was on my way back home with a load of groceries that would keep my handsome houseguest from starving. The trip had been quick and painless—far better than I’d expected.
***
Jude had more visitors after his nap—a few people from his church and also one of his co-workers who lived in Hidden Creek. I left him to visit with them while I made a casserole for dinner. Chase and Hannah came back over later on, and I invited them to eat with us. They jumped at the chance and Chase ran home to get Lulu. The little dog was overjoyed to see Jude and gave us plenty of laughs while we ate. It was just what I needed.
By the time we finished eating and had the kitchen cleaned up, Jude and I were both yawning almost continuously. His afternoon nap hadn’t made up for his almost sleepless night, and the five hours I’d managed to get last night had long since worn off.
Chase and Hannah left, and even though it wasn’t even eight o’clock, Jude and I decided to call it a day. I shut off the lights and locked the doors, and we walked upstairs together. I tried once again to get him to lean on me for support, because he was exhausted and we had to get up a whole staircase, but he said he was fine with the handrail.
I shook my head at his stubbornness, although I secretly loved the tough guy in him.
I like to think of myself as tough, too, but I had to admit it was a relief to have Jude at the house with me. Last night I’d left a light on in the hall because I was a little freaked out knowing Abigail was still on the loose. Tonight I felt safe and protected, even with Jude being injured.
I was disappointed not to have heard anything from the sheriff about either Andrew or Abigail, but I was hopeful it wouldn’t be much longer before little brother started to talk.
Jude wanted to take a shower before settling in for the night, so I gave him a towel and set him up in the guest bath. While he was in there, I went and turned down his bed, which I’d made up that morning. I also laid out everything I would need to change the dressings on his wounds.
When he was finished, he came into the bedroom dressed only in a pair of black athletic shorts and my breath caught in the middle of an inhale. Wow. Just….wow. I tried not to stare, but it was impossible. The man was put together so perfectly and my eyes seemed to have a mind of their own.
His comfy state of dress was made possible by JP, who had come through for us yet again, going by Jude’s house that morning and packing a whole duffle bag of clothes—items that were comfortable and easy to put on, like the shorts. It was a good thing JP had brought that bag, because I didn’t have a single item of male clothing in my house.
I went down the hall to the bathroom and washed my hands thoroughly, then made Jude sit on the edge of the bed, right by a lamp. It was a little hard to concentrate on changing the dressings with the smell of fresh, clean man wafting all around me, but I did my best.
He’d covered the wounds with some sticky, waterproof patches the nurse had given him when he was discharged, with instructions to use them when he showered for at least the first five days. After that, if he was healing well, it would be okay for the wounds to get wet.
I carefully pried the patches off, along with the old gauze, wincing when I saw the raw, red skin pulled together with staples.
“Oh, Jude,” I whispered. Tears threatened and I kept my face averted so he wouldn’t see.
He gently rubbed the top of my head, his fingers threading through my hair. “I’m fine, Ava. These’ll heal in no time.”
“I hope so.” I pressed a kiss to his bare shoulder before opening a new package of gauze. “I can’t even tell you how many prayers I’ve said in the last twenty-four hours. I think God might be getting tired of me thanking Him for watching over us. And that you weren’t hurt any worse.”
“I’ve said more than a few myself,” Jude said softly, “only mine include thanking Him that I was the one who got shot instead of you or Donna.” He twined his fingers around a lock of my hair. “I have no regrets, Ava. So if you’re still feeling guilty, stop.”
My gaze jumped to his face as I tried to swallow around the enormous lump that had suddenly formed in my throat. He was such a good man. A good, kind, God-fearing man, and my heart was so full of love I could hardly stand it.
“I don’t deserve you,” I said thickly.
He leaned over and kissed me lightly. “I disagree.”
I bent my head and stared again at the ravages of the bullet.
“It wasn’t my time, sweetheart. Or yours. Or Donna’s. Let’s just be grateful for that and move on, okay?” He ruffled my hair again. “Now get to it, Nurse Milton. I’m ready to lie down.”
I glanced up again and saw nothing but warmth in his eyes. When he said he had no regrets, I believed him. I gave him a grateful smile and got back to my task.
I gently touched the skin surrounding his wounds, checking for heat. I also checked for excessive redness or streaks, moving the lamp closer so I could get a good look. I’d been informed upon checkout from the hospital that gunshot wounds were prone to infection from the debris carried into the body by the bullet and it was important to check for signs of infection every day. Even though Jude was on some pretty strong antibiotics, there was no guarantee there wouldn’t be problems.
His skin felt cool to the touch, and the redness was confined to the edges that were stapled. So far so good.
I applied a thin film of ointment and taped fresh gauze over both areas. “There. That should do it until tomorrow evening.” I grinned at him. “Aren’t you glad you came home with me so I can take care of you? The big one on your back would’ve been hard to do on your own.”
“My mama would’ve been glad to come over and do it,” he teased, watching me as I gathered up the trash and threw it away.
“Yeah, I suppose she would have.”
“But yes, I’m glad I came home with you,” he said sweetly.
I chuckled. “Good. I’m going to go get you a glass of ice water. See if you can get comfortable in the bed. If you need a harder or softer pillow, just say so. I have plenty.”
When I returned with the water, he was lying on his right side, the blankets pulled to his waist.
I put the glass on his nightstand and looked him over. “Do you usually sleep on your side?” I wondered.
“Nah, my back. But this’ll be okay.”
“Hang on a sec.”
I went out to the closet in the hall and grabbed a stack of pillows. Then I went around to the other side of the bed and placed them under his shoulders, upper back, and hips, making sure to avoid the bandaged area.
“Okay, try that. They’ll kind of wedge you up so you’re at least a little bit on your back.”
He rolled off his side, letting his weight settle against the pillows. I circled back around so I could see his face.
“Much better,” he declared.
“Comfortable enough for a good night’s sleep?” I asked hopefully.
“Oh yeah. I just need to wind down some. I think I’m still a little keyed up from all the company today. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Everyone wanted to check on the hometown hero,” I said.
He grunted. “Let’s hope they got their fill and can forget about it now. I talked enough today to last me a week.”
I folded my arms and gave him a wry look. “If it were me, I’d turn on the TV and find something relaxing to watch for a while. But I’m guessing that’s a no-go for my TV-hating man.”
“A definite no-go,” he agreed.
“Okay, then just lie there and try to decompress for a bit,” I said. “I’m going to go take a quick shower, then I’ll come back to tuck you in.” I tried to smile as I said that, but a yawn caught me off guard, making him chuckle.
“You might fall asleep before you make it back in here.”
I shook my head, stifling a second yawn. “I’ll be back. Promise.”
The shower revived me somewhat. I put on my favorite plaid sleep pants and a soft, oversized tee. I went across the hall and stuck my head into Jude’s room, half expecting to see him in a dead sleep.
He was awake and reading something on his phone. Seeing me, he turned it off and put it on the table by his bed, looking a little sheepish.
“Let me guess, you were checking your work email,” I said, shaking my head as I walked toward the bed. “I told you to relax, not worry about work.”
“It was just one.” He held out a hand. “Come do your tucking-in thing. I’m fading fast.”
I perched on the edge of his bed and looked at him uncertainly. “I’ve only ever tucked in my nieces. I’m not sure what to do with a grown man. I don’t suppose you’re into bedtime stories?”
He shook his head slowly. “No, babe. No stories.” He patted the bed by my hip. “Lie down. I’ve missed being alone with you.”
I didn’t need to be asked twice. I stretched out against him and draped my arm across his ribs, careful to stay well above his injury.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I said, rubbing my cheek against the bare skin of his chest. “I’d worry too much if I couldn’t see you with my own eyes.”
His arm came around me, pulling me in tighter. “I’m glad, too. Seems I don’t mind a little bit of fussing after all.”
I scootched up in the bed, until my face was even with his. He was so beautiful. I trailed my fingertips down the side of his face and brushed my knuckles back and forth along the strong line of his jaw. His eyes glittered in the glow from the lamp and I wanted to kiss him worse than anything.
“You look worried,” he said softly. “What are you thinking about?”
I told him the truth. “I’m afraid you’re too tired for me to kiss you the way I’ve wanted to ever since you rescued Donna and me,” I whispered. “But I don’t think I can wait until you’re rested up.”
His hand moved over my back, hot and restless. “Never too tired for that, Ava,” he murmured. “I don’t want to hurt your lip though.”
“It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt at all anymore.”
“Then I think you should kiss me the way you’ve been wanting to,” he said, his eyes crinkling with his smile.
That was all I needed to hear. Our lips met and the passion we’d kept at bay all day instantly ignited. Jude rolled back up onto his side and then farther, until I was on my back in the curve of his arm, his chest pressed against me, warm through the thin cotton of my shirt.
I plunged one hand into his hair and explored him with the other. The alluring curve where neck became shoulder, the bulging muscles of his biceps, the sculpted lines of his chest and back.
He tore his mouth from mine as his fingers locked around my wrist, the glitter of his eyes more pronounced.
“I might be a little impaired, sweetheart,” he growled, “but I’m far from incapacitated.” He laced his fingers through mine. “This hand feels way too good on me. So good I’m having trouble remembering why we can’t do what we both want to.”
I closed my eyes and pushed my face into his neck, resisting the urge to kiss my way along the smooth, warm skin. I wanted more, but he was right to stop it now, before temptation clouded our better judgment.
He let go of my hand and ran his palm lightly up and down my back as our breathing gradually slowed. After a few minutes, he dropped a kiss onto my head, then shifted back onto the pillows I’d piled behind him.
“Stay,” he said, his voice low and sleepy, his arm still tight across my back. “Just stay here with me. I want you close.”
I readily curled up against him, crooking my arm across his chest. I didn’t dare get under the blankets with him, but I was plenty warm right where I was, thanks to the heat of his big body.
I felt the tension of the last day and a half leave my own body as if by magic and I breathed a contented sigh. Blanket or not, I was right where I wanted to be.