We pulled up to the ER entrance. “You go in,” said Matthew, looking at his phone. “I’ll take Parker to the emergency vet hospital and have him checked out. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“You know where it is?”

“That’s what GPS is for.”

I felt bad for inconveniencing Matthew. “You should go to your hotel afterward. I’m likely to be here for hours.”

“Shit no. That’s not how a Marine treats a buddy, let alone a beautiful woman such as yourself. Go inside, and I’ll get back as soon as I can, okay?”

I couldn’t help but smile as I got out, but before he shut the door, Matthew spoke again.

“Hey. Tell them I’m a relative, a cousin or something so that when I come, they don’t make me sit in the waiting room.”

“Sure,” I replied. I winced as my feet hit the sidewalk, jarring my arm.

Matthew leaned over with a concerned look on his handsome face. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Yeah. Go. I’m two feet from the door.”

“I can go in.”

“Go. Take care of Parker. I’ll see you when you get here.”

I didn’t have to wait long before they performed triage and ushered into an examining room. The nurse came in and took my history.

“Okay, Ms. Harris. We’re a little busy, but the doctor will see you as soon as he or she can.”

“Hey, my cousin is on his way. Can you let him in?”

“Sure. Name?”

“His name is Matthew.”

I waited, then grew tired and dozed on the hospital bed. I woke with a start when I heard Matthew’s deep voice.

“Hey, you okay?” Parker stood up on his hind legs with his paws on the bed looking at me as if checking me over.

“Down,” Matthew ordered.

Parker dropped to all fours and bumped his head into Matthew’s hand.

“I’m okay,” I reassured them. “Just waiting on the doctor. How’s Parker?”

“Not a scratch on him. No bumps, no bruises.”

“He was lucky.”

“Naw. He had twice the weight on that coyote. But I did lecture him sternly about taking risks.”

Parker whined and gave Matthew a soulful gaze. Then he turned his head and licked my hand which was on the side of the bed.

“It seems, when it comes to you, my dog has a soft spot for you. So, I’ll let it pass this time.”

Parker yelped sharply as if in agreement.

A knock on the door announced the doctor.

“Hey, what’s this?” said a man in doctor’s scrubs.

“Hi, doc,” said Matthew. “This is Parker.”

“Yes, I heard all about him. The nurses cooed all over him. He made quite an impression.”

“Yup. That’s my pup,” said Matthew. “Quite the ladies’ man.”

The doctor chuckled.

He examined my wounds and asked me all the same questions the nurse did.

“Yeah, he did a good job on you. We’ll clean them out and pack them to make sure everything drains okay. I’ll give you some antibiotics. I’ll also put you in a sling, so you aren’t moving that arm too much.”

“Is that necessary?”

“How active are you doing the day?”

“Pretty active.”

“Well, you are off work for at least a week.”

“Doc, I run my own business.”

The doctor shrugged. “It all depends on how fast you want to get better. Work that arm, and it will take longer to heal. That’s your choice. I’ll get a nurse, and we can get this done.”

We were out of the ER within two hours. It was late, close to midnight, and Matthew yawned and blinked his eyes.

“Are you okay,” I asked.

“Yeah,” he replied. “It’s been a long day. I’m beat.”

“Sorry,” I apologized.

“Let’s get you home.”

But when we got into the SUV it was clear that Matthew was exhausted. He sat for a few minutes with his eyes closed before starting the vehicle.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked again. I was concerned now that Matthew was too tired to drive.

“Yeah,” Matthew said sleepily. “You know what? If it’s not too much trouble, let’s stop by my hotel and get my stuff. I just have one bag. I’m not sure I’m up for a return trip once I drop you off. That is if you can put me up tonight.”

“Sure. We can do that.”

We arrived at the motel, and he pulled into a parking space.

“That’s my room right there,” he said pointing to one in a bank of doors lining the walkway. “I’ll be right out. Parker, stay here.”

Matthew disappeared into the motel room, and I laid my head back on the headrest and closed my eyes. I started when a truck backfired loudly, and Parker whined. I relaxed and rested my head again, but Parker continued to whine.

“It’s okay, boy.”

But I noticed that while the hotel room door was still open, the lights weren’t on in the room. Parker scratched at the SUV’s door.

“Okay, Parker. I’ll let you out.”

I slid out and opened the door for Parker, who dashed out to Matthew’s room. I followed slowly, not knowing what to expect. When I got to the entrance, I reached in and felt for the light switch and turned it on.

I didn’t see Matthew right away. But then I spotted him crouched in the corner of the room behind the second king-size bed.

“Turn off that flashlight, Jack,” he said in a low whisper. “They’ll see us.”

Parker butted his head into Matthew, whose eyes scanned the room, searching for some unseen enemy.

“It’s okay,” I said gently. “They’re gone.”

“Yeah?” said Matthew. “Those mujs are tricky. You never see them.”

“It’s okay,” I repeated more firmly. “It’s just you and me here. And Parker.” I stepped across the room to Matthew and stopped two steps from him.

“Parker?”

“You remember Parker. He’s your best buddy. He’s right there, Matthew.”

Parker licked Matthew’s face again. Matthew blinked, shook his head, and looked slowly up at me. He looked down to the floor and then to Parker.

“Oh fuck,” he said.

“Here,” I said, offering him my free hand. “Have a seat.”

He sat on the edge of the bed, and Parker put his head on Matthew’s lap.

“I’m sorry,” Matthew said. “That hasn’t happened in a long time.”

“It’s okay,” I tried to reassure him.

“No. It’s not. You shouldn’t have had to see that.”

“I think,” I said, “You’ve had too stressful a day. Get some sleep. You can take me home in the morning.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah,” I said as went to the door and shut it.

I was worn out as well. As much as I’d like to go home and sleep in my own bed, I couldn’t push Matthew any more than I already had. I was able to wiggle out of the plaid shirt I was wearing, but I left my t-shirt on. I sat on the bed closest to the door and tried to get my boots off. It was difficult to do that with the pesky sling on my arm.

“Here,” Matthew said, almost fully recovered now. “I’ll help you.”

He knelt on one knee and worked the laces of my work boots. I stared down at the top of his head. There was something about this man when he was near that made me want to kiss him. And he took such utter care removing my boots, being extra careful as if he’d hurt me if he yanked them too roughly, that it undid me.

“There,” he said as he pulled off the second boot. He looked up into my eyes and smiled. “Anything else you need help with?”

“You’re fucking killing me,” I said.

“How’s that?”

“I’m not used to this.”

“What? Someone helping you?”

My answer was strangled in my throat. Randy was only considerate when he wanted something. Here was Matthew not asking for a thing, just helping as I needed. How did I get so screwed up that a simple act of kindness had me tongue tied?

“Even the most strong and badass women need help sometimes.”

“Ha! You think I’m badass?”

“I think you’re special, Meleyna.”

I bit my bottom lip. “I should do this myself.”

Matthew shrugged. “If you can handle your jeans on your own, have at it.”

“Get out of my way then,” I said, a little embarrassed now. When Matthew edged a few inches from me, I stood and fumbled at the button of my jeans. My hands shook as I felt his eyes on me. I turned away from him, but then he surprised me when he pressed his body against my back and put his arms around my waist. I took a sharp breath as he worked the button and then pulled at the zipper.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered into my ear.

I stiffened. I was at war with myself trying to figure out what was best. It felt good to have him so near, and yet—

“Matthew—I, I—”

He sighed.

“Sorry. Problems with impulse control.”

“No. I like your impulses.”

“But you’ve got someone else in your head.”

“Yeah,” I said sadly.

“That’s okay. I trust you can handle the rest by yourself.”

I finally managed to shrug off my jeans. I was very aware of Matthew staring at my nearly naked body. I liked the hungry way his eyes took me in, but I still couldn’t get Randy out of my head, and I hated myself for that. I had to take a step back.

An image of Matthew crouched behind the chair flashed through my head. That gave me pause. I had acted calmly because I needed to, but seeing him in the middle of an episode gave me pause. What would it be like to have a man like that in my life?

I turned off the bathroom light and padded to the bed.

“Come on, Parker. Bed,” he commanded. But Parker quickly scrambled onto the bed I had claimed.

“No, you crazy dog, this bed.” Matthew patted it for emphasis.

Parker stared at him and then shook his head. He lay on the bed and put his head on his paws.

“Well, we’ll switch,” I offered, not wanting to cause any problems. But when I moved to the other bed, Parker jumped to the floor and onto the one Matthew stood at.

“Okay, then,” I said, perplexed, and I moved to the other bed. But Parker jumped off the one bed and took up residence on the other.

“I think,” I said slowly, “he’s trying to tell us something.”

“Fuck it.” Matthew slid off his jeans and climbed into my king-size bed and Parker happily sunk into the middle of it.

“Oh, that’s how it going to be,” I said. “We get a doggy chaperone.”

“Yeah, it looks like your honor is safe while Parker is on the job. Get in bed. Right now, it doesn’t matter what chaperone we have, I’m beat.”

I raised the covers and slid under my half. Parker was a heavyweight between us. I settled into the bed. We laid there in the night, neither of us asleep yet.

“Can I ask you a question?” I said. Thinking of Matthew inches away from me, regardless of the doggy chaperone, made my heart race. I had never laid in bed with another man besides Randy, and the feeling was a little thrilling, but also a little nerve-wracking.

“Sure.”

“What happens at night?”

“You mean am I going to wake up screaming?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, that’s why Parker is here. He’ll wake me before the dream gets too bad and get me out of it.”

“Wow, that’s pretty amazing.”

“Yes, it is.”

“But,” he said. “I don’t think that will happen tonight.”

“Why?”

“You were great a few minutes ago, helping me get out of my episode. It’s a relief to know you won’t freak out or make fun of me. I feel like I can relax with you.”

I swallowed hard. A part of me wanted Matthew very much, and another part called myself a traitor for wanting someone other than Randy. And then there was the whole wounded hero thing. I didn’t know if I was ready for any of it.

Clearly, with the sexy way Matthew helped me with my zipper, he was interested on some level.

I laid awake, staring at the ceiling and mulling over my dilemma.

What the hell is wrong with you, Meleyna Harris? I mentally scolded myself. The sexiest man you’ve ever seen is in your bed, interested in you, and you don’t make a single move? Get over Randy and see there’s a man who wants you. You deserve better! I debated whether I should, but then two sets of snores filled the room.

Great, I thought wryly. They both snore. I wondered how I was going to get to sleep, especially wearing the sling. But the snores of man and beast had a gentle rhythm, and soon my eyes drifted closed.