Shane glanced over at Charlie as he turned the car onto the main road back into town. After he made love to her in the car, it seemed as if all the fight and anger had left her. She’d been so beautiful, but she’d also been exhausted, and Shane was reminded of just how little sleep they’d both gotten over the past couple of days. That, and the knock she’d taken to the head the day before . . . God, had it only been twenty-four hours since he’d learned of her attack? Since, he’d felt fear like he’d never imagined before. Getting hurt on shift hadn’t exactly been a picnic, but it happened. They were used to it, expected it occasionally even, in their profession. He’d been comforted by the knowledge that Charlie wasn’t working that night, that she was at home binging on Netflix, or safely tucked up in bed. The fact that someone had been able to get to her, had convinced her to drive out of town and to an abandoned field, where he was waiting to . . . a shudder went through him and Charlie blinked, looking him over slowly.

“You okay?” She frowned. “Your head isn’t bothering you, is it? Maybe I should drive.”

He smiled. That was Charlie. Always wanting to help. She cared about everyone, even patients, just moments after she’d met them. How anyone could want to hurt someone like that was beyond him. The smile slipped from his face as his features went dark.

Darryl Scranton was a sociopath. He had to be. There was no way anyone could know Charlie and not fall in love with her. Hell, he’d been ass over heels in love with her as soon as he’d seen her sweet smile when she’d first subbed in at 81 a few years back. Once he’d gotten to know her, it was a slam dunk. The fact it had taken him years to have the guts enough to act on his feelings was something he’d probably always regret. The only thing he could do now was be the man she deserved, and that started with not letting some asshole lunatic lay a finger on her ever again. “I’m fine,” he said. “Besides, it wasn’t nearly as much of a bang as you got.”

He looked over at her again. She was still pale. He doubted her full color had returned at all since she’d been attacked. He wasn’t letting her lift a finger tonight, no matter how much she protested. As soon as they were safely inside, he was getting her into a warm shower, plying her with a hot meal, and then tucking her into bed.

Their shift started again the next day, and although he wasn’t sure if they’d make the 7 a.m. call, Charlie would want to see the guys. Even if she didn’t, he knew none of them would rest easy until they’d clapped eyes on her themselves. Once they’d gotten the fire under control, the entire shift had headed to the hospital to wait for Alex. That was when they’d first realized that Charlie had taken off. He—and half the squad—had blown up her phone for a good fifteen minutes, but when they’d gotten no response, the guys had split off. Half of them stayed with the chief, keeping watch over his family while he finished his treatment, and the other set off in search of Charlie. Shane had headed straight for her apartment, and then called Scott in desperation when he’d found the front door ajar and her bedroom half destroyed, clothes strewn all over the floor. He’d been scared shitless enough that she’d run that he hadn’t even let himself consider the other possibility, that the room was a mess from someone else—someone looking to take her. It still hadn’t stopped him from racing all over town in a mad panic until Scott had called. He’d made Shane promise to keep his mouth shut on how they’d found her. Charlie was a grown adult, and despite Scranton still being at large, a few hours wasn’t enough for a judge to issue any sort of warrant to track her phone. Shane couldn’t have cared less, and fortunately Scott felt the same, because ten minutes later, he’d called with her location, and Shane had driven there like the devil was on his heels.

Yep, warm shower, warm food, and then warm bed, in that order. He could still see the subtle tremors that wracked her body, no matter how much she tried to hide them. He’d like to think they were related to the way he’d made her come, but that wasn’t it. They’d needed it at the time. God, he’d needed to feel her tighten around him more than even he’d known. Being as close to her as he possibly could and watching her fall apart in his arms had been balm for both their souls, but now she needed something else from him. Charlie was on her last legs. She needed to rest. He’d stand sentry all night if that’s what it took to make her comfortable enough to finally sleep.

They arrived at Charlie’s apartment, and Shane had to resist the urge to carry her inside. He settled for an arm around her waist, gently guiding her up the stairs. He half carried her all the way to the bathroom, where he sat her down and undressed her. She was absolutely gorgeous, but tonight wasn’t about anything other than giving her what she needed. When the water was hot, he guided her into the stream and then reluctantly left her alone. He would have loved to climb in there with her and move his soapy hands over her skin, worshiping her, but there was no way she’d rest when she saw the disaster she’d left behind in her bedroom. Shane doubted she’d realized it at the time, but it was hard to miss now that it looked like a bomb had gone off.

First, he tapped a delivery order for his favorite local curry place into his phone, and then tackled the room. Unsure what was clean or dirty, he scooped it all into the hamper and then picked up the small mountain of toiletries she’d dumped on the bedside table, righting a wicker chair that had fallen over in the chaos. Finally, he changed the sheets and was just walking down the hall with his arms full of the old ones when he heard the water shut off in the bathroom.

Dumping the sheets on the laundry floor, he made a quick detour to the linen closet and grabbed the biggest, fluffiest towels he could find. He grinned. Charlie was as good as any of them out on a call, but he highly doubted he’d find such luxurious towels in any of the guy’s houses. Maybe Seth’s—after the women of 81 had gone over his apartment. These, though, they’d keep her toasty warm until Shane got her dry and dressed.

He was just slipping her arms into the flannel pajamas he’d found in her closet when the doorbell rang. He frowned at the small flinch she made at the sound. That was something that would take a while to go away, he supposed. Maybe he should talk to the chief about getting counseling for her. The department might even cover it, given the circumstances. Maybe he’d go with her, when this was all over. It could be good for both of them. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Make yourself comfortable,” he said, gesturing at the bed. “I’ll be back in a few minutes with dinner.”

Charlie looked up at him, her forehead creased in confusion. “In bed?”

He chuckled. Damn, she looked even cuter with her nose scrunched up. “For tonight, yes. I’m not letting your feet hit the floor again until you’ve had a solid eight hours, at least.”

“But we’re on shift tomorrow.”

“Not officially,” he reminded her. “But I’m sure the guys would love to see you.”

Her face dropped and Shane opened his mouth to set her straight, but the doorbell rang again. Cursing, he shot her a stern eye. “Hold that thought. I’ll be back in a moment to answer it.” He nearly sprinted to the door, grabbing the takeout and throwing a twenty-dollar tip at the delivery guy, and then made an even quicker pass through the kitchen, grabbing a random assortment of plates, bowls, glasses, and crockery, along with a bottle of wine. Skidding into the bedroom, he dumped it all on the bed with a flourish. “Madam, dinner is served.”

Despite the way he’d left her, a hint of a smile appeared on Charlie’s face, followed by a snort, then a giggle. Her entire face lit up, and Shane grinned back in reply. That was more like it.

“Wine out of tumblers?” she asked.

“Nothing is too good for you,” he replied, setting off another round of giggles. He served her up a steaming bowl of rice, topped with a heaping serving of curry chicken. He hoped the spicy food would chase away the rest of the shivers and help her sleep with a full stomach. Charlie closed her eyes and moaned in delight at the first mouthful, and Shane was instantly hard, his erection pushing up against his zipper almost painfully. He ignored it and instead served himself up a similar bowl and handed Charlie a glass of red. Her eyes danced with amusement at the presentation in the cheap dollar-store tumbler, and he figured now was as good a time as any to bring up visiting the house.

“So do you want to stop by the hospital first tomorrow, or go straight to the firehouse? I know the guys are dying to see you, too.”

The makeshift wine glass fell onto the bedside table with a thunk, and Charlie’s smile slid off her face. Her cheeks reddened, but this time her blush didn’t make him smile. Damn, she was hurting, and it killed him to see it. He tucked a finger under her chin, applying gentle pressure until she finally met his gaze. “Charlie, do not go there.”

“But I . . .” her gaze dropped away. “Shit, I was a complete idiot, and I put them all in danger. Look what happened to the chief! How am I going to look any of them in the eye again?”

He tilted her chin up again, refusing to look away. “Exactly the same way you’re doing it to me now. Charlie, you did absolutely nothing wrong. We were all just worried sick about you.”

She sighed, her shoulders dropping. “That, too. I can’t even get disappearing right.”

At that, Shane let out a snort. “Like we’d ever let you.”

Charlie’s eyebrows shot up before her eyes narrowed. She placed her curry bowl down next to her wine glass. Shane frowned. She hadn’t eaten nearly enough. As soon as he’d gotten her head back on straight, he would force-feed her if necessary, until she’d eaten enough to refuel her body. Sometimes you just ate, whether or not you wanted it, because your body needed it. Charlie knew that as well as he did—she was just struggling with something else right now. That was okay, expected, even. That’s why she had him to look after her.

“I don’t understand,” she said. “I’m just the sub, the floater.”

At her words, it was Shane’s turn to be shocked. Surely she knew how much the guys cared about her! How much he did. “You’re one of the family, Charlie. You always have been.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s different. I mean, I’m there sometimes, but . . .” She looked up at him, watching him carefully, and then the truth seemed to dawn on her. “Really?”

He couldn’t help it. Shane captured her mouth, sliding his tongue through her parted lips, tumbling it with hers and tasting her sweetness. One of his hands moved to the back of her neck, pulling her flush against him and locking her body to his. The feel of her breasts pillowing against his chest nearly left him undone as she moaned into his mouth. He captured the sound, caressing her with his other hand, running it along her arm, the roundness of her breast, the flare of her hip, before his fingers teased along her thigh. He lost himself in the feel of her, the taste of her as their lips moved together. The only sounds he was aware of were the small moans she made, her hands gripping tightly on his biceps as they flexed beneath her touch. His hand trailed up her thigh, and as he brushed along her apex, she let out a shudder. The sensation brought Shane back to himself and he reluctantly pulled away. One last quiet whimper fell from Charlie’s lips and her hands tightened around his upper arms. He leaned in and dropped one last kiss on her swollen lips. “I’d like nothing more than to have you writhing under me, Sweet Girl, to see the expression on your face when you come.” Another shudder under his hands, this time a good one. “But you need to rest.” He leaned over her and picked up her bowl of curry. “Food, then sleep.” He hitched an eyebrow at her. “Doctor’s orders.”

She scowled at him. “You’re just a paramedic.” The heat of arousal still burned in her eyes, and Shane felt the last of his heart shatter away. It was hers, permanently and completely.

“I’m the man who loves you.”

Her mouth fell open and she nearly dropped the bowl of curry. Shane had to dart forward to grab it before he’d need to change the sheets again.

Charlie yelped. “Shit! Sorry! Still getting used to that.”

Shane burst out in laughter. “And that is exactly why I love you. Never change, Sweet Girl.”

She smiled back, then she opened her mouth and at her reply, Shane’s bowl of curry dropped on the floor in his hurry to kiss her again. He couldn’t care less.

“Shane, I love you, too.”