I kissed her temple. “She’s smart, gorgeous, and cooks like a dream. The only thing I’m waiting for is her to wear that naughty nurse outfit I suggested.”
Shay chuckled but softened into my hold. “You know I harp because I love you.”
“I know. But it’s time for phase two of my recovery. The doc said I could start getting up and around more.”
Bell’s father was a semi-retired physician and had made the trip out to Harbor twice to give me follow-up exams. Shay had hovered then, too, asking a million and one questions. I think Dr. Kipton had been tempted to suggest she look into nursing school.
Shay sighed. “Okay. Shower, but be careful. When you get downstairs, I’ll have lunch ready.”
I knew it took a lot for her to walk out of the bedroom and descend the steps. Shay had lost too many people in her life, and the idea of something happening to me was almost paralyzing. I’d have to go slow getting back into our normal routine. Not just for my recovery but also for hers.
The spray of the shower was a little piece of heaven on Earth. Shay had forced me to take baths for the past two weeks. They would’ve been amazing if she had joined me. But instead, she’d hovered around, waiting for me to pass out. I grinned into the stream of water. She loved me. And her worry showed me just how much.
I bent to grab my shampoo, and a wave of dizziness passed over me. I cursed and grabbed the side of the shower. Dr. Kipton had warned me that it would take weeks, possibly months for the concussion side effects to subside completely. But I was done with this shit. I wanted my life to go back to normal.
I forced myself to move through my shower routine more slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements that could send my equilibrium off-kilter. I took my time getting dressed, and when I headed downstairs, I felt like a new man.
Shay glanced up from the stove. “You look better. How do you feel?”
I rounded the island and wrapped my arms around her, relishing the feel of her body against mine. “Good enough for some rigorous activity.”
She grinned and flipped the sandwich in the pan. “You’ve still got a few weeks before the doctor clears you for that, buddy.”
I groaned. It felt like forever since I’d lost myself in Shay’s body, in the frenetic energy that only she and I shared. “I’m not convinced that the doctor knows what he’s talking about.”
“I think almost ten years of training says he does know what he’s talking about.”
I released her and leaned a hip against the counter. “Fine.”
Shay chuckled, looking up at me through her lashes. “Are you pouting?”
“Maybe.” I was. But I’d earned it.
A console on the counter dinged just as the phone in my pocket did the same. I crossed to the video monitor and intercom Griffin and I had installed after the incident with the body on the dock. We now got alerted to any movement on the structure. Occasionally, there was a false alarm—like when a seal had decided to take a nap there—but it mostly came in pretty handy.
“Who is it?” Shay asked.
“Looks like Parker.”
The sheriff climbed out of the boat and waved at the camera. I pressed the intercom button. “Come on up.”
He nodded and stepped out of the frame.
“I’m going to make him a sandwich, too. I bet he hasn’t eaten.”
I pressed a quick kiss to Shay’s temple. “You make him one of those fancy grilled cheeses, and he’ll never leave.”
She smiled, tipping a sandwich onto a plate and handing it to me. “Then we’ll have the safest house on any of the islands.”
I paused for a moment, taking in her face. “You feel safe here, right?”
Shay hadn’t talked much about finding the body. She’d had a couple of nightmares but hadn’t wanted to discuss them. She brushed her mouth against mine. “I feel safe with you.”
A burn lit deep in my chest. “I’m glad.”
A knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” I called.
Within a few seconds, Parker appeared, striding towards the kitchen. “Something smells amazing.”
“I hope you’re hungry,” Shay said. “Because I’m making you a sandwich, too.”
“Wouldn’t turn one down. Haven’t had time to stop for lunch.”
She rolled her eyes. “Like always.”
We’d developed a friendship of sorts with the sheriff. And Shay had taken that as permission to mother him. I gave Parker a small chin lift. “Hey, man. Everything okay?”
He slid onto a stool at the island. “Busy but fine. I just wanted to come and check on you and see how you were doing. But it looks like you’re fully up and about.”
I rounded the counter to take another stool. “Barely. This one has been stricter than a prison warden.”
Shay flipped a sandwich with a huff. “You try to keep someone from passing out and getting another concussion and all you get is grief.”
Parker chuckled. “He’s not the best patient, is he?”
“The worst.”
“Hey,” I complained.
Shay arched a brow in my direction. “Are you really going to argue that fact?”
I leaned back on the stool. “I might be a little impatient.”
She snorted as she plated the second sandwich and handed it to Parker. “Understatement of the century.”
Parker took a bite of the grilled cheese, and his eyes widened. “This is amazing.”
“Glad you like it.” She took her own sandwich and scooted onto the stool next to mine.
Parker took a sip of the Coke I’d brought him. “I asked Seattle PD to keep me up to date on your case, but they don’t have much hope of finding the guy.”
“I figured as much.” No one had seen the mugger’s face. And he hadn’t succeeded at stealing anything, so it wasn’t like my belongings would show up at a pawn shop. “I’m recovering, and no one else was hurt. That’s what matters.”
“Have you heard anything else about the murders?” Shay asked quietly.
Parker shook his head. “Nothing. It’s like he just disappeared.”
“Maybe he’s done,” she suggested.
Parker’s jaw went hard. “People like that, with that kind of darkness in them, they don’t stop killing. They can’t.”
The sandwich soured in my gut. As much as I knew Parker was right, I wanted to believe that the whole nightmare was over.
45
Shay
“All right, ladies, enjoy your feast.”
I swore the chickens clucked in response as if to say thank you. The further we got into the spring season, the more goodies I had for them from the gardens. And it gave me a weird sense of satisfaction to win over their normally cranky selves.
I picked up the basket of eggs and started back towards the house. I looked up to the bedroom window. No light shone, and I smiled. Brody didn’t want to admit it, but he was still recovering. He needed significantly more sleep than usual, and his appetite was greater, too.
I was doing all I could to make sure he got everything he needed. That morning, I’d looked like a cartoon character, creeping out of the bedroom. It made Brody grumpy every time he woke without me, but it couldn’t be helped. The chickens needed their breakfast, and Brody needed his rest.