Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 59146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Well, don’t.” I glared at him. “It’s fuckin’ creepy.”
“She’s on her way. Pretty sure she’s using most of her time trying to make sure your nurse doesn’t poison you.”
I didn’t dignify that with a reply.
I kept glancing at the door. Waiting. I wanted to see Juniper so bad I was nearly mad with it. She didn’t make me wait long. The door to my room opened and there she was. My fucking queen. Looking the worse for wear, but she also looked pissed.
“No offense,” she said as she sat on the bed next to me, brushing a lock of hair off my forehead, “but you look like shit.”
I barked a laugh that turned instantly into a coughing fit. Juniper reached for a bottle of water on the bedside table and held it until I could breathe again. She unscrewed the lid and handed it to me so I could take a long swallow.
“I got some clothes for you,” she said, setting a duffel on my lap and unzipping it. “I kind of figured that you’d try to escape early and figured you wouldn’t want to do it bare-assed.”
It was Knuckles’ turn to laugh. “That one’s a keeper, Inferno.”
“I know,” I managed to croak out. “Ain’t lettin’ her go.”
I opened the bag to see what she’d brought. Jeans, T-shirt, socks, and my colors. No underwear. I raised an eyebrow at her but Juniper only grinned. I’d take it. Her anger still showed through underneath, but she wasn’t consumed by it. She had a level head.
“Every time I see you, you’re wearing that vest,” she said. “Figured you’d want it close.” She said that like it was the most logical Goddamned thing in the world.
I took the heavy leather vest out of the duffel then looked back up at her before grabbing her wrist and pulled her close to me. The scent of smoke still clung to her, but all I cared about was the woman in my arms.
When I finally pushed her away from me, she smiled. I took the leather vest and draped it over her shoulders, tugging it into place. It was too big, but fuck if she didn’t look right wearing it. I slid my hands down her arms.
“You wear it today, honey,” I said. “You keep it on until I get your property vest made. Yes?”
Her gaze flicked from my hands to my face. She’d been angry when she came in, but now I thought I saw fear. “Jonah,” she said, quietly.
“Yeah, baby?”
She let out a sigh, then squared her jaw. “Someone has decided the homeless man you dragged out of my bakery is responsible for the fire. They’re wanting to put him in jail.”
“It’s not exactly something I hadn’t figured, but I don’t want an innocent person to take the rap.”
“That’s the thing,” she continued. “He’s confessing to it, though he also told one of the nurses he didn’t mind going to jail because then he’d have a place to sleep and three squares a day. Winter’s coming and at least he’d be warm. I almost think the guy’s using the situation to his own advantage, and I can’t say I blame him.”
I looked up at Knuckles in exasperation. “How can one man be so stupid and yet so fuckin’ lucky?”
Knuckles shrugged. “Beats the fuck outta me.”
“Whatever the case, the police are pushing the story toward a junkie starting the fire while squatting in back of my building.”
“My friend, Frank Danner, is in good with the fire marshal. He can help with that narrative. We’ve talked briefly outside your bakery. He’s on your side.”
“Yeah? Well, he better be,” Juniper said. “Because I’m not letting this go. Not after what that bastard, Brett, did to my shop.”
I fucking loved the sound of that. There was steel in her, and I wanted to throw her over the bed and fuck her senseless, but considering Knuckles was right there and my lungs still burned, I settled for just grinning at her. “Don’t worry. Danner’s got it all under control.”
“Do you believe that? I mean, really believe Danner’s on your side?”
“I do,” I said without hesitation.
“OK, then. I’ll leave him to you. I need to go to the bakery. They’ve not released the scene yet, but I’d still like to look over what I can.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I shook my head.
“I need to do this, Inferno,” she said, gently, taking my hand in hers once again. This time, she brought my palm to her face, cupping her cheek with my hand before kissing the center. “I’ll be fine.”
I wanted to tell her not to go, but honestly, with cops and investigators likely still combing the place, I didn’t think there was much danger. Still, I didn’t want her to go alone.
I tried to sit up on the edge of the bed, but the room spun, going gray for a second around the edges. Juniper eased me back to the bed. “What do you think you’re doing?”