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Jewell held out her free hand so it was within his line of vision and spelled "O.K."
"I'm going to come back this weekend, and every weekend, until she's awake."
She repeated the action of stroking his hair with one hand and affirming his choice with the other. Benjamin tipped his head back, looking up at her. "Am I doing the right thing?"
Jewell smiled and laid her hand against his jaw. "You don't need me to tell you."
He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I could choose to sell my townhouse and live in a double-wide trailer to be closer to her, and you'd support me, wouldn't you."
She stepped back enough to hold his face in both her hands and leaned over to press a long kiss to his forehead. Then she kissed each cheek before kissing his lips. "Maybe not the double-wide,” she said with a smirk once she drew back enough for him she her lips.
Benjamin chuckled and stood, kissing her cheek before he turned to the bed. He squeezed his sister's hand and leaned over to kiss her forehead. Then he stepped back, took Jewell's hand, and they walked out together.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The offensive buzz of Jewell's alarm clock shot her from the fringe of her unproductive sleep. She flung her arm out and hit the clock with deadly aim. All went silent. Jewell pushed her hair out of her eyes and tossed back the quilt, taking out her annoyance on the hapless covering.
Last night was one of the worst nights of sleep she'd had in her entire life, just barely beating out the night before that. She hadn't had any type of real rest in the past two weeks. Her nights were spent tossing and turning, seeking whatever it was that would gift her with refreshing sleep. It was never a good sign to wake up with a headache when drinking the night before wasn't involved. It wasn't natural. Jewell sat up and drew her knees to her chest where she could rest her elbows.
She knew the reason sound sleep escaped her. After only a few nights of sharing a bed, Jewell was addicted to sleeping in Benjamin's arms. They'd barely had time alone together, unless the time between meetings counted, in the last two weeks. He'd spend the weekends in Hartford, leaving mid-afternoon on Friday and coming home late on Sunday. He was exhausted from the travel and from struggling to catch up and keep up after being away. They were both tired and needed some time to decompress.
Thankfully, it was Wednesday and tomorrow was Thanksgiving. Benjamin didn't plan on leaving for Hartford until Friday afternoon, so they might have a solid day and a half to spend together.
With that encouraging thought in mind, Jewell forced herself from the hollow warmth of her bed and stumbled down the hall to the kitchen. Within minutes, the reviving aroma of hazelnut coffee filled the small apartment. She inhaled the heavenly scent as she stepped out of the bathroom, her wet hair bundled in a towel.
Ruby's door opened and Jewell called a morning greeting to her sister. The response was a grumpy grumble as the bathroom door closed with a hard thud. Jewell smiled. Despite the lack of sleep and the feeling of something missing in her bed, a good mood stirred.
Victoria's condition improved every day, and with each affirmation from her physicians that she was getting better, Jewell saw some of the tension ease from Benjamin's face. He'd gone back to Connecticut twice and Jewell had stayed in Boston.
By the time she reached Bulwark, Jewell's bad mood was completely gone and she hummed as she pushed through the giant glass doors. She greeted everyone she met in the lobby, the elevator, and on the walk to her office. Cheerfully, she set April's cup of coffee on her desk. April looked up and smiled.
"Someone took a happy pill this morning,” April joked.
"It's a beautiful fall day, it's the last day before a long weekend, and—and—isn’t that enough?” Jewell answered with a shrug.
April shook her head and sipped from the cup of coffee. "Whatever you say, Jewell."
The door to Benjamin's office opened and he stuck his head out. "April, has Ms. Kincaid come in yet?"
April nodded and pointed, unable to speak around the hot liquid in her mouth. Benjamin turned and met Jewell's gaze. A sweet, warm rush flowed into Jewell's limbs like hot buttered rum. She knew she grinned like a fool but was unable to control the reaction. His lips spread in the signature grin that set Jewell's nerves to sparking.
"Good morning, Ms. Kincaid. I'm glad you're here. I need your assistance with something." She nodded and stepped towards his door. "We're not to be disturbed for the next hour."
April mumbled something under her breath as they went through the door. Jewell cast a glance over her shoulder to see April grinning from ear to ear.
"Behave yourself," Jewell said in a theatrical whisper.
April flattened her palm against her chest and feigned shock. "Me? I can behave perfectly well. It's you I'm worried about."
Jewell chuckled and shook her head as she entered Benjamin's office. April hadn't come out and asked, and Jewell certainly hadn't outright confirmed anything, but she was pretty sure April wasn't blind or dumb to what might or might not be happening between her two superiors. She slipped off her light coat as he shut the door. The discernible click of the lock brought her attention back around, and Benjamin met her with a wicked grin. A small giggle escaped her throat before he pulled her into his arms and covered her mouth in a deliciously decadent morning kiss.
Jewell stepped back enough to sign, although his hands stayed at her waist. "I thought you said you needed my assistance with something?"
He went back to her throat without pause. "I do," Benjamin said against her skin. His baritone voice vibrated against the sensitive flesh. Jewell's eyelids fluttered and she fought to breathe. "I've got this terrible ache and I need your assistance in relieving it." He shifted again and his hips settled seductively against hers.
Jewell's nerves sparked with electricity. Every hair, every cell, every inch of her body was immediately attuned to each move and each touch. But just as dozens of times before, they both knew now was not the time and the office was never the place. The kisses slowed until the initial fire eased to glowing embers.
* * *
