Page 38 of One Kind Hand

Austin tightened his hold on her, not letting her escape. “I know, buddy, but Charlie has been briefed on all the symptoms,” he said. “Plus, she said she’s dying to watch me sleep.”

“I never—”

Austin tugged her toward his suite door before she could finish speaking. “I’ll be ready for tomorrow, Cody. Don’t worry.” He quickly inserted his keycard and bustled Charlie into the suite, closing the door before Cody could follow them in.

Berto immediately greeted them with happy, welcome-home barks and general hopping around at their feet until Charlie lowered to pick up the pup.

Austin leaned against the closed door as his dog covered Charlie’s face with kisses.

Sometimes that Chihuahua had the best ideas.

Chapter Seven

Charlie rubbed Berto’s belly as the dog reclined on his back in her lap. The little critter had made himself right at home the moment she’d sat on the couch and she was happy for the distraction. It kept her from dwelling too much on the fact that she was about to spend the entire night with Austin Rayhill.

Austin Rayhill who was currently in the shower, having stated he wanted to wash off today’s emergency. About three-fourths of her wanted to strip down and hop into that shower with him. Maybe he needed help washing all of that toned, beautiful body. Perhaps concussion symptoms would suddenly appear and he could take a nasty fall in that slippery shower. She should check on him.

The remaining one-fourth of her was reasonable and kept her ass on that couch cushion. Barely. Listening to the shower water running was like a siren’s song, trying to get its hooks into her.

“How did I end up here, Berto?”

The dog stopped wiggling in her lap and angled his head at the sound of his name.

“You could at least tell me all Austin’s secrets or something, couldn’t you?”

Berto jumped off her lap, ran to a squeaky stuffed bird lying in the middle of the living room rug, and grabbed it between his jaws. He hopped back up on the couch and dropped the toy into her lap, an expectant look in his soulful brown eyes.

“If I play, you’ll spill the secrets?”

Berto popped off the couch again when she picked up the bird and squeaked it. He bounced around in anticipation, his back end swaying to the left and the right.

Charlie threw the toy and Berto scrambled after it, his toenails scratching on the hardwood floor in the hallway. He trotted back after retrieving the bird and this game provided another good distraction.

Until that bathroom door opened and Austin appeared in a cloud of steam, looking like a god. He was unfortunately fully clothed in a gray T-shirt and black sweatpants, but his comfy-cozy look made Charlie want to cuddle up to him. That was a new urge. Charlie didn’t make a habit of cuddling anyone.

“Feel better?” She impressed herself with her ability to be coherent. Especially when her mind had slipped into porn-level fantasies about Austin.

He didn’t say anything until he sat beside her, a goofy grin on his lips. “Now I do.”

Her heart did a little skip in her chest. “How are your arm and your head?” She was here, after all, to make sure he was physically okay. God, she hoped that would involve a complete and thorough inspection of every inch of him.

Austin held his right arm out. It was scratched up and some bruises were appearing where his arm had been wedged between the pavement pieces. “This aches a bit and will soon match your elbow in color.” He ran a hand over his still wet hair, fingering the crown of his head. “There’s a tender patch here, but it’s not bleeding or anything.”

“Do you have a headache, any dizziness, nausea, ringing in your ears, double vision?”

“No headache, dizziness, nausea, or ringing in my ears. No double vision either, but if it meant I could see two of you right now, I might rather enjoy that.” Cue another goofy grin.

“I don’t remember the doctor saying issuing cheesy lines was a symptom of concussion, but if it is, you’ve definitely got a concussion.”

He tugged on the bird toy clamped in Berto’s jaws as the dog sat between them. “No concussion. I’m fine.”

He sure as hell looked fine. Better than fine. Magnificent.

“Then I should go?” She made a move to get up from the couch to leave, but strong fingers closed around her wrist. He didn’t pull and her elbow thanked him for that, but his touch alone had the ability to immobilize her. She sat back beside him.

“I’m fine right now,” Austin said, “but who knows what could happen?”

“So I’d better stay? Just in case?” She glanced down at his hand still wrapped around her wrist as if he didn’t want to chance her trying to escape again.