Page 50 of Her Tempting Protector

Adam.

Shada.

Saline.

“Yep, I got it.”

“Did I just say all that out loud?”

Cullen’s laugh made her heart sing. “You sure did.”

“Even the part about you turning me on?”

“That was my favorite part.”

She softly hit her forehead against the side of the truck. He pulled her back against his front. “No hurting my girl.” He spun her around and kissed her forehead. She held her breath. Would he do more?

She blinked hard. They didn’t have time for this.

“Did you get saline?” she asked.

He squatted next to a huge duffel bag on the ground and opened it up.

“The saline’s in there. I need to be careful with it.”

“Of course you do, the saline is critical,” Carys said.

“I’m talking about the bag. That thing cost me an arm and a leg, it’s the finest leather, you know. As a matter of fact, everything on this trip was expensive. I met a pint-sized hustler, I thought he was going to talk me out of my underwear and then sell them back to me.”

She squinted down at him. “I didn’t think you could fit boxers underneath those pants.”

“You’ve been thinking about what kind of underwear I have on? Fancy that, I’ve wondered about yours.” He said it with a sideways grin as he plucked out the two bags of saline from the orange bag.

How could he rile her up and get things done at the same time?

“Do you need any help?” he asked her as he handed her one of the bags. “Where’s Adam?”

He was back to business. Good, she needed that.

“Can you check on him? He’s in the front seat. I’ll work on Shada. I was in the back of the truck. I was—”

“Taking care of your charges. I know, Carys. You always do what’s necessary.” This time he wasn’t flirting, his smile was filled with admiration for her work ethic. That was something she could understand. She nodded.

“Exactly.”

He headed for the front seat and she went back to where she’d left Shada. The last three times she’d checked on the woman, it had been the same thing. She’d been feverish and delirious. Carys couldn’t get her to eat or drink anything, not even the applesauce.

Weak with relief, Carys hooked up one of the bags of saline and adjusted the drip up temporarily, so that she could get some of the life-giving fluid into Shada’s system as quickly as possible. She situated herself in a pretzel position so that the woman’s head rested on her lap. Carys desperately wanted to provide comfort to the young mother. It felt like Greece all over again. She didn’t know how she would cope if one member of this little family didn’t make it.

She heard the click of the engine.

“You making supper?” Carys asked Cullen.

“Bubba’s thinking my little finger has the ability to provide sustenance. He’s going to figure out pretty soon that no milk is coming his way, so I’m heating up din-din.”

“Can you do all that while holding Adam?”

“Honey, this is one of the easiest assignments I’ve ever had. I have a doctor on call and a baby to cuddle. Hell, I even scored more formula, saline, food for us, two jerry cans of fuel, and I could have had beer and sex medicine if I wanted it.”