Free A Mended Man (The Men of Halfway House Book 4) by Jaime Reese Page A

return when the captain informed him they had to pull the uniformed officer from Jessie's door after that first week. They could no longer justify taxpayer dollars for a guard. Aidan had nodded, then exited his captain's office, refusing to utter another word. He then contacted an old Marine friend of his and hired him to stand guard at Jessie's door. Someone who didn't need a weapon to do some damage.
    Seeing Jessie slowly improving, at least…put his mind at ease. Jessie was his priority. And making sure he was safe while he recovered was imperative. But he needed to work. Work had played a critical role in maintaining his sanity in the last two weeks. Seemed his captain did know him well after all. He wouldn't admit it openly, but he loved the Skype chats and agreed the team had made great strides. Except for Manny. The guy was just a fucking prick who took too much pleasure in delivering an occasional homophobic jab.
    "Good morning, Aidan," the nurse said when she entered the room.
    "Morning, Nancy."
    He knew them all by name—all the nurses, doctors, techs, and random staff who entered the room. Regardless of the guard posted at the door, no one neared Jessie unless they were cleared by him. Hunter had been right. Aidan had planted virtual roots in the room during the last two weeks and refused to leave for more than an hour or two at a time but only if Cole swore to stand by Jessie's bed until he returned just in case there was any change.
    He scanned his emails and responded to the most critical ones.
    "Did you read him the news already?"
    Aidan nodded. "I even managed to sneak in a little of the entertainment section."
    "I'm sure he liked that."
    "Has Dr. Green arrived yet?"
    The nurse shook her head as she checked the monitors and jotted notes in Jessie's chart. "Not yet, but we're all on alert for when he does," she said, looking over her shoulder as she swapped out the IV bag from the pole.
    Aidan returned his focus to an email from his captain. Another conference call today with the team in—he looked at the wall clock—fifteen minutes. He quickly responded, acknowledging the call, and downloaded the attachments to review. He responded to another message from his friend at the bureau with an update on Cameron's case. He absently glanced up to look at Jessie, closely watching Nancy adjust the pillows under Jessie's head then straightening the collar of his hospital gown. A soft smile tugged at his lips. Jessie would like that detail; a crooked collar would drive him nuts. He identified the two new markers he'd use until someone moved Jessie again. Markers that would let him know if Jessie shifted in the slightest. The tip of the "S" of the logo on the headboard just above his left ear and half of the "R" just past his right ear. He nodded to himself with the mental note and resumed typing his email reply.
    "Have you had your coffee yet?" Nancy asked.
    "Not yet," he responded, pecking away at the laptop keyboard. "Chad was in here earlier, and I haven't had a chance to grab it yet." He still didn't feel comfortable leaving anyone alone with Jessie. Even though the physical therapist who came in several times a day for a few minutes at a time to work Jessie's limbs was helpful, he had major trust issues until the attacker was officially caught.
    Nancy pressed the call button. "Amy, can you bring in the cup for Mr. Calloway."
    "Be right there," the perky speaker voice responded.
    "That's not necessary, Nancy. You already do so much for him. I'll grab a cup from the vending machine as soon as I finish responding to my email."
    Nancy crossed her arms. "Nonsense. Besides, Amy made a coffee run this morning and she brought you a cup. But she knows better than to sneak in here until after you've finished your shower."
    "Will she ever forgive me?" That was the last time Aidan took a shower in the hospital room without taking a change of clothes with him into the bathroom. Emerging from the bathroom with a sliver of a