Free You'll Think of Me by Wendi Zwaduk Page A

mustard-coloured chair. Her insides turned to warm goo. His dark lashes and day-old whiskers were a stark contrast to his pallid skin. A pillow and blanket peeked out from under his solid frame. She yearned to crawl out of bed and run her fingers over his cheeks, just to make sure he was real.
    Careful not to disturb him, she slid out of bed so she could slip into the bathroom. Her footsteps made soft thumps on the linoleum floor. She winced and stopped when Cade shifted and groaned. He wasn’t a morning person.
    When she reached the bathroom door, she paused to catch her breath and to brace a hand on the wall. It was just a bump on the head. Why did her head and her back hurt so much, like she spent the night sleeping on pins and needles?
    “Melly, I could help you.”
    With a smirk, she dropped her chin to her chest. She never could sneak past him no matter how hard she tried. “I needed to go to the bathroom and you were still asleep. I didn’t want to wake you. You looked tired, even while you slept.”
    Stepping up behind her, Cade smoothed his palms over her upper arms. “I’m awake now and at your service.” His voice slipped over her soul like a heat wave. How was it possible for one man to be so sexy?
    She peeked over her shoulder. “Keep an eye out for the nurse and then help me back to bed. I want to know when exactly I can go home.”
    With a wink, he grinned. “Do you want anything else?”
    A shiver zipped up her spine. The words mixed with his devil-may-care wink alluded to more than a simple act of kindness. Heat pooled in her belly and lust swirled between her thighs. Why couldn’t they be home and lounging in his bed? Melanie dragged air into her lungs. “I want to know how long you’re home and then I want you to show me the injury to your leg so I know how to take care of you. And yes, I saw you limp when I picked you up from the airport.”
    “I can’t get anything past you.” Cade smirked inched around to face her. “We can practice taking care of each other first and I’ll explain—later.”
    He lowered his lips to hers just as footsteps echoed in the corridor. Claire strolled into the room. “Good morning Ms. Roberts, I see you’re—Oh!”
    Melanie jumped back from her embrace with Cade just in time to see the nurse backing out of the room, her cheeks pink with embarrassment.
    "I'll be right back." Claire turned and fled.
    Shaking her head, Melanie slipped into the bathroom. When she emerged, face washed with a splash of cold water and teeth brushed, Cade wrapped an arm around her and helped her to bed. Her stomach leapt and her heart softened. How was it he could make such an innocent gesture so important?
    While she focused on the questions she needed answered, she tucked her legs under her body and settled against the pillow. A lock of tangled hair slipped over her eyes. When Cade smoothed the strand behind her ear, she sighed. “Are you going to answer me? Your brain is a million miles away and you’re hurt. You never told me how long you’d be home. What’s going on?”
    He threw his hands in the air. “You know how to trip a man up.” He stood in front of the window and leaned against the frame. “I haven’t given it any thought.”
    Melanie didn’t buy his bluster for one minute. She slid from the bed and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Going to stick with your answer?”
    “Only until I can come up with a better one.”
    Melanie closed her eyes and ran her nose along the ridge of his shoulder blade, inhaling his earthy essence. “Okay, let’s change the subject. Why is Ginnifer Larkin hanging around? If you still want a relationship with her, I won’t stand in your way.”
    He spun around and cupped her jaw. “I’m not sure what…” His words melted and he looked away.
    Her heart pounded. A lump lodged in her throat. Too many questions, too soon. “Fair enough. Is the offer to take me home still on the table? I have work to do.”
    Cade sat on the