So Sensitive (31 page)

“Hush, damn it. I’m not letting you go, Gracie. I’m never letting you go.”

Gracie relaxed against him. “I knew you’d come for me.”

“Always, angel.” He kissed the top of her head. “But be warned, after we’re both patched up, you and I are going to have a little chat.”

Gracie stiffened against him, but stayed silent.

31

“I
want to see her. I want to see Gracie.”

“Just one more stitch.” The doctor stuck him again, and Wade winced. “There, that’s the last one.” He unwrapped some gauze and started to cover the dent the bul et had left in Wade’s arm. “You’re lucky that bul et only grazed you. This could have been a lot worse.”

“I’m aware of that,” Wade bit out. “It doesn’t change the fact that I want to see Gracie. Now.” He wouldn’t believe she was okay until he saw her with his own eyes.

“She’s fine, you know,” the doctor said, as if reading his mind. “That cut on her chest was pretty shal ow. Didn’t even need a stitch. Just a few butterfly bandages.”

Wade was fast losing his patience. “So you’ve said, but if I don’t see her soon, I’m going to get violent.”

The doctor had the nerve to chuckle and pat his arm. “You’re done.” Wade got off the bed and started for the door. As soon as he stepped into the hal , he saw the whole crew coming at him. Dean, Deanna, his mother, Cherry, and Dante—they were al converging on him. “What the hel ?”

Wade’s mother wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tight. When she pul ed back, he could see the worry on her face, and he felt like a complete shit.

“Jonas cal ed. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Mom.” He patted her on the back and felt her trembling. “Just a little graze on my arm, I promise. You made a trip for nothing.”

“Jonas told us you’d be fine, but I wanted to see with my own eyes that my son wasn’t lying half-dead.”

Suddenly Wade was a little kid again. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Sorry to worry you, Mom.”

Deanna hugged him next, then smacked his chest. “I thought you learned how not to get shot when you were in the army. What happened, big bro? Going soft?”

Wade snorted. “Love you too, sis.”

Dean chuckled. “Don’t let her fool you. She’s been worried sick about you ever since Jonas cal ed her.”

Wade quirked a brow and grinned. “Is that right?”

Deanna glared at her twin. “Big mouth.”

Dean ignored her and slapped him on the back. The jarring sent lightning streaking down his arm. “Glad you’re okay, bro.”

“Thanks,” Wade muttered, wil ing them gone so he could get to Gracie. Regardless of what the doctor said, he wouldn’t sit easy until he saw her. Cherry and Dante took their turns next. Wade’s patience final y gave way to worry for Gracie. “Look, I real y appreciate your al coming down, but I’m sort of in a hurry.”

Dean nodded. “Yeah, we heard about Gracie.”

His mother stepped to his side. “I’d very much like to meet the woman my son is wil ing to take a bul et for.”

Oh, hel . “Mom, I’m not sure—”

“I want to meet her.”

Wade had heard that tone before. There’d be no changing his mother’s mind. He sighed and caved. “Come on then.” Wade went to the other end of the emergency room where Gracie lay in a bed, eyes closed. She looked so pale, too pale. Wade moved up beside the bed and pushed a lock of hair off her forehead. Her eyes shot open. She smiled, then glanced around him, and the smile was quickly replaced by confusion.

Wade leaned down and placed a gentle kiss to her cheek. “How are you, baby?”

“I’m fine. My chest stings a little, and my head hurts from the chloroform, but knowing it’s final y over . . . it’s such a relief, Wade.”

Wade bit back a curse. “I didn’t realize he’d used chloroform. The son of a bitch could’ve kil ed you if he’d used too much.”

She nodded. “The doctor wasn’t real pleased either.” Her gaze darted back and forth among the mass of people positioned around her bed.

“Um, did you want to introduce me, Wade?”

No, he didn’t. He’d much rather have Gracie al to himself. He had things to say, and they wouldn’t wait. Wade moved a foot to the left, letting his mother come up to Gracie’s side. “Gracie, this is my mom. Mom, Gracie Baron.”

Gracie smiled and sat up straighter. “Hel o, Mrs. Harrison. It’s nice to meet you. Wel , the circumstances are unfortunate, of course.”

Wade’s mother frowned in concern. “You’ve had a rather rough go of it lately, I hear.”

Gracie winced. “Yeah, it’s been a little crazy. If not for Wade and Jonas, I don’t know what I would’ve done.” Gracie’s eyes, stil swol en from crying, looked up at him with love. At least that’s what it seemed like to Wade. Maybe he was deluding himself. Damn, he needed to get her alone and find out.

His mother smiled up at him, pride clearly visible. “My son sure knows how to keep things from getting too dul .”

“I’m sorry he was shot. It’s my fault. It never should have come to that.”

“From what Jonas told me, you were an innocent in al this.”

“I just wish it hadn’t ended the way it did.”

His mother patted Gracie on the hand. “Seems to me, it ended just right. You’re both safe, and the bad guy is behind bars.”

Gracie sighed and relaxed against the mattress. “Yes, it’s over. Thank goodness for that.”

“Hey, mind if I intrude?”

Wade looked up to see Detective Henderson at the foot of Gracie’s bed. He looked tired and in bad need of a vacation. “What’s up, detective?”

“I thought you two might want to know Lusk confessed to everything. The man spil ed his guts.”

“Good,” Wade growled.
Saves me the trouble of killing him.

“And there’s also this.” He came toward Gracie and handed her a plastic evidence bag, a piece of paper inside. Gracie took it, her brows scrunched together. “Do you recognize it?” the detective asked.

She shook her head. “It looks like a raffle ticket, but I don’t remember fil ing it out.”

The detective shoved his hands in the pockets of his navy slacks. “Lusk had it in his pocket. We found it when we searched him. He went bal istic when the officer took it from him. According to Lusk, you fil ed that out at Charlie’s Market. He said you intended it for him.” The detective shrugged. “Of course, he’s off his rocker, but at least now we know how he obtained your e-mail addy and mailing address.”

“And my middle name. There was a space for it, and I’d simply fil ed it in.” Gracie said, staring at the slip of paper. “Oh, God, I remember now. The raffle was to win an e-book reading device. I can’t believe he’s had it this whole time.”

Wade took the bag and looked its contents over. The paper was so badly wrinkled, it was hard to make out the words. Hel , it looked ten years old, rather than a couple months. “The first contact,” Wade mused aloud, as he handed the baggy back to the detective. “He must have seen this as a sort of love note.”

Henderson nodded. “He said as much when we talked to him. He’s certifiable.”

Gracie wrapped her arms around her chest, tears fil ing her eyes. “Then it’s real y over.”

Wade took her uninjured hand in his and squeezed gently. “It’s over, angel.”

“It seems so . . . surreal.”

Wade’s mother spoke up. “When you get to feeling better, Gracie, I’d love it if you could come out to the house for a visit.”

“That would be lovely, Mrs. Harrison.”

She clucked her tongue and fingered the strap of her purse. “Oh, please, it’s just Audrey. Mrs. Harrison makes me feel ancient.”

Wade leaned down and kissed his mother on the cheek. “Thanks for coming, Mom.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “You’d better take better care of yourself from now on, mister.”

Wade grinned, his first real smile since seeing Gracie covered in her own blood. “I’m made of steel, or didn’t you know that?”

“Ha! Your head maybe.”

Dean stepped up and took their mother by the elbow. “You can lecture him later, Mom. We should let Gracie rest.”

“Bring her for a visit, son.”

“I wil , but no home movies. You’l only scare her off.” His mother winked. “No promises.”

Wade shook his head and watched his family leave. He could hear Deanna and his mother plotting, but Wade was simply too grateful that Gracie was safe to care what the two women had in store.

He turned to see Cherry hugging Gracie; both women had tears in their eyes. Dante stood close by, quietly watching the display.

“I’m so relieved you’re both okay,” Cherry said in a wobbly voice. “When Jonas cal ed I was so scared.”

Wade took Cherry by the shoulders and pul ed her in for a hug. “Everything’s going to be fine now. Lusk is going away for a while.”

“From the sounds of it, he’l be heading for a maximum-security psychiatric hospital,” Dante muttered.

“That’d be my guess.”

“It’s so bizarre. I mean, I thought I’d recognize him. I thought at the very least he would look familiar.”

“You don’t remember seeing him at the market?”

Gracie pushed a hand through her tangled hair. “No. He’s a complete stranger. And yet I somehow managed to attract his attention.” She looked at Wade. “How is that possible?”

“He fixated on you,” Wade stated. “Maybe you smiled at him one day or said hi. Whatever it was, however mundane, he took it as a sign that you were attracted to him. Again, he’s crazy. Don’t try to figure it out.”

“Wade’s right,” Cherry said, as she stepped backwards and into Dante’s waiting arms. “There’s no way to know for sure why he ended up so obsessed with you. Let’s just be happy it’s done.”

“Come on, little one. We should let Wade and Gracie have some time alone.”

“Of course, you’re right,” Cherry said. “And don’t worry about coming to work tomorrow. In fact take as many days as you need.”

“Believe it or not, I
want
to come back to work. I’m ready to take my life back. I feel as if it’s been in limbo ever since this al started.”

“I can understand that, but don’t push yourself too hard. A day of rest wil do you good.”

“I agree with Cherry,” Wade said, adding his two cents. “Situations like these can sometimes hit you al at once and leave you feeling drained. Right now the adrenaline is stil pumping.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right. We’l see how I feel tomorrow, I guess.”

Cherry leaned down and whispered, “Cal me and let me know how it goes.”

Wade was curious, but stayed silent. After Dante and Cherry were out of the room, he looked at Gracie. “When can you leave?”

Gracie started to pick at the blanket, as if nervous al of a sudden. “The doctor said to just rest a little bit, to let the effects of the chloroform wear off.”

Wade pul ed up a chair and sat down. “It’s time we talk, Gracie.” He looked around the emergency room and shrugged. “This is as good a place as any, I suppose.”

“Before you say anything, I have something to tel you.”

Wade’s chest tightened. Was she done with him? Now that it was al over, would she give him the brush-off? “You do?”

Gracie bit her lip, her fingers tangling in the bedspread. “I know we’ve only been together for a short time, and with everything that’s happened you’l probably just think I’m crazy. I wouldn’t blame you if you did, I mean, I’ve never done this before and I’m not sure—”

“Are you blowing me off?”

Gracie’s eyes widened. “What? No! I-I’m trying to tel you, wel , what I mean is—”

“Blurt it out, baby. Like a bandage, fast and painless.”

She frowned. “I would if you’d stop interrupting me.”

Wade chuckled at her disgruntled tone. Hel , he wasn’t sure if she was about to kick him to the curb or not, and stil she managed to make him laugh. “Sorry, sweetheart. The floor’s al yours.”

“I love you.” Gracie said between clenched teeth as she continued to glare at him.

Wade’s entire body went stil . “Come again?”

“I said, I love you. Even though you drive me crazy and I’d like to clobber you right now, I love you.”

Wade shot out of the chair and hovered over her. Bracing himself on his hands beside her head, he whispered, “I love you too, my Fiery Angel.”

Gracie blinked several times. “You do?”

Wade pressed his lips to hers. Soft and warm and so damn intoxicating, that was Gracie. He lifted slightly, letting their breaths mingle. He could see the green fire in Gracie’s half-closed eyes; the sight had his blood pumping faster. “Yes, I do. I’ve never told another woman those three words.”

“It’s happened so fast,” she said, her gaze fil ing with alarm. “And I don’t know how to be in a relationship, Wade. I’m scared I’m going to mess this up.”

“I told you, I don’t need a relationship expert. I only need you, open and wil ing. We’l figure out the rest together.”

She smiled and kissed him. It was quick, too quick. “I was so afraid you didn’t feel the same way. I talked to Cherry about you, you know. She told me I should go for it. I’m glad I listened to her.”

Wade cupped Gracie’s cheek and smoothed his thumb over her bottom lip. Damn, how he wished they were back at his place. “I’m sending that woman a dozen roses. I owe her big time.”

“There’s stil a lot unsettled. My apartment, my car. My dad. I come with a lot of baggage, Wade.”

“It’s nothing we can’t handle together, Gracie.” He kissed her forehead, her cheeks, then let his lips sip at hers. Soon they were both panting.

“Right now the only thing I want to do is get you home. The rest can wait.”

“Yes, home. That sounds heavenly right now.” Wade stood and held out his hand; she took it and started to lift up, then stopped and frowned.

“What is it? Are you in pain?”

“No, but there is one little problem.”

Baffled, Wade asked, “What’s that?”

Gracie smiled wickedly. “The little matter of your punishment.”

“Er, Gracie . . .”

She quirked a brow, and Wade fel silent. He had a sudden vision of Gracie dressed from head to toe in leather and wielding a flogger. It was a damn good vision.

“You said I could spank you if you cursed. I’ve been keeping count. You’ve cursed a lot, Wade.”