Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“ J ust follow the light,” the emergency worker said, moving his small flashlight up and down, then from side to side.
Shiloh followed the movement, trying not to wince. Her head felt as if someone was working with a sledgehammer from the inside out.
The light flashed off. “You’ve got a light concussion,” he said. “I don’t think you need to come in, but it isn’t best for you to be by yourself right now.”
“I’ll stay with her,” came Granger’s low response.
He hadn’t left her side since she’d woken up, though Shiloh had tried to assure him she was fine now. Arthur was at the station, and she was…mostly…unharmed.
All in all, a few bruises was nothing compared to what a psycho could do if they were in the mood to do it.
“Do I need to keep her awake?” Granger continued.
The medical personnel smiled and shook his head. “No. That’s old advice. We don’t recommend it anymore.” He took a deep breath. “Actually, we’ve learned the opposite is better. Plenty of rest, including naps and sleeping.” He looked at Shiloh, his white eyebrows pulled together. “Take acetaminophen for any pain; avoid ibuprofen, okay?”
She nodded and lost her control on the wince.
Granger found her hand, and his steadiness immediately began creeping up her arm.
“Sleep, no ibuprofen. Got it.”
The worker chuckled. “Stay hydrated and avoid screens. So no working while you’re down. You need to rest your eyes as well as your head.” He looked at Granger. “Keep her entertained through something else.”
Shiloh didn’t have to look at Granger to know he was blushing. Clearing his throat was enough to let her know he was embarrassed by the joke.
“I think we can handle it,” Shiloh assured the worker, pulling Granger’s hand into her lap. She sighed when they were finally left alone, leaning her head onto his shoulder. “Where’s my brotatochip?” she asked right before breaking into a huge yawn.
A bout of sleepiness seemed to hit her all at once, and Shiloh gave into the need to close her aching eyes.
“He’s busy eating a sucker that Montoya had in his patrol car and being admired by Melissa.”
“Sounds about right. Did we ever find out what the ruckus on the street was?” Shiloh asked.
Granger didn’t answer right away. “Best I can tell, someone broke into several cars and a store owner saw them, calling the cops.”
“Hmm…anyone we know?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Granger admitted. “We need to get you home,” he muttered more to himself than her.
She tried to pry her eyes open. “My car is behind the office.”
He snorted. “As if you’re driving.”
“Hey!” Shiloh cringed. She needed to stop talking so loudly.
“Shi, I’m try really hard not to be too overbearing with you, but this one is non-negotiable.”
Before she could utter another word, Granger had shifted and picked her up in his arms. “Zane,” he said, his voice still soft. “Time to go, buddy.”
Shiloh tried to open her eyes enough to glare at Granger, but she couldn’t get them to cooperate. Maybe…just this once…he was right and she should let him take care of her.
Blowing out a breath, she let her head gently fall to his shoulder, and her entire body went limp. “That’s better,” she breathed, some of the pain immediately dissipating when she quit trying to remain upright.
“Are you comfortable sleeping at my house?” Granger whispered. “You can sleep in my bed.”
“You're not allowed to join me in it until we’re married,” she replied, a smile tugging on one side of her mouth.
Rather than respond, Granger’s warm lips landed on her forehead. “It’ll be worth the wait,” he murmured against her skin.
Shiloh’s smile grew, but she allowed herself to continue to melt into his hold. The voices around them grew softer until she heard a car door opening, and Granger lifted her into the passenger seat of his truck and buckled her in before Shiloh could even react.
“Shiloh?” Zane’s small voice came from behind her.
“Hmm?” she asked, tilting her head in his direction.
“Are you okay?”
Shiloh managed to get her eyes open just enough to see the furrowed brow of the little boy. “I’m fine,” she assured him, ignoring the pulsing in her head. “Just tired. I need a nap.” She smiled. “Isn’t it funny that your dad did all the hero work, and I’m the one who needs to sleep?”
Zane was still frowning when he looked down at his sucker. “Dad says you hit your head.”
“I did,” Shiloh said, shifting in her seat as Granger pulled them onto the street. “This is why your dad makes you wear a helmet when you ride your bike. Hitting your head makes you not feel very good.”
“Is that guy…gone?”
Shiloh spread her smile wider, though it made the pain worse. “He is. Officer Montoya is going to make sure of it. He won’t bother us any more.”
“I didn’t like him,” Zane whispered.
Granger cleared his throat. “Shiloh needs to rest, bud,” he said. “How about we save talking for later?”
“I’m alright.” Shiloh faced forward again, closing her eyes against the shining sun. Normally, she would have loved some time in the bright light. Cloudy skies were so common on the coast that she tried to take advantage of every moment of sunshine they got.
Today, however, or at least in this moment, she wished it wasn’t quite so cheery. While she knew the debacle with Arthur was finally over, she was hurting too badly to feel good about what was yet to come.
Arthur had attacked.
Granger had saved her.
Something bad had happened on the street.
Grady had more on his plate than any one officer should.
And Shiloh needed a nap.
Scratch that.
She needed a cup of mint tea and a nap. In that order. Maybe if Granger was feeling generous, he would tuck her in, as well.
That didn’t sound too bad, and it didn’t cause her head to hurt to think about either.
Granger couldn’t help but keep checking on Shiloh as he finished driving home. Zane was pouting in the backseat and Shiloh, had stopped talking. He figured she’d fallen asleep, and he wanted nothing more than to get her to the house and put her in a more comfortable position.
It had taken a great deal of arguing to get Montoya to let her go home at all. He wanted both Granger and Shiloh at the police station, but Granger could see on Shiloh’s face that she was about to keel over.
He’d managed to buy them some time and made it to where Shiloh was being examined before she completely fell on her face.
Slowly, he pulled into his driveway, trying not to jostle her too much. “Okay, Z,” Granger whispered. “You come out my side, alright? I’m going to carry Shiloh inside. Do you think you can help pull down my covers?”
Zane nodded eagerly and held out his dirty hand with the sucker stick in it. “We need to throw this away.”
“Alright. Just take it inside. Then wash your hands before touching the bed.”
Zane groaned, but capitulated, stomping into the house while Granger went around the truck to get Shiloh. He was just sliding his arms around her when she took a deep breath.
“I’m awake,” she said. “I can walk.”
“Just put your arms around my neck,” Granger instructed. “No need to put more strain on your body than we need to.”
Shiloh opened her mouth but ultimately nodded, and Granger held back a sigh of relief. He didn’t want to argue with her right now. He wanted to hold her, to ease her pain, and know she was safe.
He wasn’t sure he’d be able to let her go home when she was feeling better. Granger was positive he’d lost ten years of his life today. Shiloh was his. Yes, she was her own. She was too strong, too independent to ever be the quiet, biddable partner Granger would have once thought he wanted.
But she was also his. She’d laughed and flirted her way deep into his heart, and the idea of letting her go when she was wounded made him feel as if his chest were being carved out with a spoon.
He turned and pushed the front door open with his back, stepping backward into the house, then turning and heading down the hallway.
“Your room?” Shiloh slurred as they arrived at the bedroom threshold.
“Yep.” He nodded a thanks to Zane, who’d done his job exactly how Granger had asked him to. He bent over, placing her exactly where he usually slept and tried not to imagine what it would be like if he were able to lay beside her.
“Mmmm…” Shiloh shifted and got comfortable. “You have a nice bed.”
“And you need to stop talking.” He turned to leave, but Shiloh grabbed his hand.
“Will you tuck me in?” she whispered, her eyelids cracking open just a touch.
Granger wished he could see that golden look she liked to tease him with. Instead, he gripped her fingers and turned, bending over so he could kiss her forehead. “Sleep well, beautiful.” He used his free hand to pull the blankets around her, tucking in on the sides while she giggled.
He smiled at that. Shiloh wasn’t a giggler, but her concussion seemed to have left her slightly giddy. It would probably be funny to chat with her while she was like this, but Granger’s desire to see her well overrode the possible amusement.
If he hadn’t been fairly certain he was in love, that revelation would have sealed his fate.
“My turn!” Zane rushed over, pushing his dad away, and kissed Shiloh’s forehead as well.
“Aw,” Shiloh whispered, her eyes staying closed while she smiled. “Now I know I’ll get better. Thanks, Z.”
Zane beamed up at his dad, and Granger’s heart skipped a beat.
It was settled.
When the time was right, these three were going to be a family.
Now he just needed to figure out when that time was. Less than a month into a relationship was probably too fast. Maybe.
“Come on.” Granger took Zane’s hand and led him toward the door, taking a moment to look at Shiloh one more time before they left the room.
Granger jolted when someone pounded at his door before he and Zane had even made it back to the sitting area.
“Hang on.” Granger left Zane in the hall and hurried to the door.
“Where is she?” Serenity demanded, pushing her way past Granger.
“Hey, whoa…”
“Seri,” Luca said in a calmer tone. “Hang on. You can’t just go barging in.” He gave Granger an apologetic look, then tilted his head toward the house as if asking permission.
“Come on in,” Granger said, stepping back. He should have expected this. “But Shiloh’s sleeping. We need to?—”
“Sorry.” Serenity’s voice came from behind him and Granger turned after shutting the front door. She was holding Zane’s hand and taking deep breaths as if trying to keep herself in check. “I shouldn’t have rushed in, but…” She shrugged.
“I get it.” Granger gave her a smile and held up his hands. “We’re all worried.”
“How is she?” Serenity asked. “Zane said she’s sleeping.”
Granger nodded, pushing a hand through his head. He grimaced, realizing he was still covered in dirt and sweat. A shower was definitely in order. The plants he’d left behind would probably be dead before he got back to the house.
Oops.
“She has a concussion, and she’s sore and bruised but otherwise fine.”
Serenity shook her head, her eyes shining. “I don’t know what’s going on in our town. Break-ins, attacks, it’s all such a mess. I didn’t think small towns like ours got this way.”
Granger shoved his hands into his pockets. “I don’t think the car break-ins had anything to do with Shiloh’s attack. Arthur seemed to be acting alone.”
“But still…” She sniffed and blinked several times. “Lighthouse Bay used to be safe. What’s happening to us?”
Luca walked over and wrapped his arm around his wife, and Zane ran to his dad’s side, hugging his waist.
“How about we put on a movie?” Granger asked his son, who nodded eagerly. He looked at the other adults. “Have a seat. I’ll be back in a minute.” He took Zane to his bedroom rather than the main television and gave the boy his tablet and headphones. It was easier to have adult conversations that way.
Once Zane was settled, Granger went back out to the family room. “Sorry. Little ears and all that.”
“I’m sorry…again…” Serenity said. “I should’ve thought of that.” She took a long breath. “I’m just worried. I never realized just how much crime goes on in our town until it started happening to us.”
Granger sat in an old recliner across from the other couple and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Yeah…it does seem like things have escalated lately. I’m not really sure what’s going on.” He looked over at Luca. “Good thing we have that neighborhood watch, huh?”
“I think we’re going to have to have another meeting,” Luca huffed. “And this won’t be a social gathering.”
Granger nodded. “I think you’re right. But maybe let’s wait until Shiloh is feeling better. I have a feeling she’ll be ticked if she’s left out.”