8. Chapter 8
Leigh
I didn’t sleep. I may have dozed off, but my body couldn’t relax.
You’d think having her in my arms would bring the best fucking sleep ever.
But instead, I kept worrying that I’d hurt her.
I also couldn’t stop thinking about how scared she was.
It was a bad dream, but she was rambling about Linny and not being able to get to her.
She was dreaming about their recent attack.
Lying with her in my bed and not being able to have her was torture. But for her, I’d stay in pain. If it meant her resting, I’d just not sleep. Maybe I could catch a few z’s when Linny came back to hang with her.
Being so close to her, smelling the fruity shampoo all night, and the warmth of her beneath my hands, wasn’t helping my morning wood, either.
But I was afraid if I shifted, I’d wake her.
Every time I checked on her, she was in a deep sleep, gently purring.
Not really snoring, just a light rhythmic sound.
She could saw logs and I wouldn’t give a fuck. They sell headphones for that.
I had to keep her in my bed.
I’d gone this long standing on the sidelines, watching from afar. But what the fuck for? I’m a fucking Bastard. I could be soft to her, but not for her. She still had to heal, and I’d give her time for that. But holding her all night made something click: she’s mine.
The realization hit me like a Mack Truck. Which only sent a rush of blood to my already hard cock. She may be mine, but she didn’t know yet, and poking her probably wouldn’t go over well.
But as I tried to carefully pull my arm from under her, she stirred. I’d turned the TV off when I got settled in the bed last night, so the only sound in the room was the rustling of the blankets, the low hum of the ceiling fan, and Bruce’s loud breathing.
She tensed so I pulled away and adjusted my junk. “Sorry about that. Morning thing.”
“Mmm. What time is it?” she asked.
Clearing my throat and climbing over the dog, I looked at the alarm clock. “Not quite seven. I need some coffee.”
She started to move, pushing herself up on her arms. I rushed around the bed to help. “You got it?”
She flinched at my touch. I’d held her all night, but she flinched. What the fuck?
“Yeah. That wasn’t as bad. Guess I really did need some sleep.”
“I’ll go make some coffee and be right back.”
Stomping down the hall, I called for Bruce, and he actually came. He could play favorites, but he couldn’t hold his bladder forever.
Opening the back door, I let him out and left it open so I could fix the coffee. I was going to need it in buckets.
I got the brew going, then poked my head out the back. “Bruce, c’mon boy!”
He was still sniffing around the yard, so I left the door cracked. I went back down the hall, stopping in the hall bath on the way to finally relieve myself before going to check on her.
When I walked to the room, my chest tightened at the empty bed. “Glenda! Glenda!” I started calling out.
Not thinking, I opened the bathroom door. She screamed then shouted, “Get the fuck out!”
Slamming it closed, I yelled through the door. “Sorry! Jesus. I didn’t know where you were.”
I stepped back from the door but waited nearby. She flushed, then water ran for a few seconds.
The door opened and she glared at me.
“What’s your problem?” I asked.
“You barged into the bathroom while I was on the toilet.”
I stepped closer, the soft smell of her wafted up. “I said sorry. Just freaked me out when you weren’t where I left you.”
Her glare softened. “Sam said I needed to move and walk. Plus, I had to go, and you were busy.”
“Well, I’m here now. How do you feel?”
She sighed. “Worn out.”
I put my hand out, and she paused then took it so I used my other one to hold her steady and help her back to the bed.
“Wait, can we go outside?”
My brows pinched. “Outside? You’re not leaving.”
She rolled her eyes. “I mean to drink coffee. I’ve been cooped up for days.”
“Oh. Well, c’mon.”
We shuffled down the hallway, and Bruce made his way back inside, sauntering down the hall and wagging his tail.
“Watch out, Bruce,” I told him.
“Oh, he’s fine. Aren’t you, Bruce?”
“He’s a damn traitor.”
“Oh, that smells good,” she said as we walked through the kitchen. Bruce followed us out and I helped her get settled in one of the chairs. The sun was starting to peek through the trees and the air was crisp.
“Sorry it’s not softer.” I had basic plastic chairs on the deck. There were some sturdier ones in the yard, but not by much. “Are you cold?”
She let out a huge breath, the air crystalizing as she closed her eyes. “It feels great.”
“Be right back. Bruce, sit.”
Bruce circled before finally plopping down at her feet.
I went in and filled up two mugs. After I joined her on the porch, we sat in silence as we sipped our coffee. I refilled us both twice and we quietly soaked up the cool morning air and the sound of the daytime wildlife waking up together.
Bruce lifted his head and the hair on his back stood. Just as he started to growl, the sounds of knocks echoed outside.
“That’s probably Linny. I’ll go let ‘em in.”
When I opened the door, Sam was waiting with Bama and Linny.
“Hey, doc. C’mon in, guys. We were out back.”
They all stopped and Linny’s lip thinned.
“Damn. I didn’t say I left her on the floor. Bruce is with her.”
Sam headed to the back, taking quick strides and we followed. Dick.
“Glenda, how ya doing?” he asked as he stepped outside.
She tucked some loose hair behind her ear. It was wild and wavy. “Getting some fresh air. I’ve been stuck inside, what? A week? Over a week.”
He smiled. “Does it count if you only remember the last few days, though?”
“I’ll give you some space,” I told them. “Do you want more coffee?”
“I’m good,” she said.
Linny went outside and Bama was getting the last bit of coffee. “Hey, man.”
I asked, “Need me to brew another pot?”
He downed the half mug. “Nah. Just a little hit. Late meet up last night. We may have a problem.”
Leaning on the counter and crossing my arms, I asked, “With what?”
“Who is the better question. You know Manny, that EMT that helped move Glenda?”
I nodded, waiting for more of the story.
He reached into the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. “He’s in hot water because of the transport. Boss wrote him up and said he had to turn the rig over since he lost the paperwork for that run.”
“Fucking sucks. But why is that a problem for us?”
He took a huge gulp of water, downing half the plastic bottle. “Because cops were sniffing around after Ollie being killed, then a bunch of bikers and another cop were found dead not too far from here.”
Running my hand over my face, I said, “Great. But we tied up loose ends, right?”
He shrugged. “We thought so. But you know those fuckers are always looking for a reason to make a bust and don’t like how they can’t pin anything on us yet.”
“We have a few guys on the payroll, though.”
He nodded. “Yeah. But when another pig is involved, sometimes that complicates things. I’m sure it’ll blow over. But we gotta keep our heads down for a minute.”
“Well that works out good for me.”
“How’s she doing?” he asked.
I craned my neck to see if they were still talking outside. “She had a nightmare last night.”
“Oh, man. Yeah, she had a couple shitty ones a while back with me.”
The reminder that she’d run to him stung even harder now. “Anyway, once she got back to sleep it was alright. She managed to walk a little by herself this morning, but she’s still moving gingerly.”
“That’s good.”
I knew it was good that she was making improvements, but I had no intentions of letting her go. The faster she recovered, the harder it would be to win her over. But she didn’t have a way to leave, anyway.
Sam opened the backdoor and came in.
“You’re early today,” I said.
“Yeah, going to the clinic right after this, but I have something to do after work, so I had to shuffle things around. She’s doing well from the sound of it. No real reason for me to keep coming by, but if she needs anything, you can bring her to see me.”
“Doc, she had a nightmare last night,” Bama said.
Sam’s lips turned down at the edges. “She needs to go back to group. She’s on the mend but will be slow going a few more days. But by next week, she needs to get back to it.”
Bama said, “I can talk to Linny. Maybe she’ll listen to her?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I told them both.
“You shouldn’t talk about me like I’m not right fucking here.”
Our heads are whipped toward the door where Glenda stood, Linny holding her close and Bruce standing behind them.
Linny shot daggers at us. “She needs to pee.”
I reached my hand out, but Glenda said, “I got it.”
Linny gave me a look. Her eyes were stern and her lips thinned, but I wasn’t sure if she was being pissy in solidarity or just trying to get me to give her some space.
Once they made it down the hall, I let out a sigh.
“She’ll come around, man,” Bama said.
Sam put his hand on my shoulder. “She told me you’re taking good care of her. That’s something, right?”
“Maybe.”
Looking down the hall, I reminded myself that she’s mine. I just had to give her time to realize it.