her vulnerable spots.
Smiling at the discovery, he went back to looking over the spreadsheets, comparing them to the account ledger, and in turn, comparing them to the bank statements. He grabbed the one thing he hated, the dreaded reading glasses. His eyes were straining, and slipping them on, he peeked at the bed, seeing Katie hadn’t moved. Pulling a folder from the laptop briefcase, he grabbed some invoices and returned to the comparative analysis.
Someone had reached into the cookie jar, and by god, he was going to find out who.
*
He heard sheets rustling, and jumped. Stretching stiff neck muscles, he yawned and put everything to the side. Regret at falling asleep in the chair gripped him. But it was worth it. He’d made some major steps to solving the mystery.
“Houston? Are you awake? Are you in here?” her voice was throaty and slightly slurred.
“Yeah, honey, I’m here. Was working on something. Need some help?” He threw the covers off her, enjoying the view. Despite the scar from the accident on her shoulder, and the additional scars leaving a trail down the side of her face, or maybe because of them, he found her one of the most beautiful women he’d ever laid eyes on.
“I’m so stiff,” she grumped, “and need the restroom. Where’s my cane?”
“I can carry you, sweetheart.”
“No, I have to walk. You heard the doc’s orders.” One green eye glared at him, the other lid closed.
He smiled, giving her an arm to hold for support. Once upright, he handed her the cane and forced himself to stand back. He put both hands in the sweat pants pockets, to contain the need to help her. She struggled to stand, and he barely stopped from reaching forward to lift her to her feet.
She made it, her smile triumphant. “Ha! Take that!” With slow, awkward steps, she headed for the bathroom.
He stayed five steps behind. Even when she closed the door in his face, he remained close, just in case.
“Quit hovering, damn it!” she yelled, voice carrying easily through the thick door.
He chuckled. “Make me!”
He laughed at her growl. Several minutes later, she opened the door, glared, and broke into a big smile.
“I’m not going to win that argument, am I?” she patted his chest.
“Not a snowball’s chance,” keeping clo se.
He watched her dress, enjoying the small things she did to get prepare for a day. Not that she could go far, but it’d been made very clear she would eat downstairs, and wasn’t going to stay in bed.
Lifting her into his arms, they made their way to the dining room. He settled her, and sat down. The breakfast served was enough to feed a small army.
“I eat a lot, Hellcat, but isn’t this a bit much?” he gave her a questioning look.
“Give it a minute,” she smiled.
The entire staff joined them, all five. The breakfast was filled with chatter, schedules, things to be done, gossip, laughter, and a few questions. Houston watched, fascinated. He’d known people with help before, none ever allowing them at the table for breakfast, lunch , or dinner. His Hellcat joined in the conversation, asking after their families by name, knowing their problems, answering questions, proving her commitment to anyone she deemed part of her pack.
Knowing how much they meant to her, he kept thinking, why would one want to harm her ?
Chapter Twenty Four
Katie was well aware of Houston’s fascination with the way she treated her people. She also knew he’d stayed up all night going over invoices, the bank account, and spreadsheets.
Yet all she could wonder was why he hadn’t joined her in bed. Glancing at her legs, she wondered if that was why. Was he afraid of hurting her? Or did she need to invite him? Did her legs repulse him?
I have to stop whining and just ask.
Breakfast completed, she grabbed her cane, and shuffled into the entertainment room. Specifically decorated for the best acoustics, sporting a high definition projector, and comfortable leather
Smiling at the discovery, he went back to looking over the spreadsheets, comparing them to the account ledger, and in turn, comparing them to the bank statements. He grabbed the one thing he hated, the dreaded reading glasses. His eyes were straining, and slipping them on, he peeked at the bed, seeing Katie hadn’t moved. Pulling a folder from the laptop briefcase, he grabbed some invoices and returned to the comparative analysis.
Someone had reached into the cookie jar, and by god, he was going to find out who.
*
He heard sheets rustling, and jumped. Stretching stiff neck muscles, he yawned and put everything to the side. Regret at falling asleep in the chair gripped him. But it was worth it. He’d made some major steps to solving the mystery.
“Houston? Are you awake? Are you in here?” her voice was throaty and slightly slurred.
“Yeah, honey, I’m here. Was working on something. Need some help?” He threw the covers off her, enjoying the view. Despite the scar from the accident on her shoulder, and the additional scars leaving a trail down the side of her face, or maybe because of them, he found her one of the most beautiful women he’d ever laid eyes on.
“I’m so stiff,” she grumped, “and need the restroom. Where’s my cane?”
“I can carry you, sweetheart.”
“No, I have to walk. You heard the doc’s orders.” One green eye glared at him, the other lid closed.
He smiled, giving her an arm to hold for support. Once upright, he handed her the cane and forced himself to stand back. He put both hands in the sweat pants pockets, to contain the need to help her. She struggled to stand, and he barely stopped from reaching forward to lift her to her feet.
She made it, her smile triumphant. “Ha! Take that!” With slow, awkward steps, she headed for the bathroom.
He stayed five steps behind. Even when she closed the door in his face, he remained close, just in case.
“Quit hovering, damn it!” she yelled, voice carrying easily through the thick door.
He chuckled. “Make me!”
He laughed at her growl. Several minutes later, she opened the door, glared, and broke into a big smile.
“I’m not going to win that argument, am I?” she patted his chest.
“Not a snowball’s chance,” keeping clo se.
He watched her dress, enjoying the small things she did to get prepare for a day. Not that she could go far, but it’d been made very clear she would eat downstairs, and wasn’t going to stay in bed.
Lifting her into his arms, they made their way to the dining room. He settled her, and sat down. The breakfast served was enough to feed a small army.
“I eat a lot, Hellcat, but isn’t this a bit much?” he gave her a questioning look.
“Give it a minute,” she smiled.
The entire staff joined them, all five. The breakfast was filled with chatter, schedules, things to be done, gossip, laughter, and a few questions. Houston watched, fascinated. He’d known people with help before, none ever allowing them at the table for breakfast, lunch , or dinner. His Hellcat joined in the conversation, asking after their families by name, knowing their problems, answering questions, proving her commitment to anyone she deemed part of her pack.
Knowing how much they meant to her, he kept thinking, why would one want to harm her ?
Chapter Twenty Four
Katie was well aware of Houston’s fascination with the way she treated her people. She also knew he’d stayed up all night going over invoices, the bank account, and spreadsheets.
Yet all she could wonder was why he hadn’t joined her in bed. Glancing at her legs, she wondered if that was why. Was he afraid of hurting her? Or did she need to invite him? Did her legs repulse him?
I have to stop whining and just ask.
Breakfast completed, she grabbed her cane, and shuffled into the entertainment room. Specifically decorated for the best acoustics, sporting a high definition projector, and comfortable leather
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