It was closing in on midnight when she gave up trying to sleep. She’d been tossing and turning so many times she felt as though she were on a trampoline. It was all the caffeine she’d had today, she decided. That was the reason she couldn’t doze off. It had nothing to do with the fact that Aiden wasn’t home yet. Home? She was calling the suite home now?
She went into the living room and turned on the television. She had a game plan. She would channel surf until she found something boring, like golf or fishing, and that would make her sleepy.
Who knew learning how to gut a walleye could be interesting? The next program did the trick, though. Fishing with Larry was exactly what Cordie needed. Everyone on the show whispered so they wouldn’t disturb the fish. It was incredibly boring. She drifted off but woke up sometime in the middle of the night. She was wrapped in Aiden’s strong arms and sleeping in his bed. He smelled so good, and his body was hard and warm, and oh, did she want him. All she had to do was kiss the side of his neck, just under his ear, and whisper his name. He did the rest. He was gentle with her, taking care to protect her injured arm, yet he was forceful, pushing her to the brink and then pulling back until she was writhing in his arms and begging. He was more out of control this time, and when he climaxed, she was there with him.
Cordie slept soundly in his arms all night long, and when she awoke, Aiden had already left the suite . . . most likely to go down to his office, she supposed. She went into her bedroom, put on her robe, and padded to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Nurse Patty knocked on her door a minute later, and Cordie was thankful the woman hadn’t found her in Aiden’s bed.
“Mr. Madison will be back here to pick you up at twelve thirty,” Patty announced. “He said to tell you that he and two FBI agents will be taking you to the doctor today.”
“Jack and Alec are good friends. You’ve met them.”
“Yes, I have, and I’m sure they’ll watch out for you. They won’t let anyone push you into traffic today. I don’t think you really need them, though, not with Mr. Madison around. I know he doesn’t carry a gun, but he could take on anyone who tried to harm you. He plays sports, you know.” She added with a nod, “He’s quite competitive and strong.”
Cordie knew how strong he was. She’d caressed and kissed nearly every inch of his magnificent body. She had trailed her fingertips across his chest and shoulders and down his upper arms. She had felt the heat from his muscles, the sinewy strength just below the surface. Thinking about him made her pulse race. She realized she was holding her breath and slowly let it out.
Patty stared at her with a quizzical expression. “What were you thinking about just now? You had the sweetest look in your eyes.”
Cordie wasn’t about to tell her the truth. “I was thinking that normally I can take care of myself. Aiden taught Regan and Sophie and me a few tricks.”
Patty helped her put the plastic sleeve over her cast so it wouldn’t get wet while she showered; then she gathered the soap and shampoo and towels and placed them within easy reach, keeping up a constant chatter as she worked. An hour later Cordie was dressed and ready for the day. She wore a simple white blouse and a blue-and-white skirt with ballet flats. Patty helped her brush her hair and then left to tend to Walker. There was still some time left before Cordie had to leave for her doctor’s appointment, so she set up her laptop on the table. While she ate a bowl of yogurt with fruit and granola, she worked on answering e-mails. There were several from her former students, and she replied to them first. She might no longer be their teacher, but she didn’t want to lose touch.
Aiden came into the suite ten minutes early. He gave her the once-over and asked, “Are you ready?”
She shut down her computer, picked up her purse, and walked to the door. “What about Alec and Jack?”
“They’re waiting in the lobby.” He turned her toward him and adjusted her sling. “You stay close to me,” he ordered.
His hand was on the doorknob, but he stood there, waiting. She assumed he wanted her agreement. “Yes, I will.”
Before she could guess what he was going to do, he leaned down and kissed her. It was a long, thoroughly hot kiss, and when he pulled back, she sagged against him.
“Let’s go,” he said in his brisk, abrupt voice.
He obviously wasn’t having quite the reaction she was. She straightened away from him and walked by his side around the corner to the elevator. The guard was holding the doors open. When they emerged in the lobby, she spotted Alec and Jack standing in front of the hotel’s tall revolving doors. She moved closer to Aiden, trying to look at every face as they crossed the lobby. Was someone waiting to grab her? Unless he wore a sign, she wouldn’t be able to tell if anyone was there to make trouble. She didn’t know what to look for.
Jack drove them, and Aiden sat next to Cordie in the backseat. He put his hand on top of hers and asked, “Are you nervous?”
“Why? Do you think the doctor will give me a shot?”
It took a couple of seconds for him to realize she was teasing. “That’s not funny, Cordelia. I was asking if you were nervous being outside. This is serious . . .”
He was getting angry, and she could feel the tension in him. “I’m not nervous, because I’m in good hands. You did say you wouldn’t let anything happen to me, and I believe you.”
“All right, then.” He was appeased.
Alec turned toward them, noticed Aiden was holding her hand, but didn’t comment of course. He said, “Cordie, I talked to Liam last night, and he wants you to get a DNA test as soon as possible.”
“Did he explain why?” Aiden asked. “Does he have a plan in mind?”
“He’s working on it.”
“The only reason for a DNA test is to legally prove I’m related to that witch. What’s he going to do with it? I don’t want or need proof,” Cordie protested.
“But you’ll get the test anyway, won’t you?” Alec asked.
“I don’t think I want to—”
“It will be quick and easy,” Jack told her.
“Over before you know it,” Alec added.
“In other words, I’m getting the test, aren’t I?”
“That’s my girl,” Alec said.
“I never really had a choice, did I?”
Alec told her the truth, but he said it with a grin. “No.”
Cordie stared out the window. It was a beautiful sunny day and as hot as the devil, which she loved. She tried to sit back and calmly watch the passing scenes on the street, but she couldn’t. There were too many thoughts racing through her mind that needed to be sorted out. She was about to have a DNA test. What did Liam plan to do with it? What was the connection to the man who tried to kill her? Was he still out there, and would he try again?
She could feel her stomach tightening, and she leaned into Aiden’s side. Just being close to his strength and his confidence was comforting. He was getting one phone call after another, and usually he would be on his phone nonstop doing business, but today he let the calls go to voice mail. The texts were also piling up, but he ignored those as well. It suddenly occurred to her that she had assumed he would go with her to the doctor. Now, why had she done that? He had to know she was safe with Jack and Alec, yet he’d either canceled or rescheduled his appointments to go with her. It was so thoughtful of him, so caring. Her mood lightened, and she suddenly wanted to kiss him. Unfortunately, the feeling didn’t last. Aiden ruined it when he said, “It won’t be long before this will all be over, and we can get on with our lives.”