“I hope I have you figured out.” He laid his head back on his pillow. “I’m wasting a lot of time and energy I don’t have if I’m wrong.” His smile was weary. “Give it a shot, Kendra?”
He was looking suddenly tired and drained and she wanted to give him anything he wanted to make that exhaustion go away. “We’ll see.” She turned toward the door. “If I decide you’re not using how I feel to manipulate me.”
“No promises. It’s the nature of the beast. You’ll have to make up your own mind.” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, and I didn’t mean that you have to come back to the hospital today. You have other things to do. Then go home and get some rest.”
“I don’t have to come back today?” Her eyes widened with indignation. “That’s the worst thing you could have said to me. And what other things have you decided I have to do?”
“Open the door. She should be waiting in the hall by now.”
She jerked the door open and saw Jessie Mercado sitting on the bench a few yards down the hall.
“Jessie?” Her eyes flew back to Lynch. “What the hell?”
“The main event,” he said quietly. “She’s a woman who had two tours in Afghanistan and was once captured and held prisoner. She knows about rage and sorrow and revenge and how both can change who you are. If you feel like it, you might want to talk to her. If you don’t, she’ll understand.”
But he’d gone to the trouble of getting in touch with Jessie because he’d thought she might need her. She stood there looking at him. He didn’t appear either bright-eyed or as strong as when she’d first seen him this morning. He was not invulnerable and he undoubtedly was arrogant and manipulative. But he’d let her see his scars and he’d tried to heal hers. How many men would be strong and caring enough to do that?
“Hi, Kendra.” Jessie had gotten to her feet and was strolling toward her. “I heard you were here. Want to go have a cup of coffee with me?”
“That sounds like a great idea.” Kendra’s smile was brilliant. “If you’ve got your bike. Let’s go take a ride on the beach and find a coffee shop. I need to feel the wind in my hair and maybe jump a few dunes. Someone told me lately I was getting stodgy.”
Her smile lost none of its brilliance but there was definitely a hint of sly mischief as she glanced at Lynch. “If we make it back in one piece, I’ll see you tomorrow, Lynch.”