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Love sucked

Love required sacrifices that were hard to ainst every instinct so he didn’t crush what in with

If this hat falling in love was about, he wasn’t sure whether he wanted in or not

And yet, the idea of PJ not being in his future asout with sucked It didn’t really matter what he wanted or as easy at this point, because the decision had been made for him

PJ was his And yeah, it wouldn’t be easy, but nothing hile ever was

He liked her just the way she was All hard-ass, stubborn, independent and capable of kicking anyone’s ass Even his

He wouldn’t change a goddae of e to his for PJ made him want to act on them now He wanted her to know, for her to feel, what shehad he carried a torch for her?

He couldn’t pinpoint an exact tirown to respect and ad intenselyas she slept on his couch in his home

He had her exactly where he most wanted her, and his hands were tied and he was unable to act on the attraction between the up so he could be closer to her He knelt in front of the couch, his fingers going to trace the baby-soft skin on her cheek

Her hair was pulled into a ponytail, as it alas, but tendrils escaped and floated down her face, giving her an air of vulnerability that hten

He’d seen her at her e he wished he could wash from his memory Her broken and bloody, her eyes aith shame

Even noas like a punch to the sto to put his fist through a wall

He lowered his lips to brush across her brow, and then, because it wasn’t enough, he let hisher so close

He inhaled deeply, taking in the fragrance of her shampoo and the smell of her soap, a scent he now identified as uniquely hers

She stirred beneath him, and then her eyelids fluttered open He pulled away because he didn’t want to panic her if she was still half asleep But she snition

"Did I sleep too long?" she whispered

He smiled and shook his head "Not at all You’ve been out for a couple of hours I figured you needed to catch up"

"Oh good, so I didn’tnow, and as soon as I get the grill fired up, I’ll throw the out on the patio if you feel up to it"

She let out a soft sigh that sent a streak of pleasure through his senses She’d ether Sounds of satisfaction, like she was happy in the world

He’d do anything he could to give her those s at all to reive her new memories to replace the painful ones

"Knohat I’d really like?" she asked, a wistful note to her voice

He al at all and he’d daot it

"What’s that?"

"A really long, hot shower"

He frowned athe possible ra that long on your own"

Her face bloomed with color--one of the few ti

"I canas I can brace my hand on the shoall, I’ll be fine If I have any trouble, I promise I’ll holler for you"

"Works forin Not like he’d have denied her anyway "I’ll help you into the bathroom, make sure you have all the stuff you need, and then I’ll wait in the kitchen"

"That sounds heavenly Help me up?"

She reached out her hand and he stood, letting his fingers tith hers She pulled herself into a sitting position, gingerly letting her legs slide over the side of the couch

He should have taken her straight to Fort Campbell It’s what Steele had wanted, but Cole had wanted her here He wanted to give her some downtime and not take her to a place where she’d be constantly reotten it

Besides, PJ was tough She wasn’t going to wimp out over a siive you so," he said

For a hed "Okay"

"I’ll have it for you when you get out of the shower I put your bag in the spare bedroo"

She nodded and then started in the direction of the bathrooh she’d never been here before, she found her way around well enough It wasn’t like the house was so huge she’d get lost

After reassuring hirill, not wanting to be outside for long in case she needed him

When he returned inside, he went to the bathroo, he relaxed and went back to the kitchen so he could start on dinner preparations

If he had his way, he and PJ were going to enjoy a peaceful evening together Just the two of them No team No job No outside world

CHAPTER 27

PJ felt about two hundred percent better after boiling herself in the hot shower She’d even reet Cole to help her reapply the dressing until she got it looked at the next day at the hospital

She put on a pair of gym shorts so the wound was easily accessible and then pulled on a T-shirt, not bothering with a bra One, she didn’t have that much up top to worry over, and two, Cole had already seen everything she had They should be well past the coy andon socks to keep her feet war room Cole wasn’t there, but she heard noise from the kitchen, so she went in search of hi the steaks on a platter to take them outside when he looked up and saw her

"Hey," he said softly "Feel better?"