Page 32 of Jenny
Jenny climbed onto the bed, careful where she placed her hands and legs. She was trying to protect Dare’s injuries and herself. The width of the bed didn’t allow her to lie flat on her back, so she was on her left side. She kept a few inches between them, so their bodies weren’t plastered against each other.
“Isn’t this better?” he asked, sounding satisfied.
Better wasn’t the word she would use. Her heart beat triple time. Every nerve ending tingled. She doubted her pulse would slow by tomorrow morning.
“Are you sure this is okay with your injuries?” she asked.
“Yes, except for one thing.”
Oh, no.Her muscles bunched. She must be hurting him somehow. “What?”
He put his arm around her and pulled her closer. The space between them disappeared. “This will keep the IV line from being smooshed by accident.”
Smooth move, Sergeant O’Rourke.
Jenny could imagine Ash doing something similar. Her front pressed against his right side. He might be injured, but he was solid.
Heat emanated from him. No way had he been cold.
Of course not. She had underestimated Dare, but this side of him was sexy. “You have this all figured out.”
“I’m highly trained. Skilled in rapid responses and direct action.”
“I can only imagine your…talents.”
Mischief flashed in his eyes. “I’ll show you…”
Temptation flared, but Jenny wasn’t ready for that. Not yet. She stared at the television. “The commercials are over.”
“Bigfoot really is my competition.” Dare’s tone was playful. As he looked at her and not the TV, he rubbed her arm as if it was the most normal thing in the world to do.
The way his fingertips caressed her skin distracted her, but she couldn’t deny his touch felt oh-so-good. Had seduction techniques been part of his training?
“Have you seen this episode?” he asked.
Ignoring the tingles his touch brought, she focused on the screen. “No, but I’m behind. I’m a binge watcher.”
“Me, too. That way, I don’t get caught up on cliffhangers. Not a fan of those.”
Watching a show could wait. Jenny wanted to learn more about Dare. She picked up the remote and turned off the television.
“I thought you wanted to watch this,” he said.
“I’d rather talk to you.”
That charming grin of his returned with a vengeance, and her breath caught in her throat. “I’m all yours.”
If only… She almost laughed. “What TV shows do you watch when you are home?”
“Whatever’s on Netflix. No TV. I moved into the barracks about a year and a half ago. It was only supposed to be temporary, but I’m still there.”
“What’s it like to live in the barracks?”
“Like being the oldest guy in a dorm.” He laughed. “Not really. I’ve never lived in a dorm. But I had no other choice. My former roommate was my best friend, and I was renting a room from him.”
Her lips parted. She remembered what Dare had texted about his best friend. “You lost your best friend, your girlfriend, and the place you lived?”
Dare nodded. “I didn’t put up much of a fight. I just wanted…out.”
