Page 66 of Baby Take Me Home

He shook his head. “Nobody gets promised “fair” in this business, or hell, in this life.” He kissed the back of my hand. “But as far as I’m concerned, I’m getting something more than fair.”

“What will you do now?” I asked.

He gently climbed onto the bed beside me, taking care not to shift my position with his weight. He put his arm around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head. “Well, for starters, I’m going to ride herd on you to make sure you listen to doctor’s orders so you’ll make that full recovery.”

I nestled my head against the crook of his neck. I would enjoy that. But he was evading my question. “I’m asking for an honest answer.”

“I know. And I’m giving you one. As far as my work, I already have a few things lined up. I’ve been asked several times to join the board of that Chicago organization that helps vets who are struggling.”

“The one you volunteer with sometimes, along with Samantha’s significant other?”

He nodded. “And there is one other thing.” There was a note of mischief in his voice.

I scooted up as best I could so I could see his face. “What are you planning?”

He shrugged. “A little side project. Derek and Chase, the Wilder brothers, have some government contracts for their sportswear company to make protective combat clothing. Those contracts can be used for other services, like outside consulting.”

“So, if you go to work for them, you’ll do some consulting for HEAT?”

“I’ll be a subcontractor, not a direct employee, but yes, HEAT and X and the members of my former team will still have access to me on a part-time basis.” He grinned down at me. “That means some time has opened up on my calendar. Do you have any ideas about how I could fill it?”

“I do.” I traced my finger down his throat to the open top button of his shirt. “But I should warn you, I realized something when you were holding me on the floor of the newsroom. Actually, I realized it earlier, when I was still at HEAT HQ, but I decided to wait until all of this was over to tell you. Then when you found me and I didn’t have the strength to say it, I regretted it.”

“No time like the present,” he whispered in his smooth, safe voice, and I knew I could tell him anything.

“I’m falling for you, TJ Russo. It’s only been two weeks and we’re at the very beginning of our journey, but I want to explore this, and see where the path leads.”

He nuzzled my cheek and whispered in my ear again. “And you want to see me naked again.”

“Yes, please. How soon can we do that?”

“I can’t make that call, but we can ask your doctor. I’m sure she’ll have plenty of opinions on the matter.”

“She can have all the opinions she wants.” I tilted my head and kissed him. He held me carefully and kissed me back. “But if it’s more than a few days, I’m going against doctor’s orders.”

“I think they call it orders for a reason.”

“You know me.” I nibbled his lip. “I have a problem with authority.”

He shook his head. “That’s not the way I remember it. But I’m happy to be reminded, the minute you get out of this place.”

“Deal,” I said.

A second later, the door to my hospital room cracked open.

“Are you up for visitors?” Samantha asked.

“Sure,” I said, wondering if the plural meant other team members had stuck around with her and Jensen. TJ eased off the bed and straightened my blanket over my lap.

One by one, every member of the former Alpha Team filed into the room, followed by Jayne. She had a bruised temple and her arm in a sling, and I burst into tears when I saw her.

“They said you were fine,” I sniffled as she leaned over the edge of the bed to hug me.

“I am,” she said. “I’m a little banged up, but it takes a hell of a lot more than that to take down the fourth estate.”

My tears turned into laughter, and our hug turned into a group huddle, and I savored the moment of not only belonging to a team but belonging to two. When TJ threaded his fingers through mine, I amended that thought. I belonged to three teams, and my reporter’s instincts, which were rarely wrong, told me the one he and I formed together was going to be the most important one in my life.

CHAPTER 29