Page 23 of Baxter's Right-Hand Man

I let him take over. I grabbed a couple of water bottles and slid one toward him. “Should I offer your bodyguard water too?”

“He’s fine.”

“Is he still outside?” I asked.

“He’s probably in the SUV.”

“Are you allowed to be here without a guard?”

Pierce snorted. “I’m not in a witness protection program, Lorenzo. I’m just…”

“Famous,” I supplied, sipping my water.

“Hmph.” He continued stacking cups willy-nilly with his head bent. I studied his strong jaw and let my gaze drift to his broad shoulders, snapping to attention when he tilted his chin toward me. “How about you? Are you okay?”

“I’m a little shaken, but this isn’t the first time Mr. Gowan has been admitted for breathing issues. Enid will make sure he’s seen to promptly.”

Pierce nodded. “Good. Hey, I’m happy to take you to the hospital if you need a ride or…wherever.”

“Thanks, but there’s no point in visiting him till he has a room. They won’t let me in.” I swallowed hard, adding, “He’ll be okay.”

Of course, I didn’t know if that was true, but I needed to hear someone say it. Even if it was me.

Pierce rinsed a plate, then glanced over at me. “What’s wrong with him?”

I sucked in a gulp of air and slowly released it, deflating like a sad balloon in dire need of a helium boost.

“Emphysema, heart disease, maybe something else he doesn’t talk about.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too. I hate to see him suffer.”

Pierce rearranged a couple of mugs and moved them from the top rack to the bottom. “How long have you known him?”

“Ten years, give or take. He was my first big client,” I replied, pointing at the dishwasher. “Mugs go on the top rack.”

He cocked his head curiously and studied the dishwasher. “Since when?”

“Since always. You should fix that.”

“Is there a ‘How to Stack Dishes in the Dishwasher’ rulebook I missed?” he snarked, grumbling as he made room for the mugs on top.

“There should be.”

“Hmm. So…have you been together that whole time?”

My brow knit in confusion. “Together? What do you mean?”

“You know…together.”

“No. Idon’tknow. You don’t think we’re…” I set my water bottle on the counter and made a heart with my hands. “Do you?”

He winced. “I didn’t say youwere, but I-I wasn’t sure…”

Laughter bubbled in my throat and spilled out in one loud guffaw. “Seriously? That’s so…ha! Why would you think that?”

“You seem to know him well and—” He turned off the faucet and set his hands on his hips. “All right, all right. Apparently, I was wrong. Sue me.”