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Frisco’s eyes were shut, but he was still awake.

A faint click, barely discernible over the low volume of the TV, had his lids opening in a flash.

Roxie had apparently heard the same thing because she lifted her head and stared toward the kitchen.

When her tail started thumping softly against the back of the couch, Frisco relaxed again.

It had to be Avery since the dog barked for everyone but her and Haven.

Rising to her four paws, the retriever-mix hopped down and stretched before trotting over to her mistress as Avery walked into the room on silent feet.

She bent down to scratch Roxie’s ears and crooned softly, “Hey, sweetheart. Did you miss me?”

From the way the dog groaned and leaned into the caress, while her tail went a mile a minute, it was apparent she did.

Avery glanced at the couple on the couch and raised an eyebrow at Frisco.

Haven was still out like a light in the same position she’d been in earlier.

He’d placed a throw blanket over her to keep her from getting cold in the cotton shorts and tank top she’d put on after her shower.

Avery smiled. “Hmm. I knew the moment I met you, if anyone could break through her defenses, it would be you. You’re good for her. That being said, you hurt her, and they’ll never find your body. Got it?”

That the petite woman in her fifties was threatening him, a highly trained Delta operative, would have been comical to most people.

However, Frisco was sure she’d done her share of damage to enemies of the US and would have no problem taking one down today.

He wondered if becoming a nurse was to atone for any deaths by her hand during her prior career.

“Duly noted. The last thing I’d ever do is hurt her. ”

“I know. Just wanted it on record. Come on, Roxie. Let’s leave these two lovebirds alone. Have a good night, Frisco.”

“You, too, Avery.”

After they left for the guest house, Frisco used the remote to turn off the TV.

Gently lifting the pillow and Haven’s head, he slid out from under them and stood.

Tucking his hands under her back and thighs, he lifted and carried her to the master bedroom.

He loved the feel of her in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder.

Bending over, he grasped the covers of the bed with the hand that was still under her legs and pulled them down, before setting her on the mattress.

Drawing the sheet and blanket on top of her, he shut off the bedside lamp she’d left on earlier.

He then returned to the living room to throw out the empty plates and cartons from their dinner.

Retrieving her wheelchair, he placed it next to the bed where she could reach it.

After staring at Haven’s sleeping form for a few more moments, committing it to memory, he was about to head back out to the couch when she moaned. Her head rocked back and forth as she reached up into the air for something he couldn’t see. “Noooo! M-Mom ... Tara ... I’m sorry ... so sorry.”

Frisco was shocked at her mention of family. He knew she didn’t have any now, but from the sound of it, Haven had lost some of them tragically. Her restlessness increased as her legs moved slightly under the covers, but she was still sound asleep. “It’s all my fault ... noooooooo!”

He grabbed her hand, before it could knock over the lamp, and squatted next to the bed. Brushing his other hand across her forehead, he whispered, “Sh. Haven. It’s okay. You’re safe. It’s okay, baby. I’m here.”

It took a few moments of reassuring her before she quieted under his touch.

Her hands closed around his arm and pulled him closer.

It was probably the stupidest idea of his recent past, but Frisco couldn’t let her go.

Carter’s words from months ago, sitting in the restaurant, came back to him.

Sometimes what a person wanted, wasn’t what they needed.

And Haven needed him; there was no way he’d be able to sleep on the couch tonight, knowing that.

Fishing into his pocket, he pulled out his wallet and phone and placed them on her night stand.

He’d discarded his socks and sneakers earlier out in the living room.

Carefully climbing over Haven, he slipped under the blankets and stretched out beside her on the queen-sized bed, resting his head on the spare pillow.

She turned on her side, away from him, clutching his forearm to her chest. Scooting closer, he spooned her, his front torso against her back.

He stayed awake until her soft breathing told him she was no longer having the nightmare, then closed his eyes and followed her into slumber.

Haven woke up feeling safe and secure ..

. and something poking her in the ass. A heavy weight lay across her waist and slow, steady breaths tickled her neck.

She stayed perfectly still as her eyes blinked open.

It was hot in the bedroom, but that probably had a lot to do with the hunky guy spooning her in his sleep.

The military wristwatch on the arm that was wrapped around her was a dead giveaway.

Well, that and the fact she highly doubted anyone would break through the property’s high-tech security system just to climb into bed with her and fall asleep—if anything, they’d do it to slit her throat.

As her mind cleared, she remembered him putting a pillow on his lap last night as they watched the movie, encouraging her to lay down and relax.

She hadn’t thought she’d be able to, since the only time she’d ever relaxed in the past was when she’d been alone, but apparently it had worked.

Somehow, Frisco had gotten her to drop her defenses and let him take care of her. What was she going to do about him?

She wanted nothing more than to roll over and wake him up with her lips on his and her hand down his pants.

Last night in the shower had proven all her girlie parts were in working order, but masturbating and fucking a man were two different things.

He’d already told her he could handle her disability, that he wasn’t bothered by it at all, but could she trust he wouldn’t regret it later or find her lacking in some way?

While her mind still held onto slivers of doubt, her heart told her something else.

Frisco was the type of man she’d spent her teen years and early twenties dreaming about—strong, confident, good-looking, smart, gentle—everything the alpha males had been in the romance novels she used to read.

But he was so much more than that. He had her daydreaming about a normal life again—one with a future.

“You’re thinking too hard,” he murmured in a sleepy voice. “I’m not going to jump you, but there’s nothing I can do about the morning wood. I’m a guy, remember?”

Oh, she definitely remembered, even without the stiff reminder. “Is there any particular reason you’re in my bed?”

“Mm-hmm. I had no choice. You grabbed my arm and flipped me over you after I carried you in here. By the way, you snore.”

Haven scoffed. “I do not!”

“Yes, you do, but I’m not complaining. It’s cute. ”

Turning, she faced him, chest to chest, as he adjusted the covers over them.

His eyes were still shut as if he didn’t want the day to start.

When she inhaled, his potent, male scent teased her nose and made her mouth water.

She brushed her fingers over his brow, and that made him lift his eyelids, but he remained silent as she gently traced the contours of his face. “What do you see in me?”

His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I don’t know who I am anymore. I don’t know who I’m supposed to be. I’ve pretended to be so many different people over the years that I don’t know who Haven Caldwell is ... hell, that’s not even my real name.”

“I won’t ask what it is.” He grasped her hand and kissed her fingertips.

“You’ll tell me someday. But you’ll always be Haven to me—not the one before you were hurt, but this one.

I like you, baby, a lot—warts and all. Hell, I’m half in love with you.

I’d give anything for you to take a chance on us.

There’s never been a woman in my life I couldn’t stop thinking about 24/7, someone I craved to be with all day and all night.

You’ve become an addiction I don’t want to recover from. ”

God, he was pushing all the right buttons.

Not wanting to think anymore, just feel, she leaned in and brushed her lips against his.

His eyes widened, but instead of kissing her back, he pulled away.

“Be very sure, Haven. I want you to be positive you’re not going to regret this, because I don’t think I’ll be able to walk away from you if you do.

This isn’t a one-night stand or just a fling until the op is over. ”

Her hand trailed seductively down his T-shirt-covered torso, over the waistband of the tan shorts he’d worn to bed, and further to the hard bulge underneath.

His breath hitched, and he groaned as his hips flexed forward.

Haven placed soft kisses over his whiskered jawline.

“I won’t ever regret this. It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted someone for more than one night or a weekend—but with you, it’s beyond that.

I’m falling for you. I’ve tried to fight it, but I can’t anymore—I surrender.

Remind me what it’s like to be alive again, Frisco. Make me scream your name.”