Page 5 of Hot Pursuit (Love To The Rescue #1)

FOUR

LOGAN

I carried her straight to the master bathroom that was connected to my bedroom.

“This is your bathroom,” she squeaked. I wasn’t sure if she was asking or pointing it out, so I shrugged. “Shouldn’t I use the guest bath, or honestly, I think I’m okay sleeping on the couch?—“

“Shh…” I hushed, dipping my head and kissing the top of hers. I could feel her nervousness building. “This one has the bigger shower,” I pointed out. “And honestly, I’m not sure when I last cleaned the guest bathroom.”

“That wouldn’t be a problem,” she reassured me, making me shake my head.

“It’ll be a quick shower, okay? Just to clean you up, and then we can rebandage your cuts like doc wanted.” She chewed on her bottom lip, absentmindedly nodding while looking around my space.

“This isn’t a bathroom. It’s a spa,” she whispered in awe. I chuckled.

“You’re sweet. I’ll take that as a compliment since I did the work here,” I shared, trying to see the place through her eyes.

“You did?” she gasped. I couldn’t help myself and continued to share since it seemed to get her to relax a little.

“When I bought this place, everyone thought I was crazy.” I shrugged.

“I needed a project. Originally, I wanted to flip it. A friend of mine in the fire department and I have flipped a couple of places in the past, but halfway through tearing down the walls, I decided something about it felt like home.”

“It’s beautiful,” she complimented. I winked before leaning into the shower and turning the water on. I’d never been more thankful I’d invested in triple shower heads, the one in the center of the ceiling being a rainfall shower head.

“Wow, that’s like something from an HGTV show.”

“I chose them“—I pointed at the showerheads—“thinking about those long shifts I work. Something to relax my muscles after a long day.”

“Isn’t that what the tub is for?” She pointed at the polished bear claw tub in the corner of the bathroom.

I hadn’t taken a bath in it yet since buying and refurbishing it.

Now all I could think about, all I could see in my head, was Violet in there with me. Her naked, soapy back against my front and all the sinfully delicious things I’d do to her. I couldn’t go there.

“I’m not a big bath guy.” I cleared the raspiness out of my voice.

I couldn’t go getting hard and making her uncomfortable.

There was something about her that yelled innocence or at the very least inexperience.

She didn’t need some cop pawing at her when she needed to feel safe after the horrible day she’d had.

“Let me get you a towel, and we will have you all set up.”

“Thank you.” She blushed. There was that innocent shyness again. It called to me like something addicting. Something I wanted to take, fuck the consequences. I shook away the caveman thought and moved closer to her after setting a couple towels on top of the vanity.

“Here, let me help,” I offered. My hands skimmed the hem of the hoodie she was wearing.

My hoodie. Like a bastard, I didn’t want to take it off.

Seeing her in my clothes since hers had been cut off her beautiful body when she was rushed to the hospital had made me want to pound on my chest. I’d never thought of myself as a possessive asshole.

But Violet had woken something up inside of me.

I knew I would be dressing her back in my things, making sure it was my clothes that covered her skin.

My thoughts moved to the day. Less than a day, and she had changed me. Just the reminder of everything that had happened, that could have happened, had me pulling her close. Closer than I had any right to.

“Oh!” she gasped but didn’t push me away.

If anything, my beautiful princess wrapped her arms around me, and after a beat of my free hand stroking her hair, she melted into me.

My arm dropped, and I held her with both arms surrounding her, loving the way her soft, curvy body felt against mine. I heard her sniffle against my chest.

“You okay?” I asked, pulling away slightly to look down at her. Those big pretty brown eyes locked with mine, and she nodded. They were glassy. She blinked and dropped her stare to my chest.

“Hey, don’t do that. Don’t hide. Not from me,” I encouraged gently, pulling her chin up carefully with the tips of my fingers. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”

“Because of you,” she whispered.

I started to shake my head, ready to argue with her, to tell her she had it all wrong. I might not have been the one trapped in a car with electrical wires snapping around me, but she saved me when I didn’t know I needed it.

But I didn’t say shit.

How could I when her hand left my waist and moved between us, not stopping until it reached the side of my face?

The inside of her hand was baby soft, and my eyes shut for a moment, soaking in her touch.

I wanted to laugh at myself. I was a goner for this girl, and I didn’t even know her favorite color yet.

But I knew she was it for me. In my bones and right through to my soul.

“You were my hero today. And you keep making everything okay. I don’t know how, but I will make it up to you one day, Officer Logan Monroe. I promise.” She was too fucking sweet for her own good.

“Vi—“

“Shh.” She winked playfully and stepped away. “I should shower.” Her delicate hands dropped from my face and moved to the hem of the hoodie, and she started to raise it when she made a whimpering sound.

“Shit, you okay?” I watched as she breathed through the pain. When she looked up at me, I knew I would do anything to keep her safe and happy.

“I don’t know if I can do this. I keep bugging you.” She frowned, and I shook my head.

“You could never bug me, princess. What can I do?”

“I think the pain pills are wearing off. My entire body hurts…” Her eyes got watery, but I could tell she was doing everything in her power not to cry.

Jesus, her strength was incredible. Humbling.

This protective need washed through me. All I wanted to do was keep her safe. Shield her from the world.

“What can I do?”

“Do you think you could maybe help me?” she asked shyly, and I nodded.

“Of course.” I rolled my head and ignored the way my hands shook slightly as I moved my hands to the hem of the hoodie, lifting it up and over her head while my eyes avoided her body.

This wasn’t sexual. I needed to take care of my woman and help her wash away the day.

Without a word spoken between us, I took her clothes off and then double checked the temp of the water before leading her into the shower.

“You don’t have to—“ she started to say when she noticed I was right behind her.

“Let me, ‘kay?” I was taking liberties I had no right to. She didn’t know me, but I could t help myself. And when she nodded, silently giving me permission, I felt ten feet tall. We might have just met, but a part of her trusted me. “I got you, princess,” I promised.

Fully clothed, I stepped in behind her and got to work.

I didn’t let my hands or eyes linger on her body.

Instead, I focused on her eyes and face.

Cataloging every detail in my head. When she tilted her head back and let the rain shower’s steamy water pelt down on her, I could feel something change in the air.

I’d never been so attuned to someone’s emotions as I was with her.

She pressed her lips together, and when she looked at me, if I had had any doubts about Vi being mine, they would have melted away right then and there.

“I could have died today,” she said out loud, almost as if she needed to say it for herself.

“You didn’t,” I immediately responded, holding her face with both hands. “You didn’t. You’re right here. I promise you, Vi, I won’t let anything bad happen to you. Not ever again.” I had no idea where the words were coming from, but fuck, they felt good. Right.

Tears mixed with the water, and I pulled her into me. Hugging her tightly, stroking the back of her head as she sobbed into my chest.

“It’s okay. Shhh, everything is okay.”

“What if you hadn’t been there? What if?—”

“Shh,” I soothed. “Playing the what-if game never helps.” I tried to ignore how fucking good she felt in my arms. This was not the time to get hard. Not that I could have done that with the way her body wracked with sobs.

I held her tightly, and she held on to me like I was her lifeline, one I was more than happy to be for the rest of our lives.

Slowly, she calmed down, but I didn’t let her go because I was a selfish bastard.

My clothes were soaked through, and I could feel her nude body pressed against mine, clinging to me for comfort.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered once her breathing settled.

“Nothing to be sorry about.” I lifted her chin with the tip of my fingers. “Let me wash and condition your hair, and we’ll get out of here.” She nodded, and I got to work.

Once I was done, I stepped out of the shower and wrapped her up with the towel, then carefully lifted her onto the counter.

“Let me comb out your hair,” I offered.

“What about you?” she asked, holding on to the front of the towel. I reached behind me and grabbed a robe, covering her body with it, tightening the belt around her sweet waist.

“What about me?” I asked, picking up a comb.

“Logan, you’re dripping wet,” she pointed out, looking at me like I’d lost it. And in a way, I had.

“I’ll get dressed after you’re taken care of.”

“No. I can brush my— ow!” she cried when she tried to take the comb out of my hands. “How do I hurt this much?” she whispered with defeat I didn’t like hearing in her voice.

“Hey, we’re only human,” I encouraged.

“I don’t know if that’s true about you. You were like a superhero out there. My very own Superman.” I ignored the compliment and shook my head.

“It was a stressful situation you were in, and your body tensed up. Now the muscles have to contract back out and relax.”