Page 20 of Lethal Threat

“Yeah, why?”

“You’re… just not what I expected.”

I chuckle to cover the tension coiling inside of me. “Oh, this should be good. You can explain that later. We should get going.”

Chapter Seven

SIERRA

I’m engaged?

To a total hunk.

Complete with a sexy husky voice. Great smile. Rocking body.

The man offers his big, inviting hand. He even waves his fingers. “Come on, sweetheart.”

Uh…

Panic flickers through me. I wanted out of the hospital, but now I’m scared to leave. “Okay,” I croak, but I’m clutching the foot of the hospital bed like it’s a lifeline.

As my heart rate ticks up, I stall. “Can you get those shoes for me?”

He looks at the flip-flops—the cheap hospital ones. “These?”

“It’s all I’ve got.”

“Damn. I should have thought.”

“Not like I’m running any races. They’re fine.”

He’s grumbling when he sets them in front of me. Pink flip-flops. A black T-shirt with a bright Transformer character on the front. A pair of too-big gym shorts.

Yep. This is a hot new look. If you’re trying to scare your new fiancé off.

“Need anything else, sweetheart?”

It strikes me he’s thoughtful. Totally present. Tuned in.Wow.

He’s got this way of seeing right past what I’m saying and without a word, proving that he knows what’s really on my mind.

“Is it cold outside?”

“Crisp. You’ll be fine until we get in the car. Then we’re going to pick up your clothes.” He grins. “You can change if you like. Not that you have to…”

“If you think I’m going to be caught dead wearing this, you’re not only handsome, you’re crazy.”

Ooops.

“Handsome, huh?”

“A little. Maybe a seven.”

He chuckles and holds his hand out for me.

I’m not sure if I find the ease with which he reads me and helps me shift from one mood to the next impressive, or if it’s disturbing. Especially given how messy it feels inside my head right now. No one else needs to see that.

I stand up and he tucks me against his side.