Holding Out for a Hero (Baytown Heroes #9)

Chapter 35

35

Movement in the bed woke Bess, and she started to stretch until the brace on her leg hindered the process. At the sharp pain, she was instantly reminded why her leg was held immobile and propped up on a pillow.

And she also remembered where she was. Brad’s apartment. Brad’s bedroom. Brad’s bed. And Brad was with her. Despite the pain, she smiled.

She’d rested fitfully the previous night in the hospital and hadn’t been a good patient. “It’s just stitches,” she’d complained to the doctor.

“Yes, stitches, and the blood you needed, and the IV antibiotics,” the doctor had argued. “And you’ll go home tomorrow but with strict instructions.”

She’d started to pout, but when he warned about the evils of getting an infection or blood clot in her leg, and then spied the tight-jawed, grim expression on Brad’s face and the tearful, wide-eyed expression on Belinda’s face, she simply nodded.

Then he’d announced where they’d go after the hospital. “Before you even think of arguing, you will be coming home with me.”

She’d blinked but easily acquiesced. “Okay.”

His brows had lifted, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Okay?”

She’d nodded and shrugged. “I can’t stand, walk, or bend my leg right now. I have no idea how I’m going to get up my stairs unless you carry me, and the staircase to my apartment is narrow. I’ll come home with you, but you’ll still have to help me up the stairs to your apartment. Unless I make a bed in the bakery?—”

“You’re not sleeping in the bakery. Hell, you’re not working until you’re healed.”

“I have to work, Brad. If Bess’s Bakery doesn’t open, then my bills don’t get paid. And I need money to buy you a new jacket.”

His chin had jerked back as his eyes narrowed again. “A new jacket? What are you talking about?”

“I got blood on your jacket,” Bess had muttered, staring at the jacket lying on the back of the chair, stained with her blood. Brad’s dad had stopped by his apartment and brought a change of clothes for him, but his jacket was left where he’d tossed it when he came into her hospital room.

“Don’t worry about the jacket, Babe. It’ll go to the dry cleaners. Hell, it can go into the garbage, for all I care.” He leaned closer. “I just need you to be okay.”

“I’m fine,” she’d repeated, but glanced down at her leg again before leaning her head back on the pillow.

“You aren’t fine now, but you will be. And I’ll be right there to make sure.”

Now, she was waking in his bed, with him still lying beside her. She stared, noting the fatigue etched on his face. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered as her hand reached for him.

He blinked and returned her stare before concern filled his eyes. “Sorry for what? Bess, the first thing out of your mouth in the hospital when you came to was to ask about Carol. The second thing was to ask about Artie. You never got around to asking about your leg until you’d wrung all the information out of me about the whole operation being run out of Artie’s business. And after that, you made everyone who’d come by to see how you were doing promise to go out and check on Artie because you didn’t want him to be alone.”

“What’s your point?” she huffed.

He rolled toward her and curled his body around hers, making sure not to jostle her wrapped leg that was still propped up on a pillow. “My point is that you worry about everyone else, and now is the time to worry about yourself.”

She loved being wrapped up by him but hated feeling out of control when it came to her business. “If I hadn’t bought that damn van—Oh my God!”

His arms tightened at her outburst. “Jesus, babe, what’s wro?—”

“BeBe? I saw BeBe, and she wasn’t all chopped up! We need to get her?—”

“Shh,” he soothed while brushing the hair away from her face and cupping her cheek. “It’ll all be sorted. Your beloved bug is at the sheriff’s office, locked safely away. It has to be processed for fingerprints, and then we’ll have it checked out. It’ll be back to you soon.”

She sighed, her relief palpable. Considering everything that happened, being thrilled about her car being found intact might seem silly. But the nostalgic attachment she had to her grandfather’s Volkswagen Beetle could not be discounted. She was practical enough to know she would have lived with the situation had BeBe been dismantled or already sold, but she was still easily sentimental.

A knock sounded on the door, and now it was Brad’s turn to sigh. He kissed her gently, then rolled to his side of the bed. “Looks like the day is getting started.”

“Belinda? Is she here?”

He chuckled as he pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. “Belinda and Aaron, for sure. Probably my mom and Carol, who already plan on working with Lottie to open your bakery for limited hours and with a limited menu starting tomorrow. I think she said Carol and Lottie would handle the baking, and Mom said she’d work with Belinda behind the counter. The county is already excited that you helped solve the auto theft cases, so your shop will be swamped.”

“Really? Oh my God, how sweet!”

“As to who else is out there, I have no idea.” Then he speared her with a firm stare as he walked back to the bed and assisted her to a seated position with her back against pillows and her leg elevated. “You take it easy. And I have some days off to help make sure you do.” His lips landed on hers, and she forgot all about the pain in her leg.

A knock sounded on the bedroom door, and Belinda called out, “Brad! Are you and Sis dressed?”

She widened her eyes as she looked at him and giggled. “I guess we’ve held them off for as long as we can.”

He kissed her again, then mumbled against her lips, “I’ll go see who else is out there.”

Brad opened the door, not surprised to see Belinda rush in. She was quickly followed by a couple that, at one glance, knew must be Mr. and Mrs. Crowder.

“Mom!” Bess called out, her smile beaming despite the pain he knew she felt.

Brad watched as her parents hurried to her side, then their gazes dropped to her leg and their movements slowed.

“Oh, baby,” Mrs. Crowder cried, bending over the bed so she could wrap her arms around Bess without hurting her. She finally let go long enough for Mr. Crowder to move in, his heartfelt embrace much like his wife’s.

Brad moved to step out of the room when a gentle hand on his arm stopped him. Turning, he smiled down at the woman who looked up at him with tears in her eyes. Red hair with only a hint of gray. Blue eyes. A beautiful woman who was easy to see where Bess and Belinda got their looks. “I’m Peggy, Bess’s mom. You must be Brad.”

“Yes, ma’am. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Oh, the honor is ours, and please call me Peggy.” Her gaze landed on Aaron as he walked into the room. “You two wonderful men have taken such good care of our girls.”

Mr. Crowder stood, his hand thrust out. “I’m Matthew. Just met Aaron a few minutes ago when we got in, and it’s good to finally meet you, too. Peggy and I can’t thank you enough.”

Brad walked over to greet the smiling man whose eyes held worry. “I’m glad you got to make it here, Matthew. I know Bess is thrilled to have you back. Or at least visiting.”

“We’ll be back to stay in a couple of months. Our house should be ready right before the new year, and we’re pushing the builder to have it complete so we can be in by Christmas. Jules and Gwennie will be able to travel here by then.”

“That’ll be perfect!” Bess exclaimed from the bed. Her parents moved back to her side, and Belinda was already curled close to her sister.

Brad smiled at Bess, then turned to walk into the living room, not surprised to see it was as crowded as he’d assumed. His parents were there, along with Carol, and they had already met the Crowders. His mother offered a hug and then said, “Your dad is dropping me and Carol off at the bakery. We’ll help Lottie.”

Colt’s wife, Carrie, was there with Hayley and Belle, all three dropping off food and finding places in his refrigerator to store the containers. Once they’d said quick hellos to Bess, they were on their way. After visiting, Belinda and Bess’s parents left, promising to come back later.

Mark was leaning against the counter, and when Brad approached, he clapped Brad on the shoulder. “Glad she’s okay, partner. I only stopped by to tell you that the charges against the four have increased, and for Flip, that includes kidnapping along with the drug charges. County prosecutor is already checking to see what other charges we can bring against them.”

Brad grinned, nodding. “Good work. Anyone seen Artie, by the way? Bess has been asking about him.”

“He’s got a number of people dropping in to look after him, but I also know he wants to visit with Bess as soon as she’s able.” He shook Brad’s hand and added, “Take your days off, and don’t worry about anything. I’ll handle the paperwork.”

A knock on the door sent Brad back across the living room. When he flung the door open, he spied a woman wearing nursing scrubs. She smiled as she shook her head. “So, we meet again. Although I do wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Nice to see you, Karen. And I agree… it needs to be when one of the Crowder women don’t need you,” Aaron called out as Brad stepped back to allow her to pass.

“Hey, Karen. Bess is right through there, in the bedroom. Belinda and her parents were visiting but have just left.”

She started to walk toward the hallway when she looked over at Mark and stopped. Jerking slightly, she smiled before passing him to move toward the bedroom.

“This is my partner, Detective Mark Robbins. This is Karen Drummond, the home health nurse. She took care of Belinda and now has Bess under her care.”

She smiled at Brad. “I hate the reason, but I feel lucky to have the Crowder sisters as friends as well as patients.” She nodded toward Mark. “It’s nice to meet you, Detective Robbins.”

“You can call me Mark, Ma’am. It’s nice to make your acquaintance.”

“And Karen is fine,” she said, inclining her head while smiling before turning to walk down the hall.

Brad noticed Mark kept his gaze on Karen all the way until she disappeared out of sight. “You okay, man? Saw that you noticed her.”

Mark blinked, then shook his head slightly. “Yeah. Pretty lady.” With a chin lift in goodbye, he headed out of the apartment.

Brad quirked his lips on one side, catching Aaron’s grin. Looking around, he realized the room was now empty. “Is life with Belinda always this exciting?”

Aaron rolled his eyes. “I never know what’s going to happen next. And I have a feeling life with Bess will be just the same.”

“Then we’re two lucky men,” Brad proclaimed. As they moved to the counter, which was loaded with more food, he heard laughter coming from the bedroom. He grinned, knowing just how lucky he was. And planned on doing everything he could so that Bess felt the same way.