out next to her. He pulled her into his arms so she could rest her head on his chest.
As the dark quiet enveloped them, he realized how much time he'd spent thinking about where he needed to be, but he hadn't realized until just this moment that the only place he needed to be was right where he was: next to Keira. He had to find a way to make that happen after tonight.
Dante woke up to the sun streaming through the curtains. He was shocked that it was almost ten. Keira shifted away from him as her eyes fluttered open.
She gave him a sleepy smile. "Hey."
"Hey," he echoed, as he stole a kiss from her soft mouth. "How did you sleep?"
"Surprisingly well. What about you?"
"Best night's sleep I've had in a while. I like sleeping with you."
"Even if all we did was sleep?" she teased.
"Yes. Because I still got to hold you. How's your foot?"
"It aches a little, but nothing I can't tolerate."
"Tough girl."
"Not really."
"Don't deny it. I've seen how strong you are." He pulled her back to him, needing to have his arms around her, needing to kiss her again. But his phone started buzzing, and he was concerned it could be important news about the fire or Mandy, so he cut the kiss short and took the call. "Hello?"
"It's Lizzie. I hope I didn't wake you."
"No. We're up."
"Good. Because I'd love to bring you some breakfast. When is a good time?"
"Any time," he said. "Maybe twenty or thirty minutes."
"Perfect. I'll see you soon."
He set down the phone. "Lizzie is bringing us food."
"That's wonderful. I'm hungry," Keira added, as she sat up. "But I must look like a mess."
"An adorable mess." Her long brown hair was tangled with ashy dust throughout, her face was still smudged, and her clothes smelled like smoke. Or maybe that was his clothes. "We probably should have showered last night."
"I was too exhausted. But I need to pull myself together. There's a lot to do today."
"I'm available to help with whatever you need. In fact, I'm going to call the clinic and cancel my morning session."
She frowned. "You shouldn't do that."
"I want to go with you to your house."
"I appreciate that, but I want you to get your arm checked out."
"I'll keep the afternoon session," he said. "Do you want help getting into the shower? Or getting your clothes off?"
Her eyes sparked with amusement. "I think I can manage that myself and since we only have a short time until Lizzie arrives, I'll be quick, and then you can go after me."
"Together would be faster."
"I don't think so, Dante," she said with a laugh. She leaned forward and gave him a kiss. "Another time."
"Fine. There's a robe on the back of the door if you don’t want to put those clothes back on."
"I don't. I should ask Lizzie to bring me some clothes. Can you text her while I'm in the shower? Just tell her to bring me anything."
"Sure."
She slid off the bed and then limped into the bathroom.
He sent Lizzie a text, then got up and pulled the covers over the bed. He took a quick look in the mirror on the wall, realizing he looked as bad as Keira had. He didn't know if he had time to take a shower before their breakfast arrived, but he could at least change his clothes. As he finished putting on a pair of clean jeans and a T-shirt, his phone began to buzz. The GM's admin was texting him about his plans to join the team and if he needed help with his flights or transportation.
That answer was a little more difficult to answer now than it had been yesterday.
He couldn't leave Saturday. There was too much to say and do before then. Keira was homeless now. Her life was in shambles. He wanted to be there for her. He also wanted to figure out how they could take their love for each other and turn it into a relationship. Because the one thing he'd realized last night was that living without her wasn't an option.
He'd always been a man who shied away from commitment, especially to anything or anyone who might take him away from baseball. But he'd committed to her last night when he'd risked his arm and his life to save her. In doing so, he'd gotten a clarity he'd never had before.
He looked up as Keira came out of the bathroom in a white terry-cloth robe. Her hair was