called room service. It was still too soon for bacon-wrapped scallops, so I ordered us both a bowl of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich, the foods Sylvia’s cook fixed me when I was sick as a kid. As Harmony wiped the happy tears from her face, I placed another call.
“It’s me,” I said when Bodhi answered his phone. “You can put on your pajamas and go to bed. I’ll take good care of your baby girl tonight.”
“Thank god. I knew you could do it, son.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
“Thank you for…everything. I’m forever in your debt.”
“Just love my girl with all your might and make her happy. That’s all I need.”
“With pleasure.” I smiled and hung up the phone.
“Was that…Dad?”
“Yep.”
“Oh, that traitor. He called you and told you I was here, didn’t he?”
I arched my brows. “Do you wish he hadn’t?”
“No way. I’m just surprised…but yet, I’m not. He picks up on things the way I do.”
Harmony sat up and stared at me as if she were trying to climb into my mind. A wide grin tugged her lips and she tossed her good arm straight into the air. “Finally.”
“What?”
“Your walls are down…completely gone. I can feel your emotions. Feel… Oh, my god.”
“What?”
“I can feel your love for me. It’s…enormous.”
I flashed her a cocky grin. “Wait till you feel how enormous it is once you’re healed.” A hot blush stained her cheeks. And I couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t worry. When the time comes, I’ll be so damn gentle…make you feel so good.”
“You already do…in every way.”
When she stroked my cheek, I captured her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “Would you like to have dinner on the terrace?”
“Oh, yes.” She smiled. “But I need to try and get some clothes on. I can’t stand this stiff hospital gown.”
“I’ll help you.”
“I’m not sure I can trust myself around you if I’m naked,” she whispered.
“Then trust me. I’ll be strong enough for the both of us.” Somehow.
I gently removed the braces on her knee and arm, and as Harmony sat on the edge of the bed, I threaded her feet through her soft cotton pajama bottoms. I was so worried about hurting her, I only lusted after her pretty bare pussy and dusty pink nipples a couple of seconds. Okay, maybe it was minutes, but I didn’t touch her with anything but noble assistance in my heart. She didn’t need me laving, sucking, and pawing all over her. She needed to put on some familiar comfortable clothing, find some normalcy, and rest so she could heal.
Harmony sucked in a hiss as I helped her into the tee with little hearts and arrows on it that matched the pants. After securing both braces again and feeding her a pain pill, I grabbed a pillow and a blanket, then gently picked her up and carried her out to the terrace. As her slender hand gripped my shirt, the demand to protect and keep her safe blazed through me like rocket fuel.
I settled Harmony on the padded chaise, tucked the pillow behind her head, and draped the blanket over her legs. Then I moved a small table and chair alongside her so I could feed her when dinner arrived.
“What happens now?” she asked in a timid tone.
“We wait for room service.” I knew she was asking about the future, but the smart-ass in me couldn’t resist teasing her just a little.
“No, I mean…you’ll be leaving for Chicago soon. Tomorrow, Dad and I are flying back to Kentucky, and—”
“No, you’re not. You’re coming home with me.”
“Excuse me?”
“After your arm heals, you need to start physical therapy. You can’t get that on your mountain.”
“Y-you want me to go to Chicago with you?”
Leaning in, I brushed a soft kiss over her lips, gingerly pressed my forehead to hers, and stared into her shimmering eyes. “Princess, I want you waking up beside me every morning, to spend every day with you by my side and close my eyes each night with your sexy, sated, spent body wrapped in my arms.”
“Ross,” she whispered, eyes filled with hope.
“Come home with me, Harmony. Let me love and take care of you.”
Tears filled her eyes again, happy ones, and with a watery smile, she nodded.
Chapter Nineteen
Harmony
Waking up in Ross’s big arms was the closest to heaven I’d ever been. Closer than standing at the top of my mountain with my arms stretched to the sky.
Eyes closed, I didn’t move a muscle, didn’t want to disturb