Slade Read online

  It humiliated her slightly knowing she needed the help. She didn’t struggle as the large man guided her to step out of the tub. His arm kept her on her feet and she needed it. She clutched the towel around the front of her but there was no helping her back being totally bare. Trisha knew her face must be flaming pink. Brass suddenly gripped her towel and pulled it from her grasp.

  Trisha’s mouth hung open. Her focus flew to the man holding her towel. He kept his gaze locked with hers. He released her arm and then opened the towel to wrap it around her body securely before he reached for her again. He just scooped her up into his strong arms and gently placed her on the counter. Brass turned, grabbed another towel, and without a word went to work on her dripping hair.

  “Thank you.”

  Brass nodded. “You’ve been very strong. For someone so little, you have my full respect, Dr. Norbit. You have been very tough but now it is time for you to allow someone to take care of you.”

  “Please call me Trisha.”

  He flashed a smile. “I’m going to pick you up again now that your hair won’t soak your bed and put you on it. I see you have pajamas but I’ve suffered enough injures to warn you from past experiences that you are better off without anything on while you heal. Up you go.”

  He dropped the towel from her hair into the sink and lifted her up into his arms. Brass gently carried her out of the bathroom and to her bed where someone had already lowered the blankets. Brass eased her down onto the mattress and removed his arms from around her. He held out his hand and closed his eyes.

  “I’ll take the wet towel into the bathroom to hang while you cover up.”

  Trisha handed the towel over and pulled up the blankets to her chest. She watched Brass return to her bathroom where he stayed for a few minutes cleaning it. Then he walked out, flipped off the light behind him, and gave her a nod before he disappeared out of her room. He immediately returned, pushing a food cart that had three shelves with multiple covered dishes. Trisha gawked at the sight.

  “That can’t all be for me.”

  He shrugged. “Justice didn’t know what you wanted to eat so he ordered six dishes to be prepared. The Council has its own personal chef. Justice placed a phone call for food to be prepared when he knew you would be arriving. There are also desserts. Again, Justice didn’t know what you would eat so he had them send a little of a lot.”

  Brass removed a large tray. He placed it over Trisha’s lap and smiled. “I’ll open up the dishes to show you what you have to choose from.”

  “You will help me eat all this, right?”

  Brass chuckled. “I was hoping you would ask. I’m starving.”

  Trisha’s stomach rumbled loudly. Her face blushed warmly when Brass chuckled again. He’d obviously heard it. He started removing the covers while he listed the food that had been prepared. He didn’t touch the desserts.

  “I’ll take the prime rib and the tri-tip dinners. Is that all right?”

  He grinned. “That’s fine. I’m grateful you didn’t want the ribs. I saw those and my mouth began to water. You are hungry, aren’t you?”

  “I’m starving.”

  Brass set both dishes on the tray. He left the room and returned minutes later with a few sodas. Trisha took a cherry-flavored one. She kept three kinds in her fridge. Brass hesitated.

  “I’ll go into the living room and eat. Call out if you need anything.” He lifted the pork-rib dish.

  “You can sit there.” She pointed to the chair next to her bed. The nightstand was cleared on that side so he’d have a table to eat on. “I was going to turn on the TV. I’m sorry there isn’t one in the living room. I planned to buy a few things for the house but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. You could stay in here to watch TV and I’ll even give you the remote if you promise no history stuff or sports.”

  He laughed. “You pick the channel.” Brass sat down and put his plate on the table. He opened up one of the sodas. “Thanks. What are you planning on changing? It’s a nice house.”

  “I hate this bed and I want to turn the spare bedroom into an office.” She motioned toward the corner where she had a desk set up. “I don’t want my office in my bedroom. I need to relax in here and every time I glance at it, all I think about is work.”

  Brass turned his gaze to her. “What’s wrong with the bed? I enjoy a big four-poster and that one looks solid.”

  “It’s too big. I feel as though I’m five years old every time I climb into it and I do have to climb.” She glanced at the floor. “See that stepstool?” She shrugged.

  Brass darted a look down and started to chuckle. He tried to stop but he looked too amused to hide it. “You are short, in the bed’s defense. You’re a few inches shorter than average for a woman.”

  “Yeah, I know.” She cut her prime rib and took a bite. She moaned. “So good.”

  Brass choked on his soda. Trisha turned her head to find him staring at her and he thumped his chest.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Fine.” He nodded. “I take it from that sound you made that you’re enjoying it and the Council chef is worth the money they pay him?”

  “He’s worth every penny.” She cut into the tri-tip and took a bite. She moaned again as she smiled. “Perfect. Delicious. Almost melts inside my mouth.”

  Brass stared at her.

  “Do you want to try some? They gave me large portions.”

  “No thank you. It’s all yours. I love the ribs. I might hit up that roast-beef plate though after I eat this if you don’t want it. We tend to eat a lot.”

  “Help yourself. I’ll never finish all this.”

  They ate. Trisha found an action movie they both agreed on. Brass managed to eat three dishes and found room for dessert. He gave her two pain pills. Sometime during the movie she drifted off to sleep.

  * * * * *

  “Trisha?”

  She woke feeling fuzzy. She stared up at Brass, seeing his face about a foot over hers in the dim but not totally dark room. She blinked up at him, letting memory return. He was staying inside her house to guard her. He smiled at her.

  “Those drugs really hit you hard. I’ve been trying to wake you for a few minutes. I just got word on Slade.”

  Those words shoved all lingering sleep away and she tried to sit up. Brass suddenly shoved her down. His hands gently gripped her shoulders and he grinned. “Watch your blankets, Trisha. You almost flashed your breasts.” His hands released her.

  Crap. She’d forgotten she wasn’t wearing clothes. She gripped the blankets to keep them in place. “Sorry. Is he all right?”

  “He is fine. They are bringing him in right now to Homeland. He ran into one of our teams about twenty minutes ago. He has been shot but it’s just a flesh wound. They are taking him to a hospital to have him checked over but he should be returned to Homeland within a few hours.”

  Tears welled but she blinked them back over hearing the news that Slade was safe and alive with only a flesh wound. He’d been shot. All that registered. She’d seen firsthand how tough New Species could be and how quickly they healed. She wasn’t too worried that the injury would be life threatening if they expected him at Homeland soon.

  “Thank you.”

  “Go back to sleep. I hated to wake you but Justice said you wanted to know when he knew. I’m sure Slade will come here as soon as he returns to personally check on you. Just rest. You need it.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled at him. “Can you tell Justice I appreciate everything?”

  “Sure.” Brass backed away to return to the living room.

  Trisha studied the bedroom. Brass had closed her drapes but weak light peeked between them. She glanced at the clock, surprised to realize it was five minutes past six in the morning. She rolled over and the drugs lured her back to sleep.

  Slade is safe.

  * * * * *

  Slade didn’t want to sit on the chair or even be at the meeting. He needed to go to Trisha. He wouldn’t truly feel ca