Chapter 18       

Chase wasn’t sure how he’d gotten lucky enough to wake up with Moira lying on his chest, the kitten tucked between them. He certainly wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Last night, he’d been raw. More raw than he’d been in years. He blamed it on Dr. Sarah and Ally—maybe Carl had been part of the conspiracy too. Regardless, he’d felt more emotional than he had in decades.

Moira hadn’t seemed to mind. Not even Bonnie’s Helga persona was as tough as the Viking woman Moira had inside her. But she was tender too. She hadn’t chided him for his weakness. Nor had she tried to placate him with Pollyannaisms. She’d just held him. Showed him that he wasn’t alone. And the storm of emotions plaguing him had subsided while she was curled around him. He’d fallen asleep.

Clearly she’d meant it when she’d said she wasn’t going to leave him.

It was weird how much that phrase had affected him. No one had ever said it to him but Moira. Certainly not his mom, who’d withdrawn into herself after his dad’s suicide. Not even Evan.

He savored Moira’s warmth. Sure, his leg was throbbing with swelling after not being elevated overnight, but he could take it. He could handle anything if it meant he got to keep Moira in his arms.

Barney was purring against his chest, nestled between him and Moira.

Dammit if Bonnie hadn’t been right. The cat was a comfort. Purr vibrations and healing frequencies not withstanding.

Moira’s brown hair had a slight frizz to it in the morning light. If you asked him, it was adorable. Like the rest of her. She was the most incredible woman he’d ever met, hands down, and he’d met some of the most lauded bachelorettes in the U.S. and Europe. 

Chase decided to savor the feeling of holding her. He had no idea what time it was and realized he didn’t care—a certifiable thought for a man who usually lived according to his calendar. 

He was hungry, sure, and in physical pain, but he also felt a deep, abiding sense of peace. They hadn’t ended up eating any of the meal she’d brought. The grocery bags were still on the table where she’d left them last night.

Barney stirred suddenly and stood up on Moira’s tummy, looking directly at him. Chase met those oddly intent green eyes until the kitten jumped off the couch, likely heading to the kitty litter station Bonnie had set up in the kitchen yesterday.

Moira made a noise and rubbed her face into his chest, creating a stirring of desire in him. She was curling around him like a cat in her own way, and he loved it. 

“Ummm,” she drawled out, turning in his arms.

He winced as she jostled his casted arm, squashing the desire. Pain did that, he’d discovered. But then she started, like she’d come completely awake. Her head popped up, and she met his eyes. 

“Morning,” he said in a deep voice.

“Oh, good Lord,” she said in a raspy voice. “Did I fall asleep?”

“We both did,” he answered, using his good hand to smooth back the fuzzy hair from her forehead. “You’re adorable in the morning.”

She leveled him a look that could have been used as a new defensive weapon in the war on terrorism. “Words to make a woman feel just super.”

Easing off his chest, she looked down as if to ensure she hadn’t squashed Barney.

“He’s off doing his morning beauty routine,” he told her.

She slid carefully off his lap, and he rolled his neck to the right to stretch the tense muscles there. Lifting his right leg carefully, he rested his cast on the coffee table.

“Oh God,” she said. “You stayed like that all night? How do you feel?”

Telling her he felt like shit physically wouldn’t be kind. “I feel much calmer,” he said instead.

“Good,” she said, hopping off the couch.

She wove in place a little, and he lurched forward to steady her.

“I’m so not a morning person.”

He smiled. “Lucky for you I am.”

Her hair was standing up in fuzzy tufts. There were dark circles under her green eyes. And she had cat hair across her middle. 

She’d never looked more beautiful to him.

“Let’s elevate your leg,” she said, grabbing a pillow and helping him rest his cast on top of it. “What about your arm?”

He didn’t feel it anymore. “It’s numb.”

“That doesn’t sound good. Let’s get you comfortable and hope it subsides.”

She eased a pillow under his arm cast, being gentle. He shifted to make himself more comfortable. Tingling sensations started to zip across his injured arm. Shit. He bit his lip to keep from crying out. 

“I’m so sorry,” Moira said, worrying her lip.

“Don’t worry. It’s fine.”

“Bullshit,” she said. “You’re ready to howl.”

Dammit if she wasn’t right. “I am not.” 

“What did Andy prescribe for inflammation?” she asked. “I’m making you an egg and then giving you the pill.”

Yes, she was definitely more intimidating than his nurse. “I don’t need an egg.” The pain was making him nauseous, and the thought of runny eggs didn’t set well. 

“You’re having an egg,” she said, marching off to the kitchen.

He considered the definition of a lost cause as his casted arm shot painful tingles through him. Dammit, why did limbs hurt so much when they fell asleep? He breathed through it, listening with half an ear to Moira banging around in the kitchen. 

When Barney ran out of the room and jumped into his lap, he curled his good hand around the kitten. “She’s in a state, isn’t she?”

The kitten answered by settling against his belly and purring like a champion.

Minutes later, Moira brought out a wooden tray he hadn’t seen filled with an egg, orange juice, and a white pill. “This had better be gone by the time I come back.”

After she slipped back into the kitchen, he gazed at Barney, who had raised his head. “How can one woman be both scary and nice?”

The kitten’s response was to hide its head with its paws.

The commotion continued from the kitchen as he choked down the egg. Then he popped the pill in his mouth and washed it down with the last of his juice.

Moira strode out, her hair swirling around her head like Medusa’s snakes. “Good, you ate everything. I have to go home and clean up before going to work. Do you want to stay on the couch or go to bed? I can help you into the scooter if you want to head to your bedroom.”

Her laser-like focus was captivating. It was one of the first things he’d noticed about her after interviewing her for the Artemis job. “I’m good here.” He’d be way too tempted to grab her and pull her into that king bed with him otherwise. “Head on home.”

She marched over to him and studied him. “You look like shit. Get some rest and text me later. I…take care of yourself.” Leaning down, she gave him a swift kiss on the mouth.

He could feel her discomfort now. “You too.”

Looking over her shoulder, she said, “We forgot the food last night.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, stroking Barney’s soft fur. “What happened in lieu of dinner was a hell of a lot more important.”

A pink blush appeared on her cheeks. Was she embarrassed at how much closer they’d gotten? Last night, he’d fought it. This morning, it seemed like she was feeling uncomfortable.

“Make up with Bonnie,” she told him. “No one has a bigger heart.”

Indeed. She’d marooned her kitten over here just to make him feel better. “Will do. Are you coming tonight?”

“Do you want me to?” she asked simply.

He felt a slow smile spread across his mouth. “There’s nothing I want more, Moira.”

After last night, he was as sure of her as he’d been of Evan’s first invention. There was no going back for him, he realized, even if he didn’t know what that meant.

“I’ll be here,” she said. “Anything strike your fancy for dinner?”

Other than you? “You tell me, and I’ll smoke it.”

“You choose. I’m not picky.” She looked at her watch. “I need to go.”

She seemed antsy, ready to jump out of her own skin. But he couldn’t let her leave without showing her how much last night had meant to him.

“Give me a kiss before you take off.”

Her face blanched with shock. “Oh, of course.”

She crossed warily to him and leaned over. He yanked her to him, causing Barney to meow at the intrusion. Her mouth was warm and soft, and he showed her how much he was already missing her. When he was finished, she stood, panting.

“Well,” she rasped out. “Have a good day.”

“You too,” he said. Suddenly, inexplicably, he had the desire to find an endearment for her. That was totally weird. 

What was happening to him?

“Chase,” she said, turning at the door.

“Moira, get your coat on,” he told her.

She looked down. “Right. I forgot.”

After tugging on her winter gear, she faced him again. “Okay, I’m out of here. Text if you need anything.”

Everything he was and knew had been in turmoil after his session with Ally yesterday, but something was different this morning. He realized with a jolt that this was happiness. 

“I will,” he said, wishing he could march over to her and kiss her senseless. “Have a great day, beautiful.” There, he’d found one.

A quick smile flashed on her face, tugging at his heart, and then she was gone.

This time he didn’t feel so alone.