“You need to rest,” Trace chimed in again. He couldn’t help it. The dark circles under her eyes and the emotional exhaustion he could see coming tore into him.
“What Ineedis to be with my family.”
“Trace is right,” Coop backed him up. “You’ve been through a lot.”
“So have you.”
“Yeah, but I’m used to this sort of thing. So is Mac.” Coop put his hands on his sister’s shoulders. “Listen, Sis. Danger aside, everything that happened today? Sooner or later, that shit’s gonna hit. And when it does, you don’t want to be stuck in some hard-as-fuck hospital chair. Trust me.”
When Emma remained quiet, Coop added one, final plea. “Please, Em. I get that I’m asking a lot, here. But Jake hired Trace to run Charlie Team for a reason. He’s trained for situations like this. And if McQueen trusts him”—his eyes slid to Trace and back—“then I do, too.”
Well, what do ya know.
“I get that, but—”
“Emma, please.” Coop cut his sister off sharply. “I need to know you’re safe for the night. Trace can bring you back here first thing tomorrow, and we’ll figure out the rest, then.”
The hallway was quiet as Emma considered everything her brother had said. Standing behind Coop, Trace waited for the argument to continue.
It didn’t.
Instead, Emma surprised him by wrapping her arms around Coop’s neck and hugging him closely.
“Okay.” Her eyes met Trace’s from over her brother’s shoulder, lingering there for a full second before she pulled back to look at Coop again. “But promise me, you’ll call if anything changes with Mac or Jake.”
“I promise.”
With a nod, Emma glanced his way and arched a brow. “I guess you’re stuck with me.”
Definitely not the worst situation I’ve ever been in.
Maybe not. But given his body’s seemingly uncontrollable reaction to the spunky woman, it also wouldn’t be the easiest.
“Crap.” Emma put a hand to her forehead and groaned. “My purse is still at the office. My phone and wallet...my keys to my apartment. It’s all in there.” She sighed. “I can’t believe I didn’t think about that before now.”
“I’ll call Eric,” Coop offered. “See if he can get someone to go inside the building and get it for you. I’m sure he can have an officer bring it by the hotel. I’ll also see about getting our vehicles out of the parking garage ASAP.”
“Thanks.” She blew out another breath.
For the third time, Coop pulled his phone from his pocket. To Trace, he asked, “What’s your number?”
Trace gave him the digits. Two seconds later, his own phone dinged with an incoming text.
“There.” Coop shoved his phone back into his jeans. “Now you have mine, too. What hotel are you staying at?”
He told him the name and his room number.
“Nice place.” Coop sounded impressed. “Text me when you get there. And if you need anything, call me. I don’t care what time it is.”
“Copy that.” Trace offered the man his hand. “You do the same.”
Returning the gesture, Emma’s brother shook his hand before giving her one final hug. “I’ll call Eric as soon as I check on Mac.”
Then, without another word, Coop returned to his fiancée’s room.
Alone in the hallway, Trace looked at Emma. Emma stared up at him. And for the first three seconds, neither of them said a word.
Then they both spoke up at once.