Though their interactions after Brody left was minimal, knowing someone with Rocky’s training and experience was there, watching over her… It was the only reason she’d been able to even consider falling asleep.
It still hadn’t come easily, however. The long, hot shower and even longer crying jag had probably helped. Ro was just thankful Brody hadn’t been around to see it.
The door to the bathroom opened, and a cloud of steam was set free. Brody’s imposing figure filled the doorway, but he froze when he realized she was awake.
“Hey.” Those dark eyes found hers in the shadowed room. “Sorry if I woke you. Figured I should probably clean up after…” He looked at her injured arm. “How do you feel? Are you hurting?”
“It’s sore and throbs a little,” she answered honestly. Although the view certainly helped to take her mind off the pain. “I took something for the pain a couple hours ago, so it’s not bad.”
“What about your head?” Brody stepped closer into the room.
The closer he got the harder Ro found it to breathe.
Wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and no shirt, Brody looked like every woman’s alpha male dream come to life. Tall. Dark. Naturally tanned. And a body so perfectly sculpted it could have been made from stone.
Her gaze fell to the dark tattoo made of four triangles on the inside of his right forearm.
The larger triangle was solid black, and there was a smaller one upside down below it. Drawn over the center of the larger one were two other triangles—both upside down, and both simple outlines.
Ro remembered when he’d come home after BUD/S with it, and she’d asked what it meant. He’d said it was something to do with the elements, and it symbolized that he, as a SEAL, would move heaven and earth to protect the innocent the best way he knew how.
That’s my Brody. Always trying to save the world.
She’d always loved that tattoo…and the man it belonged to.
“Ro?”
Her eyes flew up to his, and she knew she’d been caught gawking. But after everything that had happened—including the kiss that had left her heart swell and her body wanting more—Ro couldn’t bring herself to care.
“Sorry, what?”
A knowing glance met hers, and if she wasn’t mistaken, there’d been the slightest of twitches lifting one corner of his mouth. “I asked about your head.”
It’s all wrapped up in you.“It’s fine. A little sore, but nothing I can’t handle.” Afraid to ask how things had gone with Clayton, Ro chickened out and instead asked, “Is Rocky still here?”
Brody shook his head as he walked slowly across the room toward his closet. “He left after I got back.”
Just ask him.
“Did you…see Clayton?”
Ro held her breath and waited.
“We did.” Brody pulled out a thick, folded blanket from the closet before shutting the door.
“And?”
“And…” He set the blanket down near the foot of the bed. “You were right. At least, it seems as if you were.”
“So…youdidn’tkill Clayton?”
His broad, noticeably bare shoulders shook with a breathy chuckle. “No, Princess. Clayton Yorke is still very much alive, although I’m not sure howwellhe’s doing, at the moment.”
“What do you mean?”
Making his way around the foot of the bed, Brody came over to where she was. He sat down, his body filling the space between her and the mattress’s edge.
“It seems you’re not the only one who’s been keeping secrets.”