Chapter 19

Steele sat on the side of Elena’s bed with one foot planted on the floor and the other leg tucked under him. Elena was propped up on two pillows against the headboard. The blanket was at her waist, exposing the top of the lavender nightgown she had changed into after finally being able to shower. Steele had suffered through the moans and groans coming from the shower, but at least she was getting back to normal. If things could ever be normal for her again. He held a bowl of chicken soup under her chin, waiting with a spoon filled with the steaming liquid.

Elena swallowed. “You’re making too much of a fuss over—”

Steele slid the spoon between her parted lips. She clamped her mouth shut, but all that did was trap the spoon inside her mouth. She slurped the soup off the spoon. Steele pulled it out and scooped up another spoonful. He held it up. Elena turned her head to the side.

“No more,” she said.

“It’s good for you.”

“I can feed myself, you know.”

“I know, but I like doing it.”

“Since when did you become a mother hen? What happened to that tough guy I fell in love with.”

Balancing the spoonful of soup with a steady hand, Steele moved it to Elena’s lips. She snapped them shut and stared at him with her lips pinched together until he took it away.

“I had enough,” Elena said. Steele moved the spoon toward her. She turned her head. “I mean it. I’m full.”

Steele placed the spoon in the bowl which he put on the end table. “Tell me, how are you really feeling?”

“I’m fine. Just a little sore and...” she lowered her eyes, “embarrassed.”

Steele brushed some loose hairs still damp from the shower off her face and tucked them behind her ear. He stroked her cheek. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“I feel so dirty.”

“You did nothing wrong. It wasn’t your fault.”

Elena wiped a watery eye before another tear fell. “What am I going to do?”

“Move on. Put it behind you. What’s done is done. If I’ve learned anything from my time in the service, it was to do that.”

The doorbell rang. Elena’s eyes looked past Steele.

“Expecting someone?” Steele said.

Elena shook her head. Fear in her eyes.

Steele jumped off the bed and hurried to the front door. When he opened it, he came face to face with a serious-looking Apache.

“How’s Elena?” Buck said.

“She’s doing okay.”

“May I see her?”

Steele led Buck to Elena’s bedroom and stuck his head around the door. “You have company.”

Elena snatched the blanket and yanked it up to her neck. Her eyes were as wide as the swelling would permit. Steele pushed the door open and he and Buck entered.

Buck stopped short when he saw Elena. Two black, swollen eyes. A cut and swollen lip. A red blotch on one cheek.