Gage flashed his crooked grin and chuckled. Take a breath, Zee. Youre gonna pass out if you dont breathe between paragraphs.
She soft-punched his arm, then took a hard look at him. He had a couple of days growth of dark brown beard. His mahogany eyes were rimmed with red. Lines of fatigue creased his face, and hair that hadnt seen scissors in too long curled in rumpled disarray. Hed never looked better to her. In fact, he looked sexy. She shook off the unexpected reaction and opted for the safer, familiar ribbing that had served her so well in high school.
Jeez, Gage, you look like crap.
He arched an eyebrow and grunted. Gee, thanks. He took her elbow and guided her inside, closing the door and frowning when he saw the dingy room. Youve been living here?
Only for the last day. Since Derek pilfered all my money for his gambling debts, free is all I can afford. She crossed her arms over her chest and swallowed hard to loosen the knot of emotion in her throat. I know what youre thinking. Oh, how the mighty Bancroft princess has fallen.
He stepped closer and brushed a tangled wisp of her hair behind her ear. Thats not what I was thinking. I was thinking its a good thing I came after you. I was thinking how grateful I am that youre safe. That piece of conversation I overheard with the guy I can only assume was this Viper you mentioned scared the bejeezus out of me. For all I knew, youd been beaten and were lying bleeding to death somewhere.
Almost of its own volition, her hand lifted to her eye where Vipers slap had left a small bruise. Mistake. Gage narrowed his gaze and pulled her closer to the bathroom light.
Gage, its nothing. Dont
He tensed, his mouth firming to a taut line. Son of a! He did hit you, didnt he?
Gage, chill. Im okay.
Jamming a hand in his hair, he turned to stalk toward the bed where he dropped heavily onto the mattress. Its not okay, and you know it. A man never has the right to hit a woman. His face paled, and his gaze shot back to hers. Especially not a pregnant woman. Are you Is it
She grinned at his obvious discomfort with her pregnancy. If my morning sickness is any indication, the babys fine. And for the record, morning sickness is a grossly erroneous term. Im sick all day. All. Day. Especially when I dont eat.
Gage dragged a hand down his stubbled cheeks, and the scratchy sound of his beard abrading his palms sent a tingle down her spine. Had his jaw always been that square? Zoey tilted her head and studied him. No, he definitely had a more masculine cut to his cheeks and chin now. And his exercise regimen with the fire department had helped his chest and shoulders fill out. Her breath caught in her lungs. Sexy filtered through her mind again before she could stem the absurd thought. This was Gage, for Petes sake.
He lowered his brow in a scowl. Stop looking at me like that. I know I look like crap. You told me that already. But I havent slept in more than forty-three hours.
Zoey straightened. What? Why not?
He made a face that said the answer should have been obvious. Like I was going to sleep before I found you. After driving through the night to get here, I spent the last twenty-two hours visiting every damn motel in Sin City with your picture, trying to track you down. When I explained the situation to one desk clerk, she suggested I try the shelters, too which is what led me here.
A warm fuzzy feeling flooded her chest. You mean you drove out here with no idea where I was and have been flashing my mug shot around all day to find me?
He gave a casual shrug.
More tears pricked her eyes. Damn, but pregnancy made her emotional. That is so Daniel Day Lewis from Last of the Mohicans. Stay alive, whatever may occur. I will find you!
He snorted. Whatever.
Zoey laughed and rushed to his side, throwing her arms around him and pressing a kiss to his bristly cheek. My hero!
He scoff-laughed. Give me a break.
You know that is my favorite movie of all time. You cant tell me that scene didnt come to you during the whole drive out here or anytime during your motel search.
No, Zee. It didnt. He faced her, his eyes a shade darker than normal. Under his piercing stare, her stomach performed a giddy flip-flop. I was way too preoccupied with wondering if I would be too late to help you, deciding what to do once I found you, what to do if I didnt find you
She squeezed his hand between hers and gave him her brightest smile. You are the dearest, sweetest guy ever. Im so lucky youre my friend.
A muscle in his jaw twitched, and he shifted his gaze away. Yeah, well
Shoving to her feet, Zoey tugged his arm and hauled him off the bed. Speaking of which if you want to help me, Ill tell you what youre going to do. Youre going to take me to the nearest restaurant that has cheeseburgers and buy me lunch. Im famished!
Gage rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. Yeah, okay. But then can I nap for a while? I think I could sleep for a week.
Yes. You can sleep when we get back, she said with a laugh. Whatever you want. Im so glad to see you, Id French-kiss Wayne Newton if you asked me to.