Chapter 30

Chapter Thirty

It took three days for Asher to convince Doc Fitz, Libby, Judy, and Alex that he'd recuperated enough to be discharged. They agreed, but only if Marlowe stayed with him. Would she? She couldn't agree fast enough.

It took another full day before Beau and Maverick transported them and their dogs, in a full-size van no less, to the nondescript brick house he called home—just three miles from TEAM HQ. Three miles. Marlowe could've walked that on a good day. Maybe not now. Her feet were still a little sore, but three miles?

By then, she knew how to read the heart monitor she'd have to place on his chest every morning, who to notify if he seized (which she hadn't realized he'd been doing), and courtesy of Judy, how to give a massage. Marlowe had already practiced on Asher. She couldn't wait to do it again.

But her primary role was caregiver , and she really, really liked that title. It fit her like a big, golden, diamond-studded crown. When Judy had first called Marlowe that, it hit her heart. Judy couldn't have called her anything better. And Marlowe's first, most important mission —she liked that word too—was Asher. Made her heart sing at how far she'd come since she'd met him.

At last, Maverick wheeled Asher up the walk to his front door. It took a bit of juggling to get the wheelchair up those three concrete steps, but Maverick knew what he was doing. He turned the chair around, tipped Asher back, and pulled, while Beau lifted and pushed. They made it look easy, but they were big sturdy men. There was no way Marlowe could've gotten Asher inside without them. Which was why their cell numbers were now programmed into her phone, along with Mark Houston's. His number was one. They were two and three. She had only to activate the phone and press a number.

Once inside, Maverick steered Asher to the enormous bed/recliner thingy in the front room, while she closed the door behind them. When she turned around, Marlowe found herself in a large open room with a monster television screen on the wall to her left. At her right, a wall of plastic sheeting hung from the ceiling. Had to be where his safe room construction was still in progress. In the sunlit room ahead, copper pans hung from a ceiling rack, over a black marble free-standing counter. The entire back wall of Asher's kitchen was glass windows, and beyond them, a gorgeous tree covered with pink blossoms grew just off a redwood deck with a built-in fireplace.

She dropped Asher's bag of medical supplies on that marble counter and ran to look outside. His backyard was completely fenced. The dogs could run free through all that lush green grass. A pebbled path connected the deck to a gazebo in the far corner. But that beautiful, awesome tree was breathtaking. Its black branches stretched over most of the yard and were weighed down with hundreds of pink blossoms. Marlowe had never seen anything so beautiful. And birds. Oh, my gosh, dozens of tiny brown birds flittered from branch to branch of that tree, like they were chasing each other. Like they were playing. Asher's home was paradise.

"Hey Marlowe girl," Beau called from behind her.

She spun on her heels. "Yes, Beau?"

He leaned his elbows onto the counter, which, now that she could see more of the kitchen, wasn't the only masterpiece in the room. The lower cabinets all had black marble countertops, too. The floor was a smoky gray, and the stainless-steel appliances looked brand new. Was Asher wealthy like Alex?

"Shut your mouth, princess. You're drooling," Beau teased.

"Oh, my! Am I?" She wiped the back of her hand across her lips. "Am not."

He was grinning like a lunatic. "Gotcha, Marlowe girl."

She blushed at his pet names for her, princess and Marlowe girl. Damn it. Beau had sneaked under her radar and become a friend.

"Thought I'd warn you. McKenna's on her way over with a meal for tonight, so don't fix dinner."

"Ha, me? I wouldn't know how to work anything in here. Well, maybe the faucet." But it had no spigots. That might be trouble.

"You'll do fine. A couple things. There's a security panel behind the front door. Let me show you how the system works."

For the next half hour, Beau walked her through the alarm system, showed her how to use the fancy stove, oven, microwave, washer, dryer, even the ceiling shower in the bathroom off the master bedroom. She'd never seen such luxury. Ten people could sleep in Asher's bed.

"You got a minute, Beau?" Maverick interrupted the tour.

While he and Beau ducked outside to the deck, Marlowe headed back down the hall to the main room. Maverick had settled Asher into that double-wide thingy. All by itself, it was large enough for two, maybe four, once Harley brought Darling and Walter over. For now, they were still at Kelsey's. Bradley and Walter had bonded, no doubt because that little cutie pie kept crawling into Walter's crate and sleeping with the nervous pup.

Asher looked pale but relaxed. Mostly tired. He had a remote in his good hand, three bottled waters on the table beside him, as well as his cell phone and a charging station.

"Are you hungry?" Marlowe asked as she sat beside him.

"Yes, for you. Get your butt up here."

"Yes, sir," Very carefully, she eased onto the lounge beside him. "This is comfortable."

He lifted his good arm and she snuggled in closer. "It's a double-wide, indoor chaise lounge. It was on clearance, so I got it for a song. Don't ask me why. Damn, I'm beat."

"I can see that." Marlowe fluttered her fingers on his chest. "Can I get anything for you? I'm a caregiver now, you know." She had two jobs and they were both very important. As soon as Asher was back on his feet, Alex wanted her to start the first ever, in the world, TEAM Outreach Center for the Afghan women she'd helped rescue. Made Marlowe feel important. But not as important as being a caregiver to Asher. That job she loved.

"Do you want a drink? I can get a straw. Are you warm enough? I'll go find a blanket if—

"Shhhhh," Asher ordered groggily. "I've got what I want. Now kiss me before I drift off to sleep. Hurry, woman. I'm fading fast."

"We can't have that." Very gently, she cupped his scruffy jaw and pressed her lips to his. This was her primary mission, caregiver and lover.

"Remember what I told you?" he whispered against her mouth.

Bobbing her head, she licked his lips with the tip of her tongue. "I'll never forget. You said you love me."

"I do." He kissed her again, the flat of his palm on her back, holding her tight against his side. "I love you like a desert loves rain. Like the Amazon rainforest loves sunshine and monkeys."

"Aww, that's beautiful. You should write it down."

His eyes closed. "Nah. I only wax poetic when my soul's at peace. Like now. With you."

She couldn't believe it. "Me? You're at peace because of me?" How sweet was that? She ran a finger under her eyes, wiping silly tears away before they got away from her.

"Yes. This, right here" —he squeezed her— "is everything I've ever wanted. Are the guys gone yet?"

"Not yet. They're outside in your backyard talking, and Doc Fitz will be here soon. She's bringing dinner."

"Damn." He leaned back and the moment he did, Marlowe missed him. Which was crazy. He hadn't gone anywhere.

Asher had been quiet on the ride to his house, and she knew it didn't take much to wear him out. But she also knew she'd be the one helping him out of those workout pants later and into pajamas. He couldn't sleep in his clothes. It wouldn't be comfortable. She'd also be the one to help him walk to the restroom and anywhere else he wanted to go. Into the kitchen. Outside onto the deck. Maybe for a short walk.

His breathing evened out. Asher was asleep, and Marlowe drew in a deep breath of contentment. Every particle of her being revolved around him now. He needed rest and sleep in order to heal. She was there to make sure he did.

It seemed ironic that only days ago, he'd been the one helping her. Pushing her wheelchair. Dealing with her ornery butt. Hugging her even when she'd been rude, mean, and mad. Which had been most of the time. But now? Her life had changed. They hugged more. Explored stolen kisses, too. She felt like a teenager with a river of fired-up hormones racing through her veins. All Asher had to do was look at her, and she wanted to lay him flat and resuscitate him again.

Marlowe beamed with pride in herself. The more she could do for Asher, the quicker she seemed to heal. Her feet didn't hurt anymore, neither did her other injuries. What was not to love about that? She was at her best when she was taking care of someone else, and Asher was going to get the best care in the world.