Jacki shrugged. “Obviously. But he can start small and grow over a long time. My man loves a challenge, and unlike the heads of those tech giants, time is on his side. That’s one of the biggest advantages of immortality.”
5
Margaret
“You’ve hardly eaten anything.” The nurse looked at the tray she’d delivered nearly an hour ago.
“I’m nauseous.” Margaret pushed the rolling cart away.
“It’s the codeine.” The nurse picked up the tray. “Once your pain level subsides, and you don’t need it anymore, the nausea will go away.”
Margaret was well aware of the side effects, but she had a feeling that her nausea wasn’t the drug’s fault. It was her fear that Bowen wasn’t coming back.
He’d been gone for over two hours, and it shouldn’t have taken him so long to get breakfast.
“I know.” She forced a smile. “Have you seen Bowen?”
“The firefighter?”
Margaret nodded.
“Not since this morning. I’ll check the waiting room, and if he’s there, I’ll tell him that you are looking for him.”
“Thank you.”
There could be many reasons why Bowen hadn’t come back yet. He might have decided to grab a shower somewhere, or maybe he had to make some phone calls. He wasn’t the type who would leave without saying anything.
And even if he had, she shouldn’t feel like an abandoned child without him. She was a grown woman who had been on her own for a very long time, and she could take care of herself.
Yeah, right.
The truth was that she hadn’t been alone at all. In Safe Haven, she’d been part of a community, protected and taken care of.
Hopefully, the community would survive Emmett’s departure, and she would have a home to go back to. The alternative was too scary to consider.
When a soft knock sounded on the door, Margaret’s heart skipped a beat.
“Come in,” she said so weakly that she was doubtful her voice carried through the closed door.
As a moment later it opened and Bowen entered, stupid tears of relief misted her eyes.
“I didn’t know whether you were sleeping or not.” He put down a large shopping bag on the floor next to her bed. “I figured you would need something to wear.” He smiled. “I doubt they will let you take the hospital gown with you, not to mention that it’s too breezy for the weather.” He pulled out a chair and sat down. “What I didn’t expect was how difficult it would be to find a warm dress. They are already selling spring stuff in the stores. I also got you warm fluffy boots, but for now, you can wear only one. I hope it’s the right size.”
“You got me a dress? And boots?”
“Well, yeah. How are you going to put pants on with this cast?”
The mist turned into thick, oily tears that slid down her cheeks. “I can’t believe how kind you are.”
His beautiful brown eyes were filled with concern. “Why are you crying? Are you in pain?”
“No, I’m just emotional.” She wiped her cheeks with a corner of the bedsheet. “It’s the codeine.” It wasn’t, but he didn’t know that, so she could use it as an excuse. “Thank you. I really don’t know what I would have done without you.”
He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I’m not doing this just for you, so don’t thank me. I’m doing this for my ex-partner. Anastasia wanted to come and take care of you. If I wasn’t available, she would have hopped on the first outgoing flight, and that would have been the end of their romantic vacation.” He smiled apologetically. “She would have probably done a better job than me, though, especially with the shopping. I’ve never shopped for women’s clothing before.”
Margaret’s heart sank.
Bowen didn’t really care about her. He was doing a favor for a friend.
But what had she expected? That a young, incredibly handsome man like him would fall in love with an older woman who was a big freaking mess?
“You have my thanks regardless of your reasons,” she murmured. “And after you deliver me to Anastasia, your job will be done.”
“About that.” He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “I decided to stay with you in the cabin and take care of you. Naturally, Anastasia will help you with showering and things like that, but I’ll take care of everything else.”
“Why?”
“I need a vacation.”
That was the lamest excuse she’d ever heard, and she refused to be a charity case. “Taking care of an invalid is not a vacation. Why are you doing this, Bowen? So I won’t be too much of a burden for Leon and Anastasia? I assure you that I won’t be. I’ll stay in my room and out of their way as much as possible, and I’ll only ask for their help with the bare minimum.”
She might have sounded ungrateful, and maybe she shouldn’t have said it, but it just hurt too damn much.
“It’s not like that.” He rubbed the back of his neck again.
“Then how is it?”
“I care about you.”
“You know nothing about me.” She sighed. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, and I really appreciate what you are doing for your friend, but I just hate being a burden. Maybe I should go back to Safe Haven. I’ll find someone who will agree to help, so Ana won’t have to worry about me.”
“Out of the question.” His hard stare made her uncomfortable. “I meant it when I said that I needed a vacation. I’m looking forward to some peaceful time away from my stressful job, and you provided me with the perfect excuse to take some time off.” He smiled sheepishly. “My boss couldn’t refuse my request without looking like an asshole. It’s a win-win situation.”
Margaret let out a breath.
It was possible that Bowen was making it up, but he was giving her an honorable out. She could pretend to believe him, and they could both pretend that she wasn’t a charity case.
“In that case, I’m glad to be your excuse for taking time off. I’ll do my best to not be a burden to you or Anastasia.”
“Nonsense. You need to do the exact opposite, or I’ll feel guilty about my impromptu vacation. Please burden me as much as you can, even if you don’t need to.”
She laughed. “You are a strange fellow, Bowen, but I mean that in the best possible way.”
6
Kian
After everyone had left, Kian pulled his box of cigarillos out of the drawer and headed for the roof.
He would have preferred to go home and spend what was left of the day with Syssi, but calling Annani couldn’t wait, and he’d rather get it over with sooner rather than later. If anyone could shed light on what Emmett was, it was his mother.
He was surprised that she hadn’t called him by now.
Emmett’s capture was big news, and the rumors had most likely spread all the way to Alaska already.
Getting comfortable on one of the loungers, Kian pulled out a cigarillo, lit it, and took a long, grateful puff. When the tension left his stiff shoulders, he placed the call.