Page 40 of The Hunt

It was entirely possible he’d been a myopic idiot where this woman was concerned.

Almost losing Chantal had made it clear to him exactly what mattered most.

Chad knew what it was like to experience loss. To know that you could never get time back. Almost losing his sister had reminded him of that very thing. Every time he looked at his dad and knew he was getting closer to losing him every day, he remembered that.

He wanted what his brother Charlie had. Wanted the woman who loved him, wanted the children they would both adore. He wanted a life.

He wanted it with Genny.

But for tonight, she needed him to take care of her.

And that was what he was going to do.

He took her into his home, and snuggled her on his couch. Close in his arms.

Until she drifted off to sleep, with him holding her.

He stayed right where he was, until she woke two hours later.

She took one look at him and asked him the question he would never forget. “Will you kiss me? Forever?”

“I can do that.” Forever would be a good place to start.

To start.

33

She could get usedto this. Being in his arms, being held by him. Maybe even forever.

Genny pressed as close to him as she could. Her lips were right by his neck. She just…pressed a little kiss right there and tightened her hold on him. He smelled good, felt perfect. Yes, she could get very used to this.

“You keep that up and I’m not going to be the gentleman my mother raised me to be much longer.”

She considered for a moment. Yes. She hurt, but notthatbad. “I think I can handle that just fine.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Just bruises, Dr. Chad.” Genny fiddled with the buttons of his shirt. She wanted to see if he was still all pale and pasty like he’d been as a teenager. She suspected he wasn’t—she had seen him without his shirt very recently, after all. But it wouldn’t hurt to confirm… “I promise to be gentle.”

“Broken ribs are not just bruises.” But his hands…they ghosted over her back. She wore a big man’s t-shirt. He’d dug it out for her. And been all gentlemanly when she’d changed. He’d turned his back.

Genny had thought that was a little funny.

She snuggled closer. Rested her head right there on his shoulder.

She’d known he was there. In the emergency department—she’d seen him talking to Caine. When that patient had come at her, she had just known Chad would be there. She’d trusted that.

Trust…that was what it was that made everything feel right.

She trusted him completely.

“Kiss me, Dr. Chad.” Genny looked at the man holding her as everything she felt for him flooded her senses completely.

“You sure? Not hurting too much? You are in full control of your…facilities?”

“Completely. Kiss me.”

Well, he wasn’t doing what she wanted fast enough.