N. Walters: The Seduction of Shamus O'Rourke

"I will,” she promised. Exhaustion hit her as Patrick and Shannon left, and Cyndi couldn't quite stifle a yawn.

"You should get some rest.” Shamus smoothed back a lock of her hair, his fingers playing with the soft strand.

"I will if you will.” To her eye, he looked pale. The man had been shot, for heaven's sake and he was up and around!

"I promise.” He turned to Verna. “Let me know when the doctor stops by. I'm getting released the same time as Cyndi."

"Is that wise?” Cyndi studied him carefully. “Maybe you should stay in hospital for a few more days."

He shrugged and she could see the stubborn glint in his eye. “Wise or not, I'm not letting you go home without me.” The corner of his mouth kicked up, giving him a rakishly handsome look. “Besides, who better to take care of me than you?"

"I'll be back in a few minutes. I need a cup of coffee.” Verna left the room before either of them could reply.

"You know, I really like your aunt."

Cyndi chuckled. “Me too."

She cupped his jaw, feeling the scratch of his beard stubble against her palm as he lowered his head. Their lips met, clung, parted, and touched again. It was a gentle kiss, fraught with emotion.

They broke apart and stared at each other until the door was pushed open. They both turned their heads, expecting to see Verna. Instead, the doctor was standing in the doorway, shaking his head. “I might have known I'd find you here, Shamus. Why don't you step aside so I can have a chat with Ms. Marks?"

Shamus sat back in his chair and listened while the doctor asked Cyndi a few questions and checked her arm as well as her hip and thigh. When he was done, he turned to Shamus. “If you won't rest here, you might as well go home. That is, if Ms. Marks will take you."

"She will,” he replied confidently.

The doctor laughed as he headed to the door. Your paperwork will be waiting at the desk and a nurse will be down in a minute to help you get dressed, Ms. Marks. I suggest you go and get your things packed, Shamus, so your lady doesn't leave without you."

The door closed behind the doctor, but Cyndi and Shamus only had eyes for one another. “Let's go home,” he whispered as he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.

"Home.” She hugged the word tight to her heart, knowing that she'd finally come home.

The place was chaos when Verna Marks pulled her car up in front of the house. There were trucks and workmen everywhere. Burke had told her that he had a crew out here, but Cyndi was still shocked by the number of people who seemed to be working.

"Let's get you both inside.” Verna whipped her door open and climbed out. Her aunt had been a godsend, gathering Cyndi's belongings from the motel and checking her out before coming back to the hospital to get both her and Shamus.

Cyndi tried to swallow back a groan of pain as her aunt helped her out of the car, but it escaped her. Shamus was by her other side in a flash. “I know it hurts, sweetheart,” he murmured as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Let's get you inside and into bed."

"I'll get her bag."

"Thanks, Verna.” Her aunt and Shamus were on a first name basis already. Cyndi was thrilled by how well they were getting along.

With Shamus's help she made her way up the front stairs and into the foyer. She'd expected the acrid smell of smoke and ash, but it was barely a whiff on the air. Shamus tried to herd her toward the stairs, but she stubbornly headed toward the kitchen. He sighed heavily, but didn't fight her. She shot him a grin. “I just want to see what they're doing."

"One minute and then it's upstairs."

"You're so bossy,” she teased.

"He's had too many years of being boss.” A man stepped up beside them and held out his hand to her. “Joe Banks. I'm a foreman with B & O Construction, ma'am."

"Cyndi Marks.” She shook his hard, calloused hand with her good hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Joe."

"Pleasure is all mine, ma'am.” He nodded toward the kitchen. “We demolished the entire back wall and part of the side one and ripped up the floor. It was past saving."

"Call me, Cyndi,” she absently replied as she looked around. The side wall had already been reframed and they were working on the back one. The sounds of hammers and power saws filled the air. “You've done an amazing amount of work.” She hadn't expected them to be anywhere near this far.

"We've been working nonstop since we got the go-ahead from the sheriff's office. I took pictures and had your insurance adjuster out here too."

Before she could ask how he even knew who her insurance agent was, Shamus spoke. “I asked Alicia to handle it for you."

Cyndi didn't know whether to be irritated at his highhandedness or just pleased that the work was being done so quickly. She thought about it for a second and chose to be pleased. This wasn't worth getting upset over.

As if sensing her mood, Shamus pulled her tight against his body with his good arm and gave her a light squeeze. “I know that you could take care of this, but I didn't want you to have to deal with it as soon as you were released from hospital. This way all you have to worry about is how you want the kitchen."

"I'd like a bigger kitchen nook for the table, with more windows. Like you did over at your place."

"Done,” he promised. She saw him glance over at Joe and nod. The other man smiled and walked away with a wave and a promise to talk to her later.

"What did you do?"

Shamus led her back down the hallway to the stairs and didn't speak until they were half way up. “I knew how much you liked what I'd done to my kitchen, so I'd already planned to have them do that as a surprise."

"Really?"

"Do you mind?” His hand was steady against the small of her back as she took the stairs one at a time.

"No, I don't mind."

He breathed a huge sigh. “That's good. I've ordered paint samples and tile samples for you to look at too. Plus, you need to decide on kitchen cabinets."

Verna was coming back down the hallway when they reached the top of the stairs. “I've got your things put away and the bed turned back. You really need to rest."

"Thank you, Aunt Verna.” Reaching out, she hugged the older woman as tight as she could manage.

Her aunt patted her on the shoulder. “Now, don't you worry about me. I'm going to stay at the motel for a day or so. I think that you two need some time alone."

"You don't need to stay at a motel,” Cyndi protested.

Shamus reached into his pocket and hauled out a set of keys. “You can stay at my place.” He gave her directions to Peach Street.

Verna took the keys and smiled. “Thank you. I'll do that.” She pocketed the keys. “I'll be here until the men leave. I'll make sure that everything is locked up. Not that it matters, I suppose, with part of the house still not framed in."

"Don't worry, Verna. We'll be fine."

"If you're asleep when I leave, I'll see you in the morning.” She gave them both a kiss on the cheek and headed downstairs.

Cyndi sighed with relief when she finally walked into her room. They'd been later leaving the hospital then she'd hoped. By the time Verna had gone to the motel to collect Cyndi's things and the paperwork was done, lunchtime had come and gone. She glanced at her watch to see that it was just after one in the afternoon. So much had happened in the past forty-eight hours.

"Let's get you into bed."

Cyndi laughed. “I bet you say that to all the girls."

"No.” He nuzzled the side of her neck, sending shivers down her spine. “Just to you."

Patiently, he helped her undress and slipped her nightgown over her head. She unbuttoned his shirt and eased it down over his bad shoulder. He took care of his socks, shoes, pants, and boxers, swearing several times as he accidentally moved his shoulder. Finally, he eased down onto the bed, patting the mattress next to him.