Debbie wanted to laugh. But she wasn’t sure her mouth would take the punishment so she settled for a small smile instead. With a little effort and a lot of moaning, she made it into the bathroom and into a pair of shorts and a huge oversized T-shirt that had belonged to her brother, Douglas. The less that touched her body, the better she felt.

She crawled back into bed, dug into the lukewarm toast, the still-hot coffee, and saved the strawberry jelly for Buddy. Bland food was all her stomach could tolerate.

*  *  *

“Yes, darling, I love you, too.” Debbie smiled carefully, tucked a stray curl behind her ear, and pivoted on bare feet as she heard someone walk into the kitchen behind her. Her eyebrows raised at the expression on Cole’s face, but she continued her conversation, knowing that he’d probably misinterpret it and figuring that it would be good for his blood pressure when he did.

Cole wanted to rip that phone out of her hand, demand to know who the hell she was calling “darling,” and then tell them to get one of their own. This one was his.

He caught himself short. What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve given her nothing but walls. What makes me think she wants to climb over?

His eyes narrowed as he watched her body dancing beneath that oversized shirt. He knew she was wearing next to nothing and the thought made him hot…and hard.

“Yes, I promise,” she said. “And I’m really having a good time. No. I won’t forget. I’m proud of you, and thanks for calling. Yes, I’ll look forward to it.”

She hung up with a secretive smile and turned. The wall was behind her. She decided to use it for a prop and waited for Cole to ask. He didn’t disappoint her.

“Who was that?” His question wasn’t friendly.

“Douglas.”

He waited. Nothing more was forthcoming. And it was not enough.

“So…you’re going to make me ask, aren’t you, Little Red?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean.” And then her conscience tugged. Last night, after he’d finally let her sleep, had been the best night of her life. She wanted more like it…and often. “Douglas is my brother. He got my number from Lily. He got a promotion and his company is moving him to L.A. Small world, huh?”

“He doesn’t know you were hurt, does he?”

Debbie ducked her head and shrugged, then winced at the movement. “No need. I survived.”