“A little cold while you’re staying in a hotel, living out of a tiny refrigerator and having to go down to the lobby to put something in the microwave if you want warm food.” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and meets my eyes. “You’re staying at my place.”

“Gunner—”

“Argue all you want but I’m going to win in the end.” He presses a kiss to my forehead. “I’m not beneath throwing a tantrum to get what I want.”

“Good to know,” I say as he pulls me against him. I revel in the feel of his arms around me.

Truth be told, all of his points are valid. I’m sick of reheated takeout food and grab-and-go snacks. I’d kill to have decent Wi-Fi and to not wonder how many germs still live on the comforter I sleep under.

Or if there are any bed bugs lurking, despite checking before I lie down and after I get up.

And a selling point he’s not even privy to? I want to soak up more time with him. As much as I can get, if I’m honest. I know how bleak life will be as soon as I cross the border out of Destiny Falls on the way back home.

I don’t like that it means deliberately hiding anything KSM from him, which might make it difficult to take phone calls, but I can make it work.

I know I can.

I don’t want him to be hurt, thinking I was only here to deceive him. This kindhearted man does not deserve that. So, I’ll hide anything I can to avoid that.

And besides, who in their right mind would turn down an incredibly sexy man telling them that he wants to take care of them when they’re sick?

Not this girl.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Chase

“ARE YOU SURE I CAN’T get you anything else?” Gunner asks. He tucks me under his arm and adjusts our position so I can rest my head on his chest.

“Let’s see. You’ve made me homemade chicken noodle soup—something I don’t even know how to make myself—set me up in your spare bedroom so I have my own space, and then built a fire because I said how much I miss real fires in fireplaces.” I snuggle in harder against him. “Oh, and now you’re snuggling with me and rubbing my back simultaneously. I think you pretty much nailed every damn thing, Gunner, so much so that you’re going to have a hard time getting rid of me.”