“Nothing to be sorry for,” he assured her, and tilted her head back with gentle hands. “Let’s get some food into you, all right? That’ll help.”

She sniffed and nodded. “Okay.”

“There’s my girl,” he murmured. When more tears spurted out of her eyes, he just cuddled her close and held a baby potato to her lips.

He fed her the whole plate, holding her tight all the while. He gave her the water to hold, reminding her to take periodic sips, and by the time both plate and glass were empty, she felt more like herself.

Well, herself in love. Because if there’d been any doubt in her mind before, it was gone now. She was head-over-heels, no-more-calls-we-have-a-winner, I-understand-love-songs-now, in love with Cade Hollis.

He tilted her face up to eye it critically, and she smiled at him. Maybe it was the post-scene buzz, but acknowledging her feelings for Cade wasn’t sending her into the panic she would have expected. Instead, it felt…good. Right. Like a warm blanket on a chilly night, or an ice-cream cone on a blistering summer day.

Like it’s what’s supposed to happen.

“You look better,” he decided.

“I feel better,” she said, snuggling closer.

“I’m glad,” he said, and there was something in his voice that had her peering up at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He shook his head and smiled, but his eyes were troubled. “I’m still processing, too.”

Top drop, she realized, and shifted the blanket so she could put her arms around him. “Anything you want to talk about?”

He tugged gently at a lock of her hair. “Mostly I just want to know that you’re okay.”

“I am.” She tilted her head back to see his face. “I really am. The only thing I wasn’t okay with was being fucked raw—”

“They were wearing condoms,” he assured her hurriedly.

“I figured that out,” she said with a smile. “Other than that, Big and Tex were great.”

“Big and Tex?” His face creased in a grin.

“That’s what I was calling them in my head,” she said, then frowned. “Wait. What happened to Cockney?”

“You mean, the one you racked in the nuts?” His grin widened. “He stayed up here as security, just in case. And he made the steak.”

“Did I kick him that hard?” she wondered.

“Yeah, you did. He was still walking funny when he left. But he was always going to be security.”

“Oh.” She bit her lip. “Are you going to tell me who they were?”

He cocked his head. “Do you want to know?”

“Honestly? Yes and no. I mean, I do want to know, but I don’t want it to be weird the next time I see them.”

“They won’t make it weird.”

“I’m not worried about them,” she muttered, and he laughed.