“Skittish? Sure. And those corpses we pulled out of that river are just a little dazed, right? Logan, let me explain this again as plainly as I can. Coodles has turned into a beast from hell. His stomach was swollen up like a balloon. His teeth had all sorts of meat stuck in them. Red meat, Logan, not something spooned out of a can of Friskies. Did you get a good look at that window? Coodles did that with his face, trying to get to me. It scared the crap out of me! Hell, I spun away so fast I rammed into the dresser and knocked myself out cold.”

“I thought you had just fallen asleep.”

“No, you idiot, I had passed out. The fact that the mattress broke my fall was just luck.”

“Actually, you only made it halfway onto the mattress. I moved you the rest of the way, made sure you were comfortable, and—”

“And then felt that it was appropriate to join me?”

The abrubt shift in conversation took him aback. “Come again?”

“Where do you get off thinking it’s all right to just climb into bed with me?”

His jaw tightened. “Hey listen, sweetheart, in my room I sleep on my bed. Anyway, relax. You’re still fully clothed, aren’t you? And I didn’t lay an unnecessary hand on you all night.”

“Is that the truth?”

“Ah hell.” He flung his arms in the air. “I should have just tossed you onto the goddamn beanbag chair.”

“And while we’re on the subject, how come you’re not wearing a shirt?”

“I never sleep in a shirt. You’re lucky I bothered to throw on jeans.”

Her eyes drifted down to his Levi’s, which were only partially buttoned at the fly.

Her eyes shot back up. She cleared her throat. “We’re drifting off topic.”

Silence fell between them as both their tempers simmered down.

Cole relaxed his shoulders and softened his stern expression.

Savannah hugged her arms across her chest and shuddered against the chill in the room. The distress on her face was palpable. Cole could no longer assume that what she’d seen was anything less than a grim reality.

Another minute passed. “Listen,” he said. “I believe you, all right? And I’m sorry for doubting you. It won’t happen again.”

She moved her hair away from her eyes and faced him. “I’m scared, Cole. I’m really scared now.”

He raised her chin with his thumb. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Savannah. No matter what happens with the team, I’m not going to let anything harm you. I promise.”

Before allowing himself to consider how she might react, he kissed her.

She instantly backed away. Her hands came up defensively against his chest.

But then, just as quickly, the hands softened.