Then he gave me a squeeze, turned his attention back to the TV and again grabbed the remote.

He rewound until we were back to where I’d started talking and he hit play.

I left the dishes. I relaxed. And over two and a half more episodes, I watched a lone, ex-special forces, ex-CIA operative and his gay, deaf hacker sidekick get closer to saving the world from a lunatic who managed to get his hands on five nuclear warheads.

They got so much closer, the next four nights, along with the documentary I chose (which, frankly, was not nearly as fascinating), we watched the rest of the season.

Plans for nuclear obliteration of London, Tokyo, Rome, New York and Sydney were thwarted.

And I had to admit, when they were safe, I was relieved.

Not only that they were safe.

But that the program had been picked up for a second season.

* * * * *

11:54 – Friday Night

I planted my chin smack in the middle of Nick’s pecs and lifted my eyes to his.

He had his head propped on several pillows, his neck bent and his eyes were already on me.

“Did they have casualties?” I asked.

I watched his head give a slight jerk as his brows inched together.

“What?” he asked back.

“The…your…” I felt funny but for some reason persevered. “Your boys. You were talking to one at the club the week before last. You spoke of casualties. Was…were…” I wanted to trail off and let it go, but like before, I couldn’t stop myself from pushing forward. “Did it all come out okay?”

His lips hitched up.

“Is Olivia Shade asking me a question, sharing concern about my business and my boys so, by extension, doing the same about me?” he teased.

I looked away as I shifted to get my hands to the bed to push up, murmuring, “My mistake. Time to leave.”

I didn’t push up.

My back hit the bed and I couldn’t move because Nick was covering me at the same time grinning down at me.

“No casualties,” he declared. “The reinforcements got there on time. The bad guys showed, saw they were fucked, didn’t try for the girl and instead retreated after my boys engaged. They were probably waiting for their own reinforcements. When they retreated, my team moved her out and put her in a different safe house. We found out her brother has a big mouth and that’s how her first location was discovered. Now the job’s done, she’s safe and I got paid,” he shared.

“I’m glad,” I returned snappishly.

He didn’t stop grinning, in fact, he started quietly laughing as he replied, “You sound it.”

“Though, your story over, it’s now really time for me to leave.”

He stopped grinning and laughing.

“Get off me, Sebring,” I ordered.

He studied me.