Margo raised her splinted arm to test it, and felt nothing, not even a twinge. Great. With her right hand, she touched her head near the stitches, but that felt mostly fine, too. She had only the slightest headache, and that might be a dire need for caffeine.

Time to get it together.

Knowing it would take her forever to get a robe on over her splint, she wrapped a blanket around her body and hurriedly headed to the front door. A quick glance out the peephole and she cursed softly. Just what she didn’t need.

Reluctantly, she opened the door to none other than Rowdy Yates.

Bright sunshine turned his dark blond hair golden and added an interesting sparkle to his sexy bedroom eyes. He wore faded jeans, a black T-shirt under a zip-up sweatshirt and boots. He was so incredibly hot that Margo had to remind herself to breathe.

Though she wore only a blanket, his gaze never wavered from her face. “If we woke you, we can drop off the get-well package and let you get back to bed.”

Watching his mouth move was a special treat. The man exuded raw sensuality on every level.

“Lieutenant?” One brow lifted, Rowdy glanced in past her. “Dash around?”

Avery stepped in front of him, her smile confident. “You have her tongue-tied.” And then to Margo, “Don’t worry about it. I understand. Every woman still reacts that way to him. I’m used to it.”

Rowdy rolled his eyes—and that helped Margo to collect herself. She felt foolish, but hopefully hid it. “I’m sorry.” Holding the blanket secure with her right hand, she nudged the door open wider in a silent bid for them to come in. “The pain pills—which Dash insists on me taking—keep me in a fog. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“Not a problem.” Rowdy’s gaze dropped to her body, and quickly away. “We woke you?”

“No... Yes...” She did not want them to assume she’d slept—even in the platonic sense—with Dash. “You mentioned a get-well package?”

Rowdy lifted the loaded bag with a shrug. “It’s what Logan and Pepper did when I got cut.”

“We enjoyed it,” Avery said. “So we figured you would, too.”

Rowdy searched the room. “We saw Dash’s truck out front and assumed you were up and about.”

Her mouth firmed. It was already happening, the intrusion into her private life. “Yes, he’s here. He brought me home from the hospital and insists on staying to play my nurse.” He’d also insisted on making her insane with lust. Three times.

Now that she’d given in, she couldn’t wait to get back to it again.

As if she thought nothing of it, Avery said, “Of course he did.” She set her purse aside and slipped off a jacket. “You shouldn’t be alone.”

The protest came without her permission. “I can take care of myself.”

“If you had to, sure. But why not let Dash help out?” Sotto voce, she added, “Men love playing caregiver.”

Not all men. Her father had certainly never shown any signs of caring for anyone.

“You don’t have a car yet,” Rowdy pointed out. “And it can’t be easy accomplishing much with that bulky splint.”

Margo looked down at her wrapped arm and shrugged. “Hopefully I’ll get it off tomorrow.” She mostly had to wear it until the swelling went down and the doctor confirmed she could start physical therapy. Not that she’d need a lot of PT. More than anything she just wanted to get back to work.

Rowdy lifted up a stuffed bag. “We brought coffee and Danish for now, and chili for later.”

“From your cook?”

“The chili is, yeah.”

“Bless him and you, then.” The chili was terrific, one of her favorites.

He looked around her living room with interest. “Nice place.”

Never had she thought to have Rowdy in her home. Oddly enough, while she still admired the sight of him—as Avery had said, what woman wouldn’t?—Margo didn’t feel that usual bone-melting liquid heat, a response that Dash had so easily engendered.

“Thank you.” She nodded toward her kitchen. “Make yourself at home while I get dressed.” Before she could exit the room, Oliver poked his nose around the corner and hissed.

Both of Rowdy’s brows shot up this time. “You have a cat?”

His reaction was nearly identical to Dash’s. Was it really so unheard of for her to have a pet?

“That’s Oliver. He’s blind.” Dash strode into the room. Surprising her, he’d taken the time to don the loose athletic pants, a T-shirt and socks. Hair combed and face shaved, he didn’t look as if he’d just awakened at all.

But he did look good enough to eat.

And damn, there was that bone-melting heat again, making her legs feel like noodles.

Had he dressed and cleaned up to help hide the fact they’d slept together? So considerate.

Margo started to explain further about Oliver, but Dash marched forward as if on a mission. His intensity was such that she backed up one step before she caught herself and stood her ground.

What in the world—

Winding an arm around her waist, Dash lifted her chin with the edge of a fist, and kissed her full on the mouth.

Rowdy and Avery were silent.

It wasn’t an extended kiss, but it sure wasn’t a simple peck, either. As he slowly lifted away his tongue moved over her bottom lip.

Margo went mute.

For a few heart-throbbing seconds, he just looked at her. “Do you need help getting dressed?” His voice was deep, rough.

Possessive.

She glanced at Rowdy.

Impassive, he said, “It’s not a surprise, Lieutenant, so don’t look so sheepish.” He turned his astute gaze on Dash. “He’s been obvious enough for a while now.”

Oh, dear God. “Obvious about what?” If he’d already blabbed somehow—

“How interested he is.” Avery smiled at her. “You were the unknown, but I’m glad to see you’re softening toward him.”

Dash gave Margo a one-arm hug. “You see? They’re rooting for me.”

Rowdy made a rude sound. “Wouldn’t matter to me one way or the other except that I hate to see a man suffer.”

Dash put a hand to his heart. “You are such a good friend, Rowdy.”

Margo elbowed him hard. She was used to his teasing, his nonstop amusement and carefree attitude about life. But she didn’t want to be the brunt of a joke.

Holding his ribs, he said, “Maybe she hasn’t softened that much after all.”

Avery snickered. “You need someone as strong as you, so be glad she’s not one of those moony-eyed girls that falls at your feet.”

“No,” Dash said, “she’s not that.”

Done with the nonsense, Margo said, “I’m going to get dressed—and yes,” she added, eyeing Dash, “I can manage on my own.”

“Would you like me to play host until you return?”

She no longer knew what she wanted, so she simply nodded.

He kissed her again before she could stop him. “Take your time.” Leading the way, Dash had Rowdy and Avery in the kitchen before the enormity of his familiarity really hit her.

Why didn’t he just beat his chest and brand her? Eyes narrowed, stomping as much as a woman could in nothing more than a blanket, Margo exited the room.

But damn it, she knew Oliver would be concerned with others invading the kitchen and she had no idea what Dash might tell Rowdy, so she hurriedly struggled into the big flannel—she really did need to find something else to wear—and a pair of leggings.

God, doing things one-handed took forever.

She slowed down long enough to clean her teeth and wash her face, but one look at her hair and she knew that was a lost cause. She finger-combed it, and bypassed any efforts at makeup; nothing would hide the bruises anyway.

How was it that Dash looked more gorgeous after their night of chaos and she just looked a wreck? Unfair.

Barefoot, furious about the possibility of gossip, she rushed back into the kitchen.

They were all seated at the table and Dash, with Oliver in his lap, regaled them with tales of her heroism during the debacle. Oliver didn’t look the least bit upset by the company. Even from the doorway Margo could hear his rumbling purr.

No one seemed to notice her.

Dash said, “She didn’t let on that her elbow was dislocated until after it was safe.”

“Wow,” Avery said. “I knew she was tough, but that’s amazing.”

Rowdy sipped his coffee and kept silent.

Dash continued to stroke Oliver’s back while talking. Though he sounded grim, his touch on the old tomcat was gentle. “I’m glad it wasn’t her right arm. Not that I think that would have slowed her down, either. Even injured, she’s deadly when she has a target.”

Margo’s face heated. What she’d done wasn’t all that extraordinary. She was a lieutenant, trained to act, and so she had.

“Logan and Reese have nothing but good things to say about her,” Avery added. “They trust her completely. I mean, not just to make the right decision, but to back them up when necessary. I think it’s awesome that she’s as lethal and controlled as they are.”

“I give major props to Logan and Reese for being badass cops,” Dash agreed, “but Margo has them both beat.”

Rowdy dunked a doughnut into his coffee and murmured without looking at her, “Margo is embarrassed by the praise.”

Avery and Dash both twisted in their seats—and chagrin showed in their expressions.

Dash pushed back his chair and stood, the cat held close to his chest. “Rowdy and Avery brought us coffee.” He searched her face. “I already fixed a cup for you.”

Oliver’s continuing purrs overrode the awkward silence.

Rowdy turned his head and looked at her. “The right focus can mask pain when you need it to. But after things settle down, the pain settles in, and it sucks.”