She had rested her head in her hand and was subconsciously massaging her temples. “Yes, a little.”
“Take some medicine.”
“I don’t have it with me.”
“I’ll see if I can round up something for your pain.”
He circled the back of her chair and scooted it away from the table. As she stood up, she said, “You keep a stash of drugs, too? That’s against the law, you know.”
“Is that all you ever think about—the law? Whether something is right or wrong? Is the line between them so clearly defined for you?”
“Isn’t it for you?”
“If it had been, I’d have gone hungry lots of times. I stole food to feed myself and my old man. Was that wrong?”
“I don’t know, Reede,” she said wearily.
Her head hurt from trying to keep up with their argument. She trailed him down the hallway, not really realizing where he was headed until he switched on the light in his bedroom.
Her face must have registered alarm because he grinned sardonically and said, “Don’t worry. I’m not trying to seduce you. I’ll sleep on the sofa in the living room.”
“I really shouldn’t stay here, Reede.”
“We could both be grown up about this… if you were a grown-up to start with.”
Not in the least amused, she lashed out at him. “There are a million reasons why I shouldn’t spend the night here. Number one on the list is that I should be questioning Angus right now.”
“Give him one more night of grace. What could it hurt?”
“Pat Chastain will probably expect to hear from me.”
“I told him you were near collapse and that you would contact him in the morning.”
“You planned ahead, I see.”
“I wasn’t taking any chances. When allowed to roam free, you’re dangerous.”
She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes for a moment. Too proud to capitulate, but too exhausted not to, she compromised. “Just answer one question.”
“Shoot.”
“May I use your shower?”
Fifteen minutes later, she turned off the taps and reached for a towel hanging on the bar. He had loaned her a pair of pajamas to put on. They looked brand new.
When she had commented on it, he said, “Junior brought them to me in the hospital when I had my appendix taken out several years ago. I only wore them so I could get out of that ass-baring gown. Can’t stand the things.”
Smiling at the distasteful face he’d made when he’d said that, she slid her arms into the blue silk top and buttoned up the front. Just then he tapped on the bathroom door. “I found some pain pills.”
Well covered to midthigh, she opened the door. He handed her the prescription bottle. “This is strong stuff,” she remarked, reading the label. “You must have been in severe pain. The appendectomy?”
He shook his head. “Root canal. Feeling better?”
“The shower helped. My head’s not hurting so bad anymore.”
“You washed your hair.”
“Against doctor’s orders. I wasn’t supposed to for a week, but I couldn’t stand it any longer.”