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but man, I do not want to go into the station and inventory medical supplies all night. No way can I stay awake for that.” He lifted his head. “What’re you gonna do?”
    “Look up recipes to use all those veggies. Plan specials for the weekend.”
    “Do you ever not work? I can imagine how hard it is to own a business, and Gina told me about the failure rate of restaurants, but you should really do something else every once in a while. Recharge your batteries.”
    A grin bloomed on her face until her cheeks hurt. “I am. Right now. I don’t recall a single thought being related to work.”
    Jude snorted. “Well, that’s good. I’d hate to think while I was going all-out to drive you crazy, you were thinking about cleaning your oven.”
    “Sadly, it’s been known to happen.”
    “Not on my watch. Get up here.” She turned around and pulled the top sheet over both of them. Jude plunged his hands into her hair, and Michaela reveled in the delicious pull as he joined them at the lips, immediately pushing his tongue inside her mouth. “Ugh. I wish I could stay longer, but I should get out of here so I can take a nap and have a snack before work. Someone wore me out.”
    “Sorry about that.”
    He kissed her nose. “No, you’re not, and I look forward to being decimated again, but if I fall asleep on the job, the guys will give me shit for months.”
    “I understand.”
    “I feel like an asshole, fucking and running, as it were.”
    She squeezed his upper arms. “Jude, seriously, it’s fine. Now, give me one more kiss and go.”
    “I can do that.” Several moments later, he finally let her up for air. “Acceptable?”
    “Get outta here before I decide to do unspeakable things to your body again.”
    Jude laughed and climbed out of bed, seemingly unconcerned with his own nakedness. He pivoted slowly and grinned. “Wouldn’t want that.”
    “Call me, okay?” Michaela hated how needy she sounded, but now that they had messed around, she needed him to reassure her he wanted to be with her—really be with her. Over the past couple of years, most guys had either looked at her as a friend or a fuck buddy. She wanted more than that with Jude.
    His face softened and he leaned down to stare into her eyes. Michaela bit her lip at the intensity in his gaze. “I will call you. I want to see you again, but next time, I’m taking you out. Buy another dress.” Jude winked, then sat on the bed before grabbing his shorts and boxers and pulling them on. “My shirt is out in the living room.”
    “I need to get up anyway.” Michaela nonetheless drew the blanket tighter around her.
    “You work so hard. Why don’t you take a little nap? Surely those things you have to do could wait an hour.”
    “You’re a bad influence on me.”
    Jude gave her a wicked grin. “Let’s hope so. See you, sweetie.”
    “’Bye.” A few moments later, her front door opened and closed and Michaela’s eyes grew heavy, though she normally couldn’t sleep during the day. Despite that, she was out scant moments later and slept almost two hours.

 
     
     
Chapter Three
     
     
    “Are you fucking kidding me? Isn’t this what I have disability insurance for?” Jude slammed the letter down on his kitchen counter. Apparently, his insurance company was unable to pay him disability because they considered the case worker’s compensation, which was administered by the state government, not by the company. Since his employer paid for both, at least partially, it mystified Jude why it mattered who paid him.
    Since he’d obviously been at work when a flaming beam had fallen on him, he was entitled to compensation while he was recovering. This seemed elementary. Jude had been getting along all right for the past weeks while he waited for the bozos to make up their minds, but being told he wasn’t going to be paid at least something while he was out? Total bullshit. The stuff he helped out with around the station just to keep his head