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pilot’s seat; it would be ready to rise as soon as he reached it.
    Angelica and the others were at his heels and she barked orders, taking over. She was ruthless and powerful enough that he trusted whatever plans she made.
    Soon they’d catch the damn mongrel and whoever hid him.
    No one could hide from Lincoln for long.

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    Water rushed from the faucets into Addie’s old claw-foot bathtub. Steam wafted up and though the bungalow warmed more as morning crept toward noon, she figured Erik was injured enough that the extra heat would do him good.
    He’d eaten. A lot. She ended up sitting in the living room barely touching her food while he polished off enough toast, eggs, and bacon to feed two people and then she’d offered him hers. He’d been reluctant but she’d fed enough starving cats that she knew when one wanted more and it took very little pushing to get him to finish her breakfast as well. Then he slept, the mere act of sitting up seeming to take a lot out of him.
    He still hadn’t told her what happened.
    That was enough to set her nerves twisting. She knew, of course, that he still could be dangerous—he could be something other than he seemed to be. Though nothing in his demeanor said otherwise, and even injured he could kill her if he wanted to, she didn’t entirely trust him.
    Still, she gave him the benefit of the doubt. At least until he gave her a reason not to.
    Addie rose from the edge of the tub and padded back down the dark hall. He’d woken ten minutes ago, drank a lot of water, and that was when she suggested he get cleaned up.
    Water rumbled behind her, blaring from the faucet to strike the porcelain. Addie paused in the living room archway.
    He was still awake, still sitting, in fact, and staring blankly ahead. She hesitated just a moment before continuing into the room.
    Erik glanced up sharply. His eyes were growing progressively more bright and alert. Though his body was still damaged, his mind was returning to him.
    “I figure while you get cleaned up, I’ll head into town and see about some clothes.” He still had nothing to wear and though Addie couldn’t say how modest he was, she would feel infinitely better if he had something on. She’d thrown the quilt in the wash; now he had a thick beach towel around his waist.
    His spot by the fireplace was a small nest now of pillows, towels, and blankets. She didn’t have a spare bed and though he was welcome to rest on the couch, he’d fallen asleep before she could offer.
    Erik started to rise and immediately she went to his side, helping him stand upright. He stifled a groan as he stood straight, visibly winced, but didn’t complain. It took a few moments of his arm over her shoulder before he gave in and leaned on her for support. Each step was stiff and labored.
    They rounded the coffee table. “I’d feel better if you saw a real doctor,” Addie mumbled.
    “It’s...better.”
    Men . She resisted the urge to poke him in the ribs to prove her point. “Any more requests while I’m running errands?”
    His arm was very heavy over hers and body searing-hot, whether a tiger thing or from the fever, she couldn’t say.
    “I feel badly enough imposing on you.” His hand squeezed her shoulder as they walked slowly across her living room to the dark hallway. A tingle spread down her arm from the contact and she gave herself a mental shake, focusing instead on making it to the bathroom safely.
    The tub was three quarters of the way full and steam cast a sheen over their skin as they stepped into the bathroom. Addie eased out from under his arm and left him leaning against the sink while she turned off the faucet and gathered fresh towels and a cloth. She set the pile of terrycloth on the closed toilet seat and stood straight.
    Her eyes absently did a sweep up his body, taking in the carved muscle and bump of ribs. If she kept feeding him well, he’d get rid of that hungry look.
    If you keep feeding him? He