A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram #2) by Darynda Jones

“Auri?”

He shook his head. “She’s still asleep. You’ve been in here a while. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Of course,” she said between hiccups. She averted her face, suddenly self-conscious. She was a sheriff. She needed to start acting like one. “I’m almost done if you want the shower. You can use my emergency kit, though I don’t have any clothes that will fit you.”

He pushed his way in and closed the door behind them. “I’ll wait in here.”

“Oh. Okay. I’m almost finished.” She stepped back into the shower and closed the curtain, realizing she hadn’t even shampooed her hair yet. She held her breath while she lathered and rinsed to keep another sob from escaping, only allowing small gasps of air to enter her burning lungs.

He opened the curtain and, without hesitation, pulled her into his arms soaking wet. She didn’t feel too bad about having a total meltdown in his arms. He cried, too. He held her tight enough for her to melt into him. And so she did.





24


Sunday’s service will discuss which page of the

Bible explains how to turn water into wine.

Come early. Full house expected.

—SIGN AT DEL SOL CHURCH ON THE ROCKS




While Levi took his turn in the shower, Sun found a change of clothes for him thanks to a sympathetic admin and her magic key to a sparkling land called the gift shop. She worried he wouldn’t want to wear what she got him, but he didn’t really have a choice since his clothes were now soaking wet.

She always kept two different outfits in the back of her cruiser, business and super casual—a.k.a., comfy sweats and a tee—which was all they had in Levi’s size as well: a pair of sweats and a T-shirt with a UNM Lobos emblem.

And thanks to Auri’s ICU nurse, she also found him a clean pair of boxers and socks. She snuck them in while he showered, thought about peeking, then went back to ICU.

When she woke up in the wee hours of dawn two hours later, she found Levi’s powerful frame slouched in the chair next to Auri’s bed, his wide shoulders and long legs filling up half the room as the nurse worked around him.

The nurse smiled at her. “She’s doing great, Sheriff,” he said even though her uniform was in her duffel bag. “They’re going to move her out of ICU in a bit.”

Relief washed over her like cool water. “How about Cruz De los Santos?”

“He’s two doors down if you want to see him. Though getting past his guardian angel might be difficult.” He grinned at Levi. “Kind of like this one.”

“Thank you.”

“Any time. My shift ends in a few. It was really nice to meet you.”

“You, too. Thank you so much for taking care of my kids.”

He rewarded her with a bashful smile.

Sun stood and held Auri’s hand for a while. Brushed her hair from her forehead. Marveled at the surreal creature she’d been given. Her face, though still pale, had a little more color. A soft blush blossomed over her lips and cheeks.

Sun glanced over at Levi. The man of her dreams was down for the count, his breathing soft and deep, his startlingly handsome face serene in slumber, so Sun peppered Auri’s forehead with kisses then went to check on Cruz.

Sure enough, a guardian angel the size of an eighteen-wheeler sat between the door and Cruz’s bed. His long legs were stretched out before him and one arm lay draped over Cruz’s mattress. Still in his uniform, Quincy snored softly.

Sun eased around him to get to Cruz’s side and for the second time that morning, relief washed over her. He looked much better as well.

He was such a handsome kid. Strong jaw. Full mouth. And the most perfectly shaped nose she’d ever seen. Sun knew exactly what Auri saw in him. But the thought of him all alone in the world once again threatened to shatter her. She fought off a crushing wave of emotion, leaned over, and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

He stirred and his lashes fluttered. He opened his eyes to slits, as though that was all the energy he could muster. He was such a fighter for even trying.

She leaned close. “Hey, handsome. Thank you for saving my daughter’s life.”

One corner of his mouth rose weakly as his lids drifted shut again. He raised a hand toward her and she took it into both of hers. “Is she okay?”

“Thanks to you, yes.”

Salazar got as much as she could from Mrs. Fairborn before they transported her to Albuquerque, so Sun knew the basics of what happened. Just not the hows or whys. She would need Cruz and Auri to fill in those blanks, though she had a pretty good idea.

“Cruz,” she said, squeezing his hand, “I am so, so sorry about your dad.”

Despite his eyes being closed, a tear pushed past his thick lashes moments before he slid back into oblivion.

Sun looked over. Quincy was watching her, his heavy-lidded gaze full of sorrow.

“Why don’t you go home and get some rest,” she said to him. “I’ll keep an eye on this guy.”

“It’s okay, boss.” He sat up in the chair and stretched. “I just need a toothbrush and I’m good to go.”

“I think that can be arranged. I know where you can shower, too, if you want.”

“I want.”

She walked around to him and brushed a finger over his scruff.