Page 70 of Hollywood

“Knight! Aiden!”Bang bang.“Wake up, guys!”

What the hell?

“You said you called ahead!”

“I did. They didn’t answer.”

“Tex!”

Ruby started to cry. Damn it all. I took her from him and cuddled her against my chest, bouncing her gently andsinging softly to settle her down. She gnawed on my shoulder, which was…odd.

“Is she…biting me?” I asked Tex.

He glanced over his shoulder and grimaced. “Ruby, no no, hon. Don’t bite.”

“It doesn’t hurt,” I mused. “She’s just never done that before.”

She stopped biting and rubbed her face against me.

“Huh. I think I know what’s wrong,” Tex said.

The door swung open, and a very disgruntled Knight peered out at us.

“What the hell are you doing here at the butt crack of dawn?”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s Ruby. She’s sick or something, and I was worried. But if it’s too early?—”

“No, no.” He stepped back. “Come in. I’ll get Aiden.”

Tex and I stepped inside, hovering near the doorway while Knight retreated down the hall. A few minutes later Aiden emerged, dressed much as Tex was, in sweats and a tee. His hair was rumpled from sleep, and he had a crease down one side of his face.

Knight followed him.

“I’ll make some coffee,” Knight said. “Stop hovering by the door like we’re about to kick you out. Sit down and get comfortable.”

“I’m sorry to come so early,” I said. “We thought about going to the ER?—”

“I’m glad you came to me first,” Aiden said. “Please, sit on the sofa. I’ll sit beside you. That way, you can hold Ruby while I check her out. She’ll feel safer.”

“Okay.” I crossed to the sofa and settled on the middle cushion. Tex squeezed in on my far side, watching as Aiden perched beside me and laid a hand on Ruby’s forehead.

“If she has a fever, it’s a low one,” Aiden said.

“It’s over 100, but just barely. We took her temp before we came over.”

Aiden nodded. “Sounds about right.”

Tex stroked my arm, making me aware of how tensely I was holding myself. I tried to relax. “What does that mean?”

“There’s a few potential causes, but with a fever this low, Ruby’s not in any danger,” Aiden assured me.

Tex cleared his throat. “Right before we came in, Ruby chewed on Holly’s shoulder.”

Knight returned with the coffee cups, looking as baffled as I was by that. He set them down in front of us.

“Thanks, Will,” Aiden said, using Knight’s real name, as only he did.

“Of course, Angel. I know how you need your caffeine to function.”