The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 471

Nora Hayes shot him a half-hearted glare. "You're terrible."

Nathan Peyton knew she had just made up an excuse to avoid inconveniencing anyone, yet he still insisted on teasing her.

Seeing her flush with mild annoyance, Nathan's smile widened. He pulled her into his arms, his voice a soothing rumble. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry. My fault."

Too exhausted to put up a fight, Nora leaned submissively against his chest. The steady, rhythmic thumping of his heartbeat echoed in her ears, slowly washing away the physical fatigue that had settled deep into her bones.

"Next time, just tell me what's on your mind," Nathan murmured, his hand gently stroking her back. "Is there anything you can't say to me?"

Nora lifted her gaze. His eyes were swimming with an aching tenderness that threatened to spill over.

This wasn't the first time she had drawn comfort from someone else.

But this time felt entirely different.

"I know."

She grabbed his hand, her voice soft but resolute. "I won't shortchange myself, don't worry about that."

"I just didn't want you going out of your way to cook for me."

Making a proper homemade soup took hours.

Nathan had wanted to make sure she was eating well, to build up her strength.

But she simply hadn't wanted to eat, nor did she want to be a burden.

So, she had made an excuse.

Fortunately, they were both straightforward enough not to let something so trivial spiral into an argument.

"Nora, how did I get so lucky with you?"

Nathan's heartfelt sigh filled the car.

A sudden wave of heat crept up Nora's neck. She playfully slapped the back of his hand. "Stop that. Or are you just looking at me through rose-tinted glasses?"

Nathan chuckled softly. "I haven't even put them on yet."

Nora was speechless.

Nathan asked, shifting the focus to the bones.

Nora explained. "We've sorted through most of the fragments. Once they're transported back to the Forensics Division, the team will wash them down, and then the reconstruction begins."

Piecing together a skeleton was Forensic Science 101. Nora could do it with her eyes closed.

But the fragments they found today were incredibly minuscule, and they still didn't know the exact body count, the genders, or the ages of the victims. The prep work alone was going to be a nightmare.

Nora had already coordinated with her colleagues—she would catch a quick nap and then tag in to relieve the others.

"I'll take you back, then."

Nathan sat up straighter. "We have a cot set up at the Special Task Force office. You can catch some sleep there, and I'll wake you when it's your shift."

Nora settled back into the passenger seat and buckled up, shooting him a surprised look. "You aren't going to sleep?"

Nathan shook his head, claiming he wasn't tired yet.

"I want to review those witness statements one more time."