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Oakley rolled her eyes as she pushed open the door. While these men hated not getting their way, it was amazing how insightful they were. Scary, in fact. She put on a big smile as she crossed the threshold. That expression froze in place as she saw her man’s face. He was swollen, scraped up, and they had wrapped his shoulder and arm to his torso. His eyes were closed, and she gave herself a quick pep talk. He’s okay. He just needs some time to heal.
An arm slipped around her shoulders, giving her a side hug. Monroe was always the first to share an emotion. He would have been a great therapist. He was going to be a great dad when Mallory’s baby got here. Jac spoke into the room.
“Ryker, man. I came all this way with a lovely lady, and all you can do is sleep? Rude.”
Ryker opened his eyes in his puffy face and smiled. At least, she thought it was a smile, chased by a grimace. She immediately walked forward.
“Ryker, I’m so sorry about this. I shouldn’t have brought you into this mess. Then you would be happy doing lawyer things and not laid up here in the hospital.
“Shh, shh, sweetling. I’m fine. I’ve been worse.”
She tried to laugh. “I doubt it,” she said with a confidence she didn’t have. “When you go home, I’ll go back to my apartment.”
“No, you will not. I don’t have the energy to get any firmer, but know you are not allowed to leave Jac’s, and I’ve decided you aren’t ever moving from my bed, so I guess you had better commission the rest of your things to get moved. When you’re ready, you can open an office close to mine. Until then, you can wait until Jac finishes the job of taking care of Audra.”
“Damn straight. We are formulating a plan as we speak. When are they releasing you?”
“Tomorrow. I’ve got a couple of Bravos babysitting me, and Kaden said he had some work to do, so he is on first shift. He said it would be quieter if he came here to work and let Ivy stay at your place. She’s a little upset right now that they can’t just stay home. She might be a handful.”
“It’s my fault,” said Oakley.
“Nope, it’s mine. I made the mandate,” Jac said.
“I want to stay.” Oakley sat in the chair by his bedside.
“I know, but I’m vetoing that because the guys will have their hands full if something happens while I’m in here. Having another to watch out for would be too much. Stay and visit until I fall back to sleep, and then go home with Monroe and Jac. This is one of those times, Oakley, that we discussed, when I was the deciding partner.”
“I know what you’re saying, but I’m staying.”
“Sorry, baby, but you aren’t. I won’t get a moment’s sleep worrying about you. If you want to make me feel better, go to Jac’s place. But I love that you came. I know what it must have cost you mentally.”
“I needed to see you,” said Oakley with a sniff.
“I know, honey, and now that you’re here, I’m glad to see and touch you. And when we are both recovered, and we are through this mess, we are going to have a discussion about following safety rules.” There was the Ryker she knew. Chastising and confident, she needed this part of him as much as she needed the gentle side of him.
“We’ll negotiate.”
