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No matter how hard he tried, Mike couldn’t get up without nausea hitting his gut. Damn, he hated weakness. But he knew he was lucky to be alive. The ringing in his head was a damn nuisance. It had started on the way to the hospital and had gotten worse after the stitches.
“Mr. Armstrong. If you try to stand up again, I’m going to tie you down.” The nurse was such a little thing.
“Don’t worry. I don’t plan to humiliate myself by falling on my face. How long before the dizziness will pass?”
“That’s why we need to monitor you.”
The curtain moved and the face he’d been longing for emerged.
Cassie.
Afraid he was dreaming, he stared, willing the angel not to disappear. Red-rimmed eyes, hair hanging in disarray, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Even in her disheveled state, she was a stunner.
“He’s all yours, honey,” the nurse said. “He needs to stay off his feet.”
“Mike.” Cassie sniffed and her bottom lip trembled.
“I’m fine.” He held his arms open.
She rushed to his side, and stopped within inches. “I was so scared.”
“It’s okay to touch me.”
She threw herself at him, showering his face with kisses. He pulled her close and inhaled her sugary scent.
“They’re keeping you in the hospital,” she said on a hiccup.
“Not if I have anything to say about it.”
“You don’t.” She pulled back and glared at him, anger evident in every muscle in her gorgeous body. “You’re staying and that’s that. Overnight. You can leave in the morning.”
Bossy little thing. He’d leave now if he thought he could stand.
“I’m staying with you.” Her fingers stroked his hair, which had to spike in every direction. Something else spiked too. All she had to do was touch him and he hungered for her.
I’m staying with you.
“In that case, come on up here, darlin’.” He reached out, lifting her onto his lap and she squealed. Then calmed. Her glassy, green eyes took on a jade hue, expressing such love his mouth went dry.
“It’s on the news. They said you were shot.”
“A scratch.”
“Where?” she asked struggling to get down. “Am I—”
“Hold still,” he said at the same time. Then he tapped his temple. “Right back here.”
Her eyes flew open in shock. “Oh Mike. You’ve got stitches.” Then she swallowed as if a lump the size of Virginia had lodged in her throat. Tears pooled in her eyes.
“Hey, I’m okay.”
“Your head. You’ve been shot in the head,” she choked.
“Come here,” he said enfolding her in his embrace. She snuggled right up. Right where she belonged. “Sweetheart, I’m okay. Don’t think about anything else, but this. Me holding you. Your heartbeat next to mine.” He held her, feeling the steady thump of her heart. He rubbed her back, aware of the change in her body. Her pulse slowing, her breath calming, tension gradually slipping away.
“The guys are here.” She sniffed. “All of them. They let me come back first.”
“They can go home. You’re the only one I need.”
