Page 54 of Wilde In His Arms

“Anytime, my friend.Would you like me to help you get snuggled under the covers?”

Stacy’s cheeks pinked, but she nodded despite the embarrassment.

“You got it.”Aria rose and hugged Stacy to her chest.

He hadn’t thought much about having a family.With his demanding schedule, he didn’t know how he’d fit it in.But now, things were changing.Because of her.All Nick could think was that one day she’d carry their child in her arms and put them to bed just like that.And just like Stacy, they’d look into Aria’s eyes and feel her love and know that they were safe and loved.

That’s how she made him feel, too.

Now, having kids didn’t seem so challenging.He wanted to see Aria as the mother of their kids.He wanted that happy, chaotic family life he remembered from his childhood.

Aria settled Stacy and turned off the light over her bed.The other two girls crawled back into their beds and did the same.

Nurse Carly pressed the button on Nick’s pain meds for him.He glared at her.

“You need them, use them.At least for tonight.The more sleep you get, the better you’ll feel, and the more you can be with her.”

Aria came to his side.“I’m not going anywhere, so take her advice and get some sleep.”

Nick held up his good arm even though it hurt his chest and cracked rib.Aria gently leaned over him, kissed him softly, and held him close.Her familiar peach scent filled his nose and eased him.She smelled like summer and sunshine.She smelled and felt like home.

He buried his face in her neck and didn’t want to ever let her go.“I’m sorry I ruined your trip to Boston.I know you wanted to check out the city.”

“Nick, it’s okay.I’d rather be here with you anyway.”

She’d been looking forward to the trip.She didn’t often get to travel.The bar and her family took up all her time.“I’ll take you there.We’ll go together and explore everything.You can visit your sister.”

She pulled back and looked him in the eye.“You don’t have to make anything up to me.As long as you’re okay, I’m happy.”

“I want to make you happy.”

“You do.”She kissed him again and all he wanted to do was pull her into the bed with him and kiss her over and over again until neither of them were thinking about anything but each other.

But they had an audience and every jostle of his body hurt like hell.

Aria sensed him tensing in her arms and immediately released him and stood up.“Just rest, Nick.You’ll be out of here soon and we’ll figure the rest out.”

Mason and Lyric walked in slowly, giving the kids a chance to see them, before they headed for Nick.

“How you doing, man?”Mason put his hand on Nick’s shoulder and gave him a gentle squeeze.

“Waking up to her is heaven every time.”

Aria smiled at him.“He’s feeling guilty because we cut our trip to Boston short.”

Lyric waved that away.“Melody is marrying a multi-millionaire.Fox offered to fly us in any time we want.”

Nick reached for his phone on the table beside his bed, but Aria snatched it away first, then turned to Mason and whispered, “Nick is sidelined, so you’re up, big guy.Emma said that they were going to get a Dr.Pike to fix Toby’s arm but he’s out of town visiting a sick relative.From the story Nick gave you about what went down, Javier is hurt and can’t exactly go to a hospital with a gunshot wound.I bet Dr.Pike has already heard from him.”

Nick stared at Aria.

“What?”She raised a brow.

“You’d make a good agent.”

She shook her head.“I’ll leave that to you.After you get some more rest.”She brushed her hand over his head and kept running her fingers through his hair, soothing him.The drugs were starting to kick in and make him sleepy.

“I’m on this.”Mason walked out of the room, probably to call Agent Hayward, who was heading up the investigation while Nick was out of commission.

---