Page 50 of One Unexpected Gift

“Damn. Is there a lock to that curtain?”

When she felt a stirring against his thigh she removed her hand and settled it on his chest. “Sorry.”

“Darlin’. Don’t ever apologize for touching me. You have free reign twenty-four seven.”

“How’s your head?”

His chest shook before she heard his light snort. “Was that intentional?”

Realizing what she said and what it implied, she lifted her chin and touched his cheek. “No. I’m being serious. How’s the pain?”

“It comes and goes. Well, it never really goes but it’s manageable. Right now I’m okay. An hour ago I thought I was going to die.”

“And two hours ago you threw up.”

“Yeah. Can we keep that between the two of us?”

As a nurse, it went against her code of ethics to keep symptoms from the medical team. “You need to let Doctor Turner know. It could be a sign of something else going on.”

“I wish.”

“Don’t say that.” She propped herself up on her elbow so she could lecture him with her stern gaze.

“I didn’t mean it that way. I threw up from the pain. It hurts my man card just a smidge.”

“Seriously?” Sky didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry at him for putting pride before health. And then those long lashes of his winked at her, and the dimple she couldn’t resist deepened, making her tingle all over. “How can you joke about something so serious?” She’d softened her tone and ran her finger along his dimple letting him know she wasn’t scolding but was worried.

“It’s either that or...” The corners of his eyes dipped a fraction before returning to their forced, classic, Nick panty-melting sparkle.

“It’s okay to show pain. It doesn’t lessen your masculinity any.” She’d seen her share of soldiers power through their pain, falsely believing taking pain killers or asking for assistance was a sign of weakness. In the end, it delayed many in their recovery.

“You like my masculinity, do ya?”

While she appreciated his attempt at making lemonade out of the situation, it would be refreshing to be with a man who was honest with his feelings.

“You know what I find masculine?” She draped her thigh over his and lowered her mouth inches from his. “And sexy? A man who isn’t afraid to ask for help. Who admits when he’s wrong. Who is open and honest with his feelings.”

Nick skimmed his hand up her back and massaged the back of her neck, bringing her closer to his lips. “I called you this morning asking for help. I was wrong for never calling you after we had sex in my supply closet, and I really, really like you. Being with you makes me... happy. You make my headaches go away, or at least, I’ve been able to push through the pain when we’ve been together.”

Wow. She wasn’t expecting that. Or the sweet kiss he placed on her lips.

“Feeling better?” Their brief kiss was interrupted by Doctor Turner, the man with no bedside manner.

“Much,” Nick said, keeping his gaze locked on Sky’s.

She shuffled off him and stood next to the bed.

“The neurologist on duty looked at your scan. As suspected, you’ve got another carotid artery dissection.” He typed some notes into the computer, not making eye contact with Nick. So much for bedside manners.

Sky reached for Nick’s hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

“So climbing Everest and bungee jumping into the Grand Canyon are off the list, eh?” Even through his joking, Sky could hear his pain.

“Is that what you were doing to trigger this one?” Turner punched on a few more keys before turning to Nick.

“No.”

“Doctor Foster had recommended no more extreme sports. I take it you didn’t listen to his orders?”

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