They sat and opened the candy just as the door opened from the operating room.
“Zeke Donovan’s family?” the man asked.
Everyone in the room stood.
The doctor blanched. “All of you?”
“I’m his brother,” Monty said, stepping forward. “All these people are loved ones here to find out how he is.”
“We should speak in private,” the doctor said.
Monty shook his head and reached for Nina’s hand.
Nina looked up at the doctor. “I’m going to marry Zeke. And all these people care about him. Tell us how he is. Is he alive?”
25
“Can you zip me up?”Nina asked, lifting her hair out of the way.
Zeke kissed the center of her spine, only wincing slightly. Unfortunately, she heard the breath he sucked in.
“Are you okay?” She turned, her hair falling over her back as she studied him carefully.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. I’ll go ask Monty to help.”
“The fuck you will. I can zip up your dress. And you better believe I’m going to be unzipping it later.”
“You’re still restricted.”
“Fuck my restrictions, I need you.”
She cupped his jaw and sighed. “I’m not going anywhere. I love you, Zeke.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he growled.
Nina chuckled, and he immediately felt like an asshole. “It’s a good thing I know you’re just mad about going to a Christmas party with a cane.”
“Fucking cane,” he snarled. “Fuck all this. I’m glad you killed that bitch.”
Nina’s inhale slammed his eyes closed.
“Sorry. Fuck. I’m not myself. I should just stay home tonight.”
“Not a chance. We said we’d be there. So pull yourself together while I go have my brother zip up my dress.”
“Bring your ass back here. Now, angel.”
Nina hesitated at the door, then returned to his side.
“I hate that you’ve had to take care of me so much the last month and a half. I should be the one taking care of you.”
“You do, Zeke. And I’m just happy you’re alive.”
He nodded and put his forehead against hers. The doctors said he lost a lot of blood and was in bad shape. If Lorelei and her team hadn’t shown up when they did, Zeke wouldn’t have survived. “I am, too.”
“I love you,” she whispered, her voice soft and broken.
