Page 160 of Penny For Your Thoughts
He chuckled. “You could practice.”
“Diem Krause, don’t get any ideas. I will quit before I ever run on purpose.”
“Don’t do that. You have other worthwhile skills.”
“True. I can charm the pants off a straight man if I want to.”
“I have no doubt.”
I burrowed against his chest again, closing my eyes. “I’m surprised Aaron didn’t end up with broken fingers before they arrested him.”
“Who said he didn’t?”
“You forget I know you, Guns. You’re all bark and no bite.”
“I’ll bite if provoked.”
“Aaron was never a threat. Not to you.”
“I know. I was never worried.”
“Not even a little?”
“No.”
“I love you, Guns.”
“I love you,” he murmured, burying his nose in my hair and inhaling.
“Ugh. You two are so sappy. I’ll be in the waiting room.” Darcy exited with a rattle of curtain rings.
“He’s such a brat,” I mumbled. “Oh, Tia had the baby. A boy, but we knew that already. I don’t know which hospital, but I told him we’d visit once they’re home.”
“I don’t do babies.”
“Neither do I, Guns, but it’s required. Plus, they can’t be worse than teenagers.”
He chuckled and squeezed me tighter. “Are you allowed to go home?”
“Yeah. Got to ice my face regularly and take these for pain.” I held up my prescription. “I’m tired. I need a nap.”
“I was thinking a latte and a cookie might help.”
“You are my favorite person ever. Don’t ever forget that.”
He kissed mytemple. “I won’t.”
***
Later that afternoon, Diem woke me, armed with a carefully wrapped ice pack. He lay beside me on the bed and held it over the bridge of my nose until I whimpered about the cold and shoved his hand away.
“Enough. Don’t be like the mean nurse.”
He set the pack aside, and I cracked an eye studying him where he rested beside me. Perpetual worry still marred his brow, and I smoothed it with my thumb.
“Where’s the kid?”
“Watching TV with Echo. His programming choices are worse than yours.”
