“Jesus, Amery. How—”
“I’m glad I went if for no other reason than my brother, Aiden, got seventy-two hours’ leave from the army and surprised our parents, which worked out for me because I didn’t spend much one-on-one time with Mom or Dad. They were pleased that I showed up more for how it looked to my father’s congregation and the community than from joy at seeing me. So it was a miserable trip with the exception of spending time with Aiden.”
“Baby. I’m sorry.”
“It is what it is.”
After an uncomfortable moment, Ronin asked, “Are we done talking about this?”
“For now. But I reserve the right to ask other questions as they occur to me.”
“Anything, anytime. From here on out, I’m an open book for you, Amery.”
As much as she wanted to believe him, unless he proved that statement true, he was just paying lip service to what she wanted. “Good. But for now, you need to get back in bed. I’ll grab the knee brace.”
He slowly rose to his feet but still had to slap a hand on the wall to keep his balance as he started down the hallway.
His knee buckled, and Amery made it to his side before he hit the floor. “Sweetheart, you need to remember I’m here to help you.”
“God, I missed hearing you call me that.” Breathing hard, he sagged against the wall.
“Are you okay?”
“No. I’m exhausted. Feels like I got hit by a truck while running a marathon. But that’s not the worst part.”
Amery waited as his eyes roamed over her face.
“The worst part is, after six goddamn weeks without you, I can’t even kiss you like I want to.”
Maybe it was reckless, ignoring the warnings to take it slow, but she closed the gap between them and slid her hands up his chest to cup his jaw. Meeting his gaze, she said, “Then how about if I kiss you?”
Those soulful brown eyes watched her with hunger and relief.
She swept gentle kisses across his upper lip, placing an extra-soft kiss on the stitches. Then she moved to the corners of his mouth and his lower lip, dipping her tongue inside that pouty lower swell. Keeping their eyes locked, she pressed her lips to his fully, letting the moment linger.
Watching his beautiful banged-up face, she knew her tenderness soothed more than just his bruised mouth. “Let’s get you tucked in.”
• • •
WHILE Ronin was resting, she raced to her loft and showered. In her overnight bag, she packed clothes, her laptop, a few client files, and her e-book reader.
At Target, she bought the bare necessities for groceries. Just because Ronin hadn’t shown much of an appetite didn’t mean it wouldn’t suddenly appear. She picked up a bottle of over-the-counter painkillers, an extra ACE bandage, and two more ice packs. In the clearance section, she noticed a single wooden crutch. That would allow him to keep weight off his knee. She threw it and a pair of foam pads in the cart.
The universe smiled on her when she found a parking space close to the dojo. Trying to get all the bags carried to the front door in one load made for slow going.
She heard angry footsteps and looked up to see Knox bearing down on her.
“Goddammit, Amery, are you really too stubborn to ask for help?”
“I didn’t know you were at the dojo today or I would’ve asked.”
He took all the bags except her suitcase and the crutch. He didn’t speak until they were in the elevator. “How is he doing?”
“He’s in pain. And tired. Cranky. Frustrated with himself.”
“I can’t f**king believe he locked the damn elevator.”
“Yes, you can. He’s got way too much pride. Couple that with a head injury . . .”
Knox sighed. “Thank you for being there for him. I hope it means you’re working things out.”
“We’re trying.”
They switched elevators. The doors opened, and she immediately saw Ronin poke his head out of the den. “Did you invite my sister up too?”
“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Ronin,” Knox said. “I figured Amery would need provisions, so I waited her out. Not her fault.”
“Provisions. Spoken like a true soldier.”
When Ronin started down the hall, she said, “Not so fast. I brought you something.”
“A crutch? Jesus, Amery. I’m not that bad off.”
She marched up to him and shook the crutch in his face. “I imagine if you would’ve remained in the hospital like you were supposed to, they would’ve discharged you with a pair of these. You need to stop aggravating your knee. This, at least, will allow you to take the pressure off. I assumed you’d rather have this than my original idea of locking you up in your practice room.”
His eyes bled from brown into the molten black that indicated he was turned on.
A curl of heat unfurled in her belly.
“Careful, baby. That sharp tongue, those fiery eyes, and your pouty lips are a potent combination.”
Backtrack. Backtrack now. “Really? You’re freshly out of the hospital, Ronin. You are injured. In. Jured. Get that through your head.”
“The big head hears you. The little head sees you and wants you.”
The man took advantage of her distraction and brushed his mouth across hers. His tongue even snaked in for a little taste before she snapped out of it.
She stepped back and fiddled with the crutch, attaching the foam pads to the top and the bar in the middle. “Try that.”
He headed down the hallway. “You’re right. Much easier. Thank you.”
“This is not the first time you’ve used crutches.”
“No, but I hope it’s the last.”
Knox was messing with his phone when they walked into the kitchen. Without looking up, he said, “I texted your sister and assured her you were being looked after and hadn’t taken a header off the roof in your doped-up state.”
“Since when are you and Shiori texting pals?”
“Since we realized we had the same goal. Trying to keep you out of the ring. Obviously, we failed on that front.”
Amery hid her smile.
“I’m also here to inform you that I’d better not see you downstairs for several days. Trust that your staff can step up to the task of running the dojo in your absence.” He pocketed his phone. “I’ll let myself out. But I strongly suggest you don’t lock the goddamn elevator again. I know you’re an island and all that shit, but straight up, Sensei, you f**ked up. If not for Amery letting me know you were all right after your hospital escape, I would’ve had the fire department here using an emergency override to get to you.”