“He’s a good man,” I whispered. “The best.”
“And you’re just going to leave?”
“I’m…not exactly thinking clearly right now.”
“I can see that.” Maverick strode back into the hospital, carrying me in his arms.
“I’m not on my A-game, Rivera. I can’t take you on right now.”
His lips twitched. “I know. Save it for later.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“To Liam.”
Liam
Liam lunged off the bed and his vision blurred. “Where the hell is she?”
He was only wearing scrub bottoms, bandages covering the burns on his chest and arms.
Zane stepped forward. “Take it easy, Liam.”
Monroe stood behind Zane, chewing on her lip, worry in her eyes.
“She was hurt.” Liam coughed. Hell, his chest ached. “Where’s Aspen? I need to be with her.”
“The big guy, Boone, said you passed out, and they took her for treatment,” Zane said.
“Find her, Zane.” Liam pinned his friend with a glare.
“Okay, but only if you get back in bed.”
“No.” Liam tried to find his balance. “I’m not lying around while my woman is out there, probably wondering where the hell I am.”
“Your woman?”
“She’s mine.” He met Zane’s gaze. “I’m falling for her.”
Monroe’s laugh was low, and even though she might belong to his friend, Liam thought the sound was sexy.
“I knew it,” she said.
“I need her.” Liam raked a hand through his hair. “I need to know she’s okay.”
The door opened, and a panicked nurse and doctor rushed in.
The doctor frowned. “Mr. Kensington, you need to get back into bed—”
“No.”
“You’re suffering from smoke inhalation.”
The door opened again, and Liam’s heart leaped into his throat.
Mav shouldered in, with Aspen in his arms.
Liam surged forward. “Aspen—”
Her green gaze met his, then moved all over him, snagging on the bandages. “Liam.”
Mav set her down, then she was in Liam’s arms.
“God. Are you okay?” He yanked her hard against him. “I just woke up. I should’ve been with you.”
“I’m okay… I… They wouldn’t tell me where you were.”
He hugged her tighter. She smelled like smoke, but she was alive.
“Mr. Kensington,” the doctor tried again. “You need to get back into bed, and this lady needs to get back to her bed.” The doctor looked at Aspen. “Did your attending doctor tell you that you could get out of bed?”
She stilled. “Um…”
“She’s not going anywhere.” Liam moved the few feet to the bed, and then urged Aspen up. He followed her in, stretched out, then pulled her against his side. She pressed her face to his chest and let out a sigh.
The doctor looked frustrated, blew out a breath, but finally left with the smiling nurse.
Liam pulled Aspen closer. “How badly are you hurt?”
“Minor burns. Smoke inhalation.”
“Me too.”
“Boone?” she asked.
“Is fine, but seriously doesn’t like hospitals. I told him that I’d call once we were out. And Erica is with Jake. He’s battered, but alive.”
“Thank you.” She lifted her gaze. “I heard Doyle’s in surgery.”
Zane shifted closer. “He might not make it. He’s under guard.”
“He… He told me he was responsible for the Ponzi scheme that my father was involved with.”
Liam cursed.
She hugged him harder. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over now. He’ll get what he deserves, whether he lives or not.”
Liam’s heart clenched. Over. Did she plan to walk away now that the case was done?
Her gaze shifted to the lockbox on the bedside table, and she gasped.
“Liam. You left a hundred and thirty million dollars’ worth of treasure and priceless diamonds just sitting beside your hospital bed?”
Zane, Monroe, and Maverick sucked in collaborative breaths.
Liam tightened his arms. “It’s not my priority.”
He saw her face soften. “The photos?”
“Burned in the fire.”
Monroe stepped over and flicked open the lockbox. She jerked. “Holy hell.”
Liam and Aspen didn’t even look.
Mav grunted. “I’ll take it home with me and put it in my safe.”
Liam saw Mav and Aspen share a look. Mav nodded, and Liam realized that sometime recently, his friend had changed his tune on Aspen.
“We’ll let you guys get some rest.” Zane patted Liam’s arm. “Glad you’re both okay.”
Monroe leaned over and pressed a kiss to Liam’s cheek. She smiled at Aspen.
“And I’m glad all this shit is over.” Mav grabbed the lockbox and left.
After the door closed on his friends, Liam turned to face Aspen, feeling the sting of his wounds. He ignored the pain. “The case is over. The blackmail is over, but what isn’t over, is us.”
“Liam—”
“No, I don’t want to hear you say we don’t belong together. Being with you…you brought me to life, Aspen. Before, I was cruising, comfortable, bored, feeling I had to prove that I’m not like my father.” He touched her cheek, trailed his finger down her cheekbone, then touched the dimple on her chin. “We fit. You make me laugh, think, feel. You’re real, and I’d forgotten what real was.”
“Liam—”
He pressed a finger to her lips. “We belong together, and I’m falling in love with you.”
He heard her sharp intake of breath.
“And I know I’ve got a battle on my hands to convince you to be mine, but, darling, consider this a declaration of war.”
“Liam,” she said, firmly. “Can I talk now?”
He let his gaze trace over her face. “Very well.”
“Thank you, your lordship.”
He rolled his eyes.
“I…” She took a deep breath. “I’m falling for you, too.”
“Aspen, you… Wait, what?” He’d expected an argument.
“You shouldn’t be so surprised. I’m told you’re a catch.” She cupped his cheeks. “I don’t care about your zillion-dollar condo, which needs more plants, by the way. Or your fancy cars. Or your sexy, hand-tailored suits. I care that you add color to my life. You see me. You trust my judgment. You ran into a burning warehouse to save me. Under the Armani, or Gucci, or whatever the hell you wear, you’re my hero.”
“Aspen.” His voice was thick.
She smiled. “You don’t have to fight to make me yours, because I already am. I think I have been for a while.”
He slid a hand into her hair and kissed her.
A nurse strode in. “Well, I’m guessing you’ll both have elevated heart rates. Now, time to unlock lips so I can check you both over.”
Liam rubbed his nose against Aspen’s and smiled.