“One of my many skills.” He leaned in closer, intent on her mouth, but only giving her a brief peck. “I’m also a certified scuba instructor.” He quirked a brow and somehow made the suggestion of teaching her to dive sound dirty.

“Hey, where’s your cast?” she asked, noticing his left arm was no longer encased in plaster.

He rolled up his sleeve and rotated the arm. His muscles corded and Yael felt a stab of lust.

“I spoke to a doc here and managed to get an x-ray which showed both bones were healed. I had the guy speak to Novak and then my boss gave permission to leave the cast off, although I have a plastic one for if it gets sore. I have orders to rest it for another two weeks and then I’m good to start training again with the team.”

Her heart fluttered suddenly as she held his dark green eyes. What did that mean for them?

Shane kissed her again. The fact he was so open about them being involved now, that he displayed his affection so lavishly despite everyone knowing the truth about her brother and what he’d done, made her want to well up with emotion. She forced it away. She wouldn’t cry. Ethan Grice was dead. Everyone else had survived. She wouldn’t let her brother’s evil destroy her happiness. Not again.

It was amazing how clarifying her most recent brush with death had been. How liberating.

“So, does this mean we’re actually giving this relationship thing a try?” he asked.

She gripped a handful of sheet tight. “I’m game if you are.”

He slowly uncurled her death grip from the cool cotton and cradled her hand gently between his palms. “Funny, but I don’t want to play games this time.”

“Neither do I. Shane.” She swallowed hard and forced out the words she needed to say. “I think I’m falling in love with you. So, please, if you aren’t serious about a relationship tell me now.”

His expression grew serious again and he tucked her hair behind her ear. “Honey, my job is not great for relationships. I sometimes spend months away from home and often I can’t even call to say why I can’t call. But if you think that’s something we might be able to handle, together…then I’m all in with giving this thing between us a real chance.”

She smiled, her heart feeling lighter than it had in years.

They leaned toward one another, both grinning like loons, but a loud knock on the door interrupted, and then the door burst open with Laura being pushed along by the matronly nurse.

“That was quick,” Yael said on a laugh.

“I warned you.”