When they were alone, Sam said, “Just for the record, you totally downplayed this, and you won’t do that again. Got me?”

He smiled and reached for her from his perch on the exam table. “Come here.”

“I don’t want to. I’m mad at you.”

“Samantha...I need you.”

“Oh, now, don’t do that! I’m trying to be extremely pissed with you.”

“Please?”

Staring at the handsome face she loved more than life itself, she stepped into his outstretched arms.

“That’s much better,” he said.

“Why are you comforting me when you’re the one who’s hurt?”

“Because I know from lots and lots and lots of experience that it’s harder to see the one you love get hurt than it is to be hurt yourself.”

Sam released a dramatic sigh. “You do that on purpose, don’t you?”

“Do what?”

“Say things to make me all fluttery when I want to be so mad with you.”

His quiet chuckle made her smile as she made herself comfortable in his arms—her favorite place to be.

“Do you two ever give it a rest?” Harry asked when he returned to find them wrapped up in each other.

“As infrequently as we possibly can,” Nick said. “We’re on vacation this week, so leave us alone.”

“I’ll be happy to leave you alone as soon as I get some film on those ribs.” A nurse came into the room, pushing a wheelchair.

Nick groaned in protest. “I don’t need that.”

“Hospital policy,” Sam and Harry said in stereo.

“She ought to know,” Harry said, pointing his thumb at Sam.

They cajoled Nick into the wheelchair, and Harry got them in and out of X-ray in record time. By the time he returned to the wheelchair for the ride back to the ER, Nick was sweating and obviously breathing through the pain of being twisted and turned on the table.

“Worse than advertised,” Sam declared.

“No, it isn’t.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Now, children, don’t bicker,” Harry said. “The proof is in the films.” Back in the exam room, he popped the X-rays into a light box and took a close-up look at Nick’s ribs. “I don’t see any sign of a fracture this time around.” He pointed to a shaded area. “That’s where the earlier break was, but it’s healed up nicely. I declare this latest injury a bad bruise and order you to take it easy for the next week. I’ll prescribe something for the pain.”

“Taking it easy is very doable,” Nick said with a smug smile for Sam. “That’s the plan for this week anyway.”

“Excellent.” Harry shut off the light box. “I’d recommend staying off the ice for a couple of weeks too. It might be time to admit you aren’t as young as you used to be.”

“Hey! I’m not even thirty-seven yet!”