“Someone had to, and I was able to ask some questions while I was at it.”

“And having to tell her all that took another vicious toll on you.”

“I’m okay.” She smiled up at him. “Better now.”

His lopsided grin made her wish they were alone so she could kiss that sexy mouth of his.

“How are you?” she asked.

“Anxious about this meeting with Nelson. I feel a bit like I’m being railroaded into doing something I don’t really want to do.”

“Maybe you should consider doing it if they want you so badly.”

“It’s official. You’ve finally lost your mind.”

“Very funny. All I’m saying is don’t let me or my career stop you from doing what you want. I’ll figure a way around it if it comes to that.”

He pulled back from her but kept his hands on her upper arms. “You’re serious.”

“Of course I am. Our life is all about me and my career so much of the time. If you want this, and you should think long and hard before you say no again, we’ll figure it out. Somehow.”

“You don’t know what you’re agreeing to.”

“I’m agreeing to support you no matter what you choose to do. I love you so much. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make you happy.”

“Samantha...” Right there in the hallway of the busy ICU he laid his lips on hers, and Sam did nothing to stop him. “Just when I think I’ve got you all figured out, you go and throw me a ringer.”

“Gotta keep you on your toes so you don’t get bored.”

He laughed at that. “No worries there, babe.” He gathered her up again, and she took another couple of minutes with him because she needed it so badly. How, she wondered for the thousandth time since they’d reconnected a year ago, had she ever lived without him?

“Hear what they have to say, and then we’ll talk about it,” she said. “Okay?”

“Okay.” He kissed her again.

“The nurses are looking on in envy,” she whispered.

“Let them look. I only see you.”

“Good thing there’re doctors nearby. I may be tempted to swoon.”

“I’ll catch you.”

She looked up at him, so handsome and solid and all hers. “Something else happened today.”

“What?” he asked, immediately on guard. The last year had conditioned him to be prepared for anything.

She told him about meeting Todd Brantley’s parents and how they’d adopted him out of foster care when he was twelve.

“Oh, man,” Nick said. “That must’ve been tough on you.”

She loved that he got it. He always got it. “It was awful. They were so decimated to have lost him. I was a mess after hearing that.”

“I’m so sorry.”