The nurse hesitated and the doctor sighed. “Dr. Novak, please explain to Mr. Kennedy the risks of leaving the hospital with an injury as serious as his.”

“Mr. Kennedy is lucid and understands the risks,” she said. “You need to respect that.” But Diesel also needed to understand that he was injured, he should be under the care of a medical professional, and he would be. Me.

The doctor, who was so young that he had to be a first-year attending, gave the nurse a curt nod, and she handed Diesel the clipboard. The doctor then turned an evil eye on Dani while Diesel signed the Against Medical Advice form.

“The only reason I’m not having him evaluated for mental competency is because you’re taking him home,” the doctor said, and Dani could feel the rumble of Diesel’s low growl.

His hand tightened on the pen and it snapped. “Sorry.” He gave the leaking pen and the clipboard back to the nurse. “I signed. Can I go now?”

The doctor waved in a flourish. “You’re free to go. You have the scripts for the antibiotics and painkillers. Dr. Novak, please call me with his status tomorrow.”

She gave the young man a smile. “That I can do.” When the doctor was gone, she kissed Diesel’s temple. “Just a little longer, okay? We have to wait for someone to bring a wheelchair so that you can leave.” She covered his mouth with hers when he started to argue. “That’s not negotiable,” she murmured against his lips. “Hospital rule. If you want out of here, you have to comply. Okay?”

He nodded silently. Grumpily.

She chuckled. “I don’t think you’re going to be a good patient. But that’s okay. I can handle you.”

He looked up, his dark eyes suddenly intense. “I love you. I’m sorry if it’s too soon, but tonight when he had a gun to your head, I didn’t think I’d get to say it.”

Oh. Tears stung her eyes. It sounded so much nicer than she’d imagined, and she’d imagined it quite a bit. Resting her forehead against his, she cupped his cheek, the terror of seeing his body motionless and bleeding still way too fresh. “I didn’t think I’d live to hear you say it. Or to say it back.” Her throat closed and she had to clear it. “But I do,” she whispered. “I love you, too. I think I have ever since you saved my life.”

He closed his eyes, shuddering out a breath. “I was so scared that night. Tonight, too. We have to be done with this dangerous stuff. We’ve got kids now.”

He said it with such seriousness that she had to smile. “We do. And I think they’ll be happiest once you’ve healed up. So obey your doctor, okay?”

That made him smile. “As long as that doctor is you.”