“What have I gotten myself into?” Sugar almost needed to laugh. The absurdity of it all was far past comical. She’d fallen in love with a man who had a frequent-shopper card at a hospital. “Never mind. He’s going to be okay. That’s all that matters.”

The nurse nodded again. “If you’d like, we can arrange for fresh clothes and a shower. That’s if you like, Miss Chase—”

“Sugar.”

The nurse tilted her head. “Come again?”

“It’s my—never mind. A shower?”

Confusion stayed on the nurse’s face. “And fresh clothes.”

“Take the offer, Sugar.” Roman laughed. “You look like hell. Boss Man will kick our asses regardless, but if you could look less like shit when he wakes up, we’d owe you.”

A genuine happiness curved onto her cheeks. A few minutes before, she had known she would never smile again. Sugar looked at her palm, where the dried blood still dyed her life and love lines.

She was her own woman. No crinkled lines on her hands or motherly memories would dictate how she loved and lived. “Hell yes. I want a shower. But not before I call and check on Asal.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Jared took a deep breath. The smell of a hospital room hit him instantaneously, as did the feeling of dull pain and a foggy drug stupor. Trying to sit up made everything ache. His dry throat stifled a groan. He didn’t know how long he’d been out or if Sugar was okay.

His fingers searched for the remote that would reposition his bed, and a warm hand with soft skin covered his. The touch startled him, forcing his eyes open.

Sugar. He didn’t need to see her to know her, but she was the best thing to see.

“Hi ya, J-dawg,” she whispered and interlocked his fingers with hers, giving him a squeeze.

She wore hospital scrubs, and her hair was no longer covered in blood. It hung loosely, framing her face. Her eyelids were red rimmed, and the tip of her nose was also red, but her smile was mega-watt, and again, pretty popped into his head. Pretty and perfect.

“Baby Cakes.” His throat itched, and his mouth was dry, but she heard him. The mega-watt smile illuminated brighter than before, and he needed to hold her. “Come here.”

No sooner had the words crossed his lips than Sugar gingerly crawled onto the bed and burrowed next to him. He threw his arm around her shoulder, and it hurt like hell, but he didn’t care.

Sugar’s hair fell across his bicep, and her cheek pressed against his hospital-gown covered chest. “I’m going to get into trouble for doing this.”

He started to shake his head, but it ached, and he didn’t want to make any sound that might drive her away. “They don’t tell me no.”

She laughed. “So I’ve learned.”