Though she tried to fight it, Naya smiled at him. “I suppose I should be grateful for that.” Her phone buzzed and she glanced at it. “That would be Ravi.” She grabbed her coat and bag and headed toward the door. Just as she opened it, she turned back to them. “Hey, Chopper Guy. Remember what I said.”

Daniel nodded, and Naya left.

“What is she talking about? What did she say to you?”

“Nothing, really.”

Annika narrowed her eyes at him. “She called you the rebound guy, didn’t she?”

Daniel widened his eyes and shook his head. “No.”

Annika’s mouth formed an O, like she realized she shouldn’t have spoken.

“Am I?” His mouth went dry as he realized right then that there was no way he could stand it if he was just the guy who prepped her for the next guy. For Sajan. He wanted more than that. It scared the crap out of him, but he couldn’t imagine not being with her. “The rebound guy?”

She was silent a moment as she studied his face, then stepped back to look at all of him. “You’re wearing the same clothes as this morning.”

So what? Why wouldn’t she answer the question? “Yeah, well. I haven’t been home yet.”

She smirked at him, and he was reminded of when he met her at the bar that first time, and something inside him loosened. She led him to the sofa. “So you left here, went to work, then came straight here from the hospital?”

He sat down next to her. “Yes.”

She kneeled on the sofa, facing him, a smile spreading across her face. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” She leaned into him and pressed her lips to his, opening her mouth to him. “You are so not the rebound guy.”

Daniel lifted her to his lap. “Thank God,” he managed between kissing her. He groaned and pulled her closer. “Damn, I missed you.”

Annika pulled back, mischief in her eyes. She loosened the belt around her bathrobe, letting it fall open. “I have a couple of hours before my shift. Prove it.”

“I HAVE TO SAY, I’m loving this.” Emma beamed as Daniel and Annika entered her home. Christmas lights were up outside, and inside, the tree held a place of honor in the corner of the main room. Stockings decorated the mantelpiece, one for each family member, including him. Small ceramic houses with little lights made a small village on an end table, and every other surface was adorned with either a Santa statue or a reindeer or a snowman. In short, Christmas had thrown up all over his sister’s house, as it did every year right after Thanksgiving. In fact, Emma pretty much overdecorated for every holiday. Good thing Annika had missed the Diwali explosion. He smiled to himself. God, he missed hanging out with his sister.