“Of course, you wouldn’t.” Francie handed over a tissue. “If you’d known, you’d have given it to the police.”
The door swung open, and Kayn pushed in a wheelchair carrying Rafe. “Enter the conquering hero,” her brother cried, Ezreal and Darius following.
“Shhh.” Francie jumped to her feet and hurried to her son. “There are people in the other rooms trying to sleep.” She gave Rafe a quick hug.
“Are you kidding?” Kayn said but more quietly. “No one can sleep in a hospital room because they’re in and out all night.” He bent to kiss Ahri on the forehead. “How are you?”
“It’s hard to breathe.” She looked at Rafe. “How are you?”
“Better than you, it appears. I get to go home tonight.” When he tried to move the chair forward himself, Ez pushed it next to the bed, forcing Kayn to shift out of the way. Rafe took her hand. “I hate to leave you here alone, but they won’t let me stay.”
“I’mstaying,” Kayn said.
“Thank you.” Rafe brought her hand to his lips.
The nurse opened the door and held it open. “Okay, everyone. You’ve seen she’s all right. Now she needs to get some rest.”
“You’ll bring her to my mother’s tomorrow?” Rafe asked Kayn.
“Of course.”
He leaned forward as though to kiss her, but she couldn’t reach him.
“Fine.” Rolling his eyes, Kayn helped Rafe to stand.
“I should’ve let Darius handle the banquet and insisted that you be seen.” Rafe pressed his warm lips to hers, and he lifted her hand to the bandage on his cheek.
“I guess I’d better get used to this smoochy stuff, hadn’t I?” Kayn asked.
“For your self-preservation, yes.” Rafe released her hand and straightened.
“She really does need to get some rest.” The nurse took the handles to the chair, and Rafe sat in it.
Francie came over to the bed and brushed a kiss on Ahri’s forehead. “I’m so happy to see you and Rafe together,” she whispered.
Ahri watched them leave. She felt weary and a little bemused by all that had happened that day.
“It’s really still Saturday, right?” she asked her brother.
“Just barely.” Kayn watched her, his gaze tender. “So, you and Rafe, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” He rubbed his hands together and shot her a diabolical look like he used to do when they were kids. “We’ll keep all this money in the family.”
“Someday you’ll have a family of your own.”
He made a disgusted sound. “Not me. I’m not the marrying kind. A woman needs a man who’llbethere and not caught up in a video game, if you catch my drift.”
“I’m sure there’s some computer nerd out there who’s as in love with programming as you are.” Ahri shifted, and a twinge in her side reminded her why she was there. “I never did find out what’s hurt on me.”
“The doc said you bruised some ribs and partially dislocated your left shoulder,” Kayn said. “I told them you’ve had some trouble with anesthesia. That’s why they gave you that nerve block. I guess they hit something wrong, and it caused the lung thing.”
“Thanks for staying tonight.” She reached out a hand to him, and he took it.
“Any time, sis.”
EPILOGUE
