She leaned down and kissed him. “Did that hurt?”
“Unsure. You may need to try again. For science, of course.”
“Of course,” she said and gave him another peck. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here until now. I just got back into town an hour ago. But I’m here to take care of you now.”
Stone raised an eyebrow. “Take care of me how, exactly?”
“I think that’s our cue to leave,” Dino said to Mike.
“Agreed,” Mike said.
“Hurry up and get better,” Dino said to Stone. “I’m tired of going to dinner alone.”
“What about your lovely wife?” Stone said.
Dino pointed a thumb at Mike. “Ask him.”
Dino’s wife, Viv, was Mike’s number two at Strategic Services.
“I don’t plan her travel,” Mike said. “She does. But if you’re looking for someone to have dinner with tonight, I would be happy to join you.”
“I guess you’ll do,” Dino said.
They said their goodbyes and left.
Tamlyn sat on the edge of Stone’s bed. “I really am sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
“I would have been asleep and not even known.”
“It doesn’t matter if you were asleep.”
He squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. You’re here now. That’s all that’s important.”
She nodded but looked unconvinced. “Work has been very busy.”
“Would you like me to have a conversation with Mike?”
She frowned at him playfully. “I can talk to him myself, if needed, thank you very much.”
“Previous suggestion retracted.”
“Good. Besides, there’s no reason to talk to him. The job is exactly what I signed up for.”
“And you’re still enjoying it?”
“Immensely.”
The door opened, and a doctor and two nurses entered.
“Mr. Barrington, I’m Dr. Wright.”
“I would hate it if you weren’t,” Stone said.
“Believe me when I tell you, that’s not the first time I’ve heard that one.”
One of the nurses checked Stone’s IV, while the other studied one of the machines to which he was attached.
“Are you Mrs. Barrington?” the doctor asked Tamlyn.
