Page 98 of The Very Virile Viking

"Ms. Abruzzi, so glad to meet you. I'm Harry Winslow," the other man said, extending his hand.

She wanted to ask for the details of what had happened, but she needed to see Magnus first.

"You are not sticking another needle in me," she heard a male voice roar out suddenly.

Magnus. Following the voice, she found him in a curtained area arguing with a hefty nurse who appeared well able to handle herself with the difficult Viking.

"Look," Magnus was saying. "I pissed in a cup for you. I let you take large amounts of my blood to be tested. I let you sew up my wound, even though 'twas a mere scratch. No more bloodletting, I tell you."

"Buddy, one more shot. That's all. You either roll over and show me your pretty butt, or I'll strap you down."

"Angela!" Magnus had just looked up and noticed her standing there. He opened his arms wide for her to come to him. "Best you beware, healing maid, my lady is here now, and she will protect me from the likes of you."

Thank God, he's all right. He couldn't be hurt too badly if he's roaring like this. Angela sat on the edge of the mattress, on his good side, and hugged him gently. She didn't realize how pent-up her emotions had been till the tears began to spill out with her loud sobs.

"Angela! What is wrong? Has someone been hurt?"

Is he for real? "You're hurt, you thickheaded fool," she wailed. "That's why I am crying."

"Oh," he said, immediately followed by, "Get me out of here, Angela."

Angela glanced over at the nurse, who stared pointedly at the needle in her hand.

"One more shot," Angela told Magnus. "Then I'll go see about getting you released."

"All right," he said, rolling over onto his stomach. "But then I am walking out of here, even if I have to wear this arse-baring garment."

His behind was in fact bared by the hospital gown. And a fine-looking behind it was, too. Even the brusque nurse thought so. Angela could tell because the woman winked saucily at her after giving his butt a good onceover, then jamming the needle into the firm flesh.

While he was dressing with Angela's help, Magnus spoke with Harry and Torolf. "You did a fine job, Harry. We ne'er would have been able to catch Gunther without your help."

"Thank you. It's what I do. But you are the one who made yourself a target. Can't tell you how much I admire your courage, man."

"Target?" Angela repeated.

"Yep, we set Gunther up. Magnus made himself very visible the last few days… at the Blue Dragon, around town. Had him boasting in bars and local stores about how things were going to improve at the Blue Dragon now that he was here. Despite all the evidence we had gathered, we needed to catch the perp in the act… which we did."

Angela glared at Magnus, who gazed back at her with utter innocence.

Calm down, Angela. You can't smack a wounded man. Inhaling deeply for inner strength, she said, "I love the Blue Dragon, but I never wanted you to put your own life on the line."

"Sometimes a man must be a man.'"

She rolled her eyes. Is there such a thing as an adorable male chauvinist ?

"We will discuss this later… that I promise you," she said, now that he was dressed and frankly looked a bit white-faced and weak, despite his macho bravado, "but for now, let's go home, honey, and put you to bed."

"Will you come to bed with me?" he cajoled in an exaggerated little-boy voice.

"No." She laughed. "You never give up, do you?"

"Never." He laughed, too, then winced when that slight movement pained his shoulder. " 'Tis the third-best thing about a Viking."

She wasn't about to ask him what one and two were. She was pretty sure she already knew.

Sleepless in Sonoma… not… !

The trouble at the Blue Dragon was over. All that was left was the cleaning up… both physically and legally.