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“She won’t be able to handle the stairs at your townhouse or the Rawlins split-level,” Boone said, and I frowned like he was sharing fake-ass information with them. “The Sorority House will be easier for her to maneuver.”

“I’ll move to Little Memphis and take care of you,” Yarrow said instantly as she stroked my hair. “You have a bump on your head. I’ll need to gun down someone.”

“Everyone who needed killing is dead,” Blackjack told Yarrow. “All we can do is take care of Goldie.”

She gave him a soft smile like he was a genius. My dad looked at me and asked, “Where’s your boyfriend?”

“He didn’t come on the helicopter.”

“Did you break up?” Yarrow asked.

Boone said, “York is riding here now.”

Our dad nodded. “I look forward to getting to know him.”

“We just hook up. There are no feelings involved,” I babbled and played with my mom’s hair. “I often forget his name.”

I caught Blackjack and Boone sharing an eye roll. Yarrow noticed and frowned. Before she could complain, I told her that I loved her.

Her blue eyes lost their fire, and I felt her struggling. We stared at each other while my dad asked Boone questions about York.

“He has a dog,” Boone said, struggling to come up with information about the biker. “He lives in Nova’s old house. He was in the Army.”

“Marines,” I whispered. “His mom is an old lady in a nursing home.”

“Was he adopted?” Blackjack asked.

“I don’t know. We never talked. I don’t know anything about him. Though I could paint his naked form.”

My dad patted my hand and said, “Well, we’ll save that painting for when you’ve gotten back on your feet.”

“I’ll need to stay off my feet for a long time. What if I can never ride my motorcycle again?”

Blackjack held my gaze and insisted, “You’ll feel grateful to be alive to complain about it.”

Now, I was the one smiling at my dad like he was a genius. Our family bonding moment ended when Clint’s mom, Shay, arrived.

“I’ve spoken with admissions,” Shay said softly as her gray eyes revealed a mix of worry and fatigue. “They’re moving you to a private room until your scheduled surgery. The police will be here before you’re sedated. Lula will make sure you only answer what is necessary. The plan is to have you home by this afternoon.”

Yarrow climbed off the bed and walked to Shay. The other woman did her best to avoid flinching when my mom hugged her.

“Thank you,” Yarrow said and embraced Shay for a little too long.

Blackjack claimed he needed affection and stole his woman from the never-ending hug. I smiled at everyone before closing my eyes. More than once, I heard people trying to wake me. I would open my eyes just a bit and mumble words that made them leave me alone.

I felt my body move at one point. My eyes opened enough to see the ceiling changing above me. I felt my dad’s hand around mine as we entered an elevator.

At one point, I heard my mom crying. Boone said something about food. That part made my stomach growl, but I knew I couldn’t eat before the surgery.

The next voice I heard was familiarly grumbly, like a hoarse bear. My eyes opened a little, spotting York bent forward to see me better.

I found myself in a hospital room. My family was gone. York’s leather-colored eyes looked tired. The scowl on his scarred face made him seem hostile.

Rather than thank him for saving me or suggesting he get a nap, I decided to walk back the mushy, romantic sentiments I had shared in the dark.

“That stuff I said in the woods,” I mumbled and sighed. “I’d appreciate it if you were willing to pretend that I didn’t say any of it. Not that I didn’t mean what I said. I just think things were solid before, and I don’t want my momentary weakness to ruin a good thing.”

Without missing a beat, York grunted, “No.”