“Just fine, love. I have to go to the bathroom, and the group of Nazis they call nurses around here want me to get up as much as possible.”
Cain had to laugh when Emma took the opportunity to explore a little as they walked. The gown Cain was wearing gave her plenty of real estate to work with.
“I thought you had to go,” Emma said when the door closed and Cain pulled her close.
“The orderly left a little gift earlier, and I wanted to tell you about it before our talk got any more intimate.”
Emma shivered as Cain whispered in her ear. Even in the earliest days of their relationship, Cain could merely have recited the alphabet and Emma would melt from the sound of that low burr.
“I need you to get my robe and find a closet somewhere so we can talk.”
“Who’s he working for?”
“Robe and privacy first, lass.”
They flushed and started a conversation about the house and repairs to give their eavesdropper the impression of domestic bliss. Throughout the exchange Cain started yawning, making it clear she was headed for another nap. Instead, they made their way to the empty patient room next door.
“Can the feds do that?” Emma was frustrated that Cain had to exhaust herself just so they could converse. It was one thing for their enemies to pursue her partner when she was healthy and able to make the chase interesting, but this was cheap and petty. “You’re in the hospital because one of their people shot you, for God’s sake.”
“We don’t know it’s the feds.”
“Who else would it be?”
“If it’s them, then I’m sure some judge signed something along the way that makes it all right, but I don’t want to talk about that now.” She motioned Emma closer. “They can tape me all they want when I’m at work or out, that I’m used to, but when I have to talk with my wife, that’s off-limits.”
“Am I still that? Or should I say, am I still that in your eyes?”
Cain ran her hand through Emma’s thick blond hair until it came to rest behind her neck. “When you left, or when it finally hit me that you were gone, I tried for the longest time to hate you. I figured if I could get to that place, it would be easy for my heart to cut you loose.”
Emma understood the way Cain felt, even though it was painful to hear. “Why didn’t you?”
“Two reasons.” Cain reached for one of Emma’s hands. “One, because of Hayden. At night I told him stories about you and about us. He would lie there and listen, enjoying my little forays down memory lane until the day came that he didn’t want to hear them. That’s when I found myself lying in bed thinking about our time together because it was the one thing that brought me peace.” She brought their linked hands up and put them over her heart. “I started as a way to comfort our son, then found you were ingrained in here.” Cain bumped their hands over her heart. “No amount of anger or any other emotion is going to erase you from my heart. I love you, Emma Casey, and no matter your choices you’ll always be my wife in here.”
“I’ll never give you cause to doubt me again. I swear it.”
“If that’s true, then nothing will ever harm us.”
“What do we do about all this mess we’re in, honey? You need to get better before anything else happens.”
The big smile and slight tug encouraged Emma to sit in her lap.
“We’re going to take all the time you want. Then and only then will we live up to my reputation as a Casey.”
Careful not to put pressure on Cain’s injured side, Emma leaned against her and pressed her lips to Cain’s neck. “I’m not sure what that means, but at the moment I don’t care.” She placed a small kiss on the pulse point, enjoying the way it beat steadily against her lips.
Dr. Donald Elton hesitated before entering, but kept walking when Cain waved him in. “I thought you’d run off on me. And I’d ask how you’re doing, but I can see that you’re doing better than I am.”
“Sorry, Dr. Elton,” Emma said, moving off Cain’s lap.
“Don’t be sorry. I’ve always felt love is the quickest healer. You keep up the good work and she’ll be back to full steam in no time.” He looked at Cain and held out his hand. “What can I do for you?”
Cain started by explaining what had happened at their home and her business, finishing with what she wanted from him. It was difficult for the doctor not to give her what she wanted, especially after seeing the size of Emma’s smile when she heard what Cain had in mind.
“You’ll still need care,” he warned.
“I’m not in any way suicidal, so don’t worry,” she assured him. “When certain people start asking, and they will, the last time we saw each other was a couple of days ago, and I left without your consent.”
“You don’t have anything to fear from me, Cain. Just promise me you’ll come by and let me see my handiwork. It’s not often I get to work on someone with such great muscle tone and bone structure. I’d like to see it when it’s all working.” When Emma’s smile faded, he put his hands up in her direction. “I really am only interested from a medical point of view, so don’t worry.”
Cain chuckled and pulled Emma back down on her lap. “You got a deal, Doc. As soon as this is over, I’ll run laps for you if you want.”
In spite of her good mood, it still bothered her that she was running, since the Bracatos would think she was weak, but Cain had no choice. She didn’t know what the future held, and in Cain’s world that was reason enough to sweat.
