Page 36 of The Last Bachelor Dragon

“Oh, thank you,” she sighed, feeling her legs beginning to wobble again. “Can I see him now?”

“You’re all he’s wanted since we brought him in here,” she said, stepping aside. “I think you will do him more good now than anything else will. I’ve done all I can, it’s up to him now.”

She stepped into the room, not sure what to expect, but when she saw Max lying on the bed, his chest wrapped in a big bandage, his face deathly pale, she let out a little cry. Archie was instantly at her side. “It looks worse than it is,” he said, supporting her as she walked across the room. “He’s going to be okay, I promise. He just needs to rest.”

Archie helped her into a chair by the bed, then left them alone, and she sat watching him breathe for a long time, too overwhelmed by emotion to do anything else. “You promised me that you’d be okay,” she finally said. “I should be angry at you for not keeping your promise, but I’m too scared that I’m going to lose you.”

Pausing to control the tears that were just under the surface, she took a deep breath. “You’d better get better, you big jerk, because you owe me an apology, and I’m not going to be happy until I get one,” she said, her voice shaking alittle. “I need you, Max. I don’t want to live without you. Please come back to me, we have so much to look forward to. I never even got to tell you that I love you. I love you so much it hurts sometimes. Don’t leave me Max, come back so I can tell you I love you every day.”

Her words trailed off, the tears so close now, she couldn’t control them. Then the hand she was holding began to move and Max cracked open his eyes. “I love you too,” he said. “Silly woman, I’m not going to die. You’re going to have to put up with me for a very long time.”

Relief poured through her, making the tears come faster, and she lowered her face onto his legs, no longer able to control the flood. She felt his hand slip into her hair and sobbed even harder, only lifting her head when she emptied the tumult of emotion and felt lighter. Max was sound asleep, his breathing nice and even, his face peaceful and already getting some color back. Untangling his fingers from her hair, she settled back in the chair, prepared to wait the night out next to him, not sure if she would ever let him out of her sight again.

CHAPTER 23

***MAX***

Max woke to the sun streaming through the window and looked around in confusion, not sure where he was for a second. Then, the night before came rushing back at him. Taking a deep breath, he felt the sting of the wound but not the searing pain of the night before. Reassured, he started to sit up, then saw Nora sleeping in the chair beside the bed and lowered himself back down, warmth flooding him when her words came floating back to him.

A second later, she opened her eyes. saw that he was awake, and a smile spread across her face. “Good morning,” she said, sitting up. “How do you feel?”

“Like I deserve a kiss,” he said, grinning at her. “Get over here.”

Nora got up and carefully leaned over the bed to give him a chaste kiss on the lips, but he wanted more and pulled her into bed next to him. “That wasn’t much of a kiss,” he said. “Let’s try that again.”

He kissed her until they had to come up for air. “Max,that can’t be good for you,” Nora said, trying to get out of bed. You’re supposed to be recovering.”

“I am, I just needed a little sugar to help me along,” he said, determined to keep her right next to him. “Shouldn’t the patient get what he wants?”

“Well, yes, but you just got shot last night, Max,” she said, a blush spreading across her cheeks. “You can’t be up for that. Besides, someone could come in any time.”

“Then go lock the door,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows at her. “Then no one will bother us.”

Before she could protest, the door swung open, and Dr. Hernandez came strolling in. She took one look at the two of them and started shaking her head. “I guess I don’t have to ask you how you’re feeling,” she said, walking over to the bed. “But it was pretty close there for a while last night. Maybe you should think about taking it easy for at least a couple of days.”

Nora slid out of bed. “You’d better listen to your doctor.”

“Well, if I can’t have sex, can I have some food?” he asked. “I’m starving.”

The women laughed. “As a matter of fact, breakfast is waiting right outside for you,” the doctor said. “I just wanted to check on you first before I let anyone in.”

“Bring it on,” he said. “I could eat a horse.”

After Carla had left a huge hamper of food, his other friends stopped by to check on him, and by the time the morning was over, he was ready for a nap. “Come up here with me,” he said, patting the space next to him in the bed. “I’ll behave myself, I promise, I just want to take a nap with you.”

Nora eyed him warily but climbed up next to him and snuggled up against him with a sigh. “That’s better,” he said, letting his eyes drift closed.

It was dark when he woke again, Nora still sleeping nextto him. He smiled as he watched her, wondering if she knew that she snored. Her eyes popped open a second later, and she looked up at him. “What?” she asked. You’re staring at me. Was I snoring or something?”

“As a matter of fact, you were snoring,” he said, grinning at her. “Cute little ladylike snores.”

“You’re lying,” she said, scowling at him.

“Nope, it’s the truth,” he said. “But don’t worry, I think it’s cute.”

A knock on the door interrupted them before Nora could say anything. Harrison’s face appeared a second later, worry lines etched on his face. “What’s wrong now?” he asked. “I know that look.”

Harrison stepped into the room carrying a laptop. “We’ve got a storm brewing out in the ocean, and it looks like a doozie,” he said. “They’re predicting it will turn into a hurricane in the next twelve hours, and it’s headed straight for us.”

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