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"Ronin?"

"What?" When he realized he’d snapped at her, he said, "Sorry It’s just not what I wanted to hear"

"I get that, but on some level you had to expect this" She reached over and swept his hair fro to ask me to stay with you and take care of you while you recover?"

No fking way She’d seen too much of his weak side already "I don’t expect that from you"

"Then why did you show up at my door?"

His soul screamed, Because I need you, but his mouth couldn’t force the words out What if she believed the only reason he said that was because he required a caretaker for the short term? What he wanted--no, what he needed--from her was far, far more than that So why couldn’t he tell her?

"Don’t pull that silent macho attitude on me We both know you needa home health aide" She paused "But that would be easier for you, wouldn’t it?"

"Infinitely"

"You are seriously pissingout the door for good"

"Please don’t" Ronin grabbed her hand before she ran off "Coh his

"Why are you trying to shut me out?"

Ronin turned his face to the wall

"Hey" She pinched his chin and slowly turned his head back toward her "Last chance Ask oddamn aze to hers, trying to retain soree, you’ll be inas otiable, Amery Period"

She smiled "See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?"

Jesus He’d fallen right into that

"I’et back in bed and rest"

Like hell He’d let her take care of hi out of here today as soon as possible--even if he had to fking crawl

After he’d situated himself in bed, he said, "You don’t have to hover"

Amery looked torn "You sure?"