by S. E. Harmon
“I feel like shit. But the doctor thinks I should be ready to go home in a few days. Maybe tomorrow, if everything looks good.”
“Tomorrow?” I grumbled. “What kind of hospital would let you go so soon? I would’ve done better to take you to Dr. Frankenstein’s lab.”
His chuckle vibrated against my cheek. “I’m alive and that’s all that matters. And that’s thanks to you.”
“You shouldn’t be thanking me,” I said a tad angrily. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have been in danger in the first place.”
“I’m fine—”
“You’re not fine. You’re in a fucking hospital.” I pulled back, but he wouldn’t let me get far. His hand secured around my wrist, keeping me in place. “I just… I never thought you’d be one of them.”
“You and me both.” His smile was wry. “But Rain, I have to say you were the one thing that made it okay. Seeing you and knowing you could see me… I knew everything was going to be all right.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just listened as he went on. “I can’t imagine what it would be like to not be seen or heard for years, even decades. And then finally meet someone who can see you and wants to help you.” His grip tightened on my hand. “If you ever doubt what you do for them, I just want you to know that it’s no small thing.”
I felt like I could breathe for the first time since I’d seen him standing in front of me as a ghost. I let out a whoosh of air. “I guess.”
“I know,” he corrected.
“You can’t deny that you wouldn’t have been in danger if I wasn’t a medium. We wouldn’t have to go on strange ghost missions. You wouldn’t have to wear a protective necklace.”
He glanced down instinctively, clearly seeing the corded leather rope and the thin pendant, small and flat as a penny, around his neck. “Well, now, that’s certainly new. Is this from your mother?”
I was too busy ranting to answer. “There wouldn’t be any ghosts in your home, invading your privacy, and butting into your life.”
“Rain—”
“Watching us have sex or riding with you in the car—”
“Rain,” he said sternly.
I blew out a frustrated breath. “What?”
“Kiss me.”
I opened my mouth to argue and then realized, yeah, that was a capital idea. I cradled his face in my hands and kissed him softly. When I would’ve pulled away, he chased my lips, stretching up to capture my mouth again. He deepened the kiss, and I relaxed into it with a sigh.
The machine to his left started beeping, and I pulled away, startled. Danny chuckled. “Now you’ve gone and done it. They’ll probably be in here in a few minutes.” He sent me a rueful glance. “Baby, you’re hell on my blood pressure.”
I blushed even as he laughed. “Fuck you, McKenna.”
Chapter 29
Two days later, they released Danny from the hospital.
He was pretty gung ho about leaving, and listened earnestly as the stern nurse relayed his discharge instructions. It was actually kind of cute—he would promise just about anything to leave. If she’d told him to tie one hand behind his back and hop on one foot, he would have, as long as it resulted in his release.
Everything went smoothly enough until a guy from transport arrived with a wheelchair. Oh boy. The poor man barely set one foot in the door before Danny declined his services. The nurse held up a hand for the man to stay and promptly explained hospital policy for discharges.
Danny’s face darkened ominously. The nurse didn’t look remotely impressed. She may have been over sixty and wearing a smock covered in colorful, smiling cats, but I could tell she was about that life.
I made some vague excuse about pulling the car around that neither of the combatants paid any attention to. I exited the room on Danny’s plaintive, I don’t need a freaking wheelchair, and headed for the parking garage.
I had company as I drove to the front of the hospital in the form of two ghosts, Ellen and Brian. My talk with Danny had given me perspective, and I’d relaxed my desire to vanquish on sight. I still watched them warily. The two of them only seemed interested in convincing me to complete the quest that ended their lives.
Yeah, sign me right up for that.
“Brian and I have always been explorers at heart,” Ellen said, her brown eyes earnest. “We were kind of obsessed with finding that lost treasure. Maybe we took a few more risks than we should have.”
“Lots of gold coins,” Brian said with relish. He was a short fireplug of a guy with spiky dark hair. “Supposedly from the Spanish treasure fleet of 1712.”
“That’s all well and good, but that doesn’t explain how you two got stuck in an underwater cave.”
“Miscalculations with our dive equipment.” Brian shrugged. “We knew it was time to head back, but Ellen stumbled upon this cave entrance by accident. We knew we wouldn’t find it again, so we had to go in. Don’t you see?”
“And that’s when we found it.” Ellen sighed with pleasure. “It was so beautiful—caskets of precious gold. We can tell you exactly where it is. You’ll be a legend.”
“I’m not sending anyone else down there to die,” I said crossly.
“You’ll be rich,” Brian promised.
I pulled around to the front of the hospital and saw Danny already outside, sitting in the wheelchair. For a man who'd put up a pretty good fight about not needing one, he looked damned comfortable, chatting and joking around with the orderly. His expression brightened when he saw my car.
“I already am,” I said softly.
That was as far as the good feelings lasted. Before I could get even halfway up the drive, Danny managed to get out of the wheelchair and wave the orderly off. I threw the car in Park and hustled out of the driver’s side, not even bothering to close the door behind me.
“Could you wait a bloody minute?” I posed the purely rhetorical question as he carefully walked a few more steps. Obviously, he wasn’t as sure that he could manage as he’d initially thought.
“I’m fine,” he insisted. “Healthy as a horse.”
“Yeah, a horse that should’ve been put out to pasture a long time ago.” I put an arm around his waist and after a moment of stubbornness, he leaned on me. “There you go. Easy does it.”
The short distance to the car seemed to take an eternity. I could only imagine how it felt for Danny, who was already a little pale and sweaty. After days of being laid up with little to no activity, I might as well have asked him to run a mile.
He leaned heavily against the car as I struggled to open the door. It would’ve been open already if he hadn’t been determined to play the role of Captain I’ve Got This. I bit down on my tongue, hard, to keep my uncharitable thoughts to myself.
I finally got the door open, and we did a bit of maneuvering to get him in—minus one leg. I crouched down to lift his leg in the car, but he waved me off. He swiped at the trickle of sweat on his brow. “Just give me a second.”
“Lemme guess,” I said dryly, planting my hands on my hips. “You’re fine.”
“Yep.”
“Wow, he’s a touchy sort, isn’t he?” Brian remarked.
“But kind of dreamy, isn’t he?” Ellen sighed.
I ignored them both and tried to pretend I wasn’t looking at Danny while he caught his breath, but I damned well was. It was a little disconcerting to see him so shaky and tired. Danny was known to run a mile or two just to ‘get his blood pumping’—whatever the fuck that meant. In my experience, running a mile or two usually got my heart gasping.
I cleared my throat delicately. “Are you sure you're—”
“Going to kill you, if you keep asking me how I’m doing? Yes. I am.” He sent me a scowl. I bit down on my tongue again to keep from responding in kind. I had a feeling I'd be doing that a lot while I nursed him back to health—no one had ever accused me of being naturally nurturing.
He sighed. “I'm sorry. I'll do better accepting help. I always g
ive you shit for that, and I guess it’s my turn. The shoe is on the other foot.”
My mouth quirked. “Yes, the other boat-sized foot.”
“Yeah, well, we can't all have feet with perfect arches.”
“We can all operate a toenail clipper, can't we?”
He laughed. “I almost died, you know. You're supposed to be nice to me.”
“Sorry, Irish, it's just not in my DNA.”
He caught my hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing the inside of my wrist. Something on my hand caught his eye and he stilled. “You're wearing it.”
Oh. That. “I am,” I confirmed unnecessarily.
Not only that, but I realized I'd been stupid to hesitate even for a second. You never know how much time you have with the ones you loved and tomorrow was never guaranteed. I grimaced. That sounded like a quote you’d find in an inspirational journal. Maybe that’s why it never resonated with me. Someone should’ve put it more bluntly, in terms I understood… something like, death is a motherfucker and isn’t big on giving notice.
His lower lip stuck out a little as he scowled and it was adorable. “You can't just put it on your finger and start wearing it.”
“I beg to differ.” I arched a brow. “You gave it to me.”
“Yeah, maybe so, but only so you’d start thinking about it. I didn’t even get to ask you yet.”
“Well, ask me, sweetheart. Cuz I’m not taking it off.” I waggled my finger. “And do it quickly, because I’m getting hot standing out here.”
“I can’t ask you now.”
“Why not?”
“Because… because… I’m not even dressed nicely.” He looked down at himself, taking in the gray sweats and black T-shirt I’d brought for him to wear home. He had slides on his feet because I hadn’t wanted him to have to fiddle with laces. He ran a hand over his scruffy jaw, which was a few days past a five o’clock shadow. “And I need to shave.”
I didn’t see the problem. He looked as good to me as he ever did. Clearly, he didn’t understand that he did disreputable very well. I also didn’t tell him that his shirt was inside out, because I had no intention of taking my ring off while he got spiffy.
“We’re in a hospital parking lot, for Chrissakes,” he went on, scandalized.
I raised an eyebrow. “I can drive us someplace else, if you prefer. I think there’s an Arby’s up the block.”
“An Arby’s!”
I winced. I was pretty sure they’d heard him on the Space Station. “A proposal and curly fries,” I said indignantly. “That’s just good planning.”
“This isn’t romantic enough,” he growled. “I want to get this right.”
He was so adorable and so dear to me that I almost couldn’t speak for a moment. I sifted a hand through his dark hair, which was longer than usual, super soft and free of product. I tucked a few, unruly, silky strands behind his ear. “The fact that it’s you and me makes it very right, Irish. That’s all I need.”
His cheeks colored a little as he gave an embarrassed laugh. “Maybe you’re right.” He held out his palm. “I’m going to need the ring back.”
I scowled. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” He smiled. “And then I never want you to take it off again.”
That was an easy promise to make. I removed it from my finger and put it in his palm. He took a deep breath and cast a suspicious look around. “We’re alone, aren’t we?”
I purposefully didn’t glance at the two ghosts sitting in the back seat. Ellen practically had stars in her eyes as she stared at us with bated breath. I’d thought she only cared about treasure, but I’d underestimated her romantic side. Brian slipped his hand in hers, and they held hands tightly.
I mentally crossed my fingers as I lied my ass off. “Of course.”
“It’s just so beautiful,” Ellen sighed.
“Get to it,” Brian advised.
Hush up, or there’s room for you in my pendant. I’d never wished for telepathy more.
Danny cleared his throat, and suddenly, I couldn’t care one whit about the ghosts. “Rainstorm Moonbeam Christiansen,” he began.
“That's not my fucking name—”
“That is your fucking name,” he countered patiently. “Your mother said—”
“Once again, you can't give your grown child a middle name.”
“I think she can. She gave birth to you, didn't she?”
“Yes, but there's a fucking window of time that decent people abide by—”
He hushed me. “Let me finish.”
I glared. “Fine.”
“It’s hard to believe one person could be so pouty.”
“You’re the one marrying me,” I reminded him.
“I can't marry you if you don't let me get on with the flipping proposal,” he said loudly. I made a sweeping, magnanimous gesture, and he sighed. “Thank you.”
He looked down for a few moments, long enough to make me fidget. When he looked back up, his eyes were troubled, and I squatted down in front of him. I took his hand. “Ask me,” I said quietly.
“But kneeling is traditional.”
“We’re not traditional.”
He thought about that for a second before he huffed out a soft laugh. He kissed me then, his lips soft and warm on mine. He pulled back and smoothed his thumb across my mouth softly. “I was having a hard time marshaling my thoughts. I wanted it to be perfect, but this is perfectly us, and I think that's enough.”
“It is.”
“I thought about saying I want to love you all my life, but I already do. Always will. And I thought about saying I want to be your partner in life and work, but we already are.” His hand dropped from my face and took my other hand.
“Ask me,” I insisted. The sooner he asked, the sooner I could say yes. He was already mine, and I was already his, but I wanted the words. And I wanted that ring back on my finger.
“You know, they say that life is a series of highs and lows. That you can't enjoy day without night, or happiness without experiencing sadness. I used to think that was bunk until you left for DC.” He smiled, almost self-deprecatingly. “I've experienced life with you and life without you, and I can honestly say that only one of those is even worth contemplating. That’s what this ring is about. I love you, Rain. And I want everyone to know it.”
He slipped the ring back on my finger, and we both stared at it for a second. “So... will you?”
I was so choked up for a minute I couldn't get anything out. My mouth moved without words. Figures. Here I was, experiencing the most beautiful moment of my life, and I looked like a dog eating a spoonful of peanut butter.
His brow furrowed as my lengthy silence extended. “You don't have to say yes. I know it's just a piece of paper, but—”
His rambling finally knocked the sense back into me. “Yeah.” My hand tightened on his. A million times yes.
“I didn't say everything I wanted to say.”
“You said enough.”
He hugged me tightly, and I couldn’t breathe for a few seconds. I didn't ask him to let up, though. And then I heard the clapping. Slow clapping. I sighed, glancing at Brian and Ellen over Danny’s shoulder.
Ellen wiped at her eyes. “Beautiful,” she said. “Just beautiful.”
“They make such a cute couple,” Brian agreed.
Maybe they weren’t half bad. In fact, they were kind of sweet. Before I could say so, things took a turn for the awkward. “Do you think they swing?” Ellen asked thoughtfully. “I’d bang the tall one.”
“Get out,” I said, waving a hand. “You know when office hours are.” I paused. “And I’m bangable, too.”
“I concur,” Brian said with a leer.
Ellen lifted a shoulder. “You’re invited, of course.”
That’s hell no on the ghost orgy. “Out,” I said firmly.
For the first time in a long while, Danny didn’t flinch at the mention of ghosts. He just squeezed me tighter. “I don’t even want to
know.”
The sound of another car pulling up in the drive brought us back to reality. I pulled back and rose, feeling strangely emotional. All those damned things he’d said. God, when he wanted to, Danny was a fucking technician when it came to breaking down my walls.
It was my turn to say something romantic and wonderful.
I cleared my throat. “Should we hit that Arby’s now? I’ve got a coupon.”
He sent me an amused look. “Really?”
“We’ve got to eat, don’t we?”
“I guess that’s a good idea.”
“I know.” I winked. “I’m full of them. And now you get to hear my spectacular ideas for the rest of our lives.”
He didn’t laugh as I expected. He looked up at me with eyes so beautifully blue, a wealth of emotion in his gaze. It was everything true and pure and real between us. “I can’t fucking wait.”
The feeling was definitely mutual.
Chapter 30
It took me a week before I was ready to start up office hours again. Brian and Ellen were the first to arrive, clutching several treasure maps in their hands. I turned them right back around and told them to think of real unfinished business. Something that didn’t involve gold bullion at the bottom of the ocean.
By the time noon rolled around, I had a list of things to do that spanned five pages, front and back. Dakota called me during a lull, and we chatted for a while—actually, he did most of the chatting. I did a lot of listening while I put him on speakerphone so I could check emails. We had another session in a few days, but he had some thoughts about energy transference that he wanted to share immediately.
Danny was in the bedroom, pretending to rest. It was taking his body a little bit to catch up with his will, and I was trying my best to be patient as he pushed his recovery. He was off for two weeks at Tate’s insistence, and on desk duty for a few weeks after that. Needless to say, he was slowly going out of his mind.
The biggest change in our situation was the new addition to the family. Danny was still on the fence about it. He’d shuffled in the front door, fresh from the hospital, only to find Walter lying on the couch. As if Walter knew it was his time to shine, he’d rolled over to display his junk to its best advantage.
