Lord, she was falling apart. But finally it was the good kind of falling apart, the kind that occurs when something wonderful happens, like winning a $10 million lottery.

Or finding out that the man you love is going to live.

"Yes," she said. "Oh, yes. I'm okay. Believe me. I'm just a little overwhelmed."

"Would you like some water?"

"No. I'm fine. Really. Can I see him?"

"I'm sorry, but they've already taken him up. When you're feeling better, you can go up to the waiting room on the third floor. They'll let you know when he's out of surgery."

"Thank you."

The doctor rose to leave, then turned back. "Oh. I almost forgot. He wanted me to tell you something."

"Yes?"

"He said, 'The movie's never over until the hero gets the girl.' Do you know what he means by that?"

"Yes," she said with a smile. "I know."

Four hours later, Dave slowly opened his eyes, blinking until his sight cleared. He felt groggy, and it was a moment before he realized where he was. In a hospital room. Hooked up to an IV. And enough pain was shooting through his leg to remind him of the surgery he'd had.

Between then and now, all he remembered was a few lucid moments in the recovery room before the pain medication had knocked him out all over again. He remembered looking up to see Lisa standing next to his bed, the worry on her face finally replaced with relief, looking more beautiful than he'd ever seen her before. She'd held his hand, stroked his arm, and in minutes he'd fallen asleep again.

He turned over a little, wincing at the pain in his leg, and what he saw replaced his frown with a smile. Lisa sat in a chair beside his bed, her elbow on the arm, her chin resting in her hand, asleep. As if she sensed him watching her, her eyes fluttered open, and she sat up slowly.

"Hi there," he said. "Taking a little nap?"

She smiled, her eyes droopy. "More like a big nap."

"How long have you been there?"

She stretched a little, then checked her watch. "I don't know. I've lost track. Four hours? Five?"

He held out his hand. She rose from her chair, came to the bed, and sat down next to him.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Alive. Not much else matters."

"I was so worried about you."

"I know. But everything's okay now."

She brushed the hair off his forehead, then trailed her fingertips along his cheek before letting her hand rest in her lap again. Her face fell into a frown. "I'm sorry," she said on a shaky breath. "I'm so sorry this happened."

"No apologies. It's over now."

"If you hadn't made it . . ." She bowed her head, and he could see her trying not to cry.

"Come here, baby." He tugged on her hand, coaxing her to lie down next to him.

She sniffed a little. "No, Dave. Your leg-"

"It's okay. My bad leg's on the other side, along with all those tubes and things."

"But this is a hospital."

"Do you see any signs posted? You know-a man and a woman in a hospital bed, with a big red slash through them?"

She smiled a little, and he eased her down next to him, wrapping his arm around her. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he sighed with satisfaction. "That's much better."

"Yes," she said, relaxing against him. "Much, much better."

"Okay. Here's another place to add to the balcony and the shower. A hospital bed."

"You're in no condition for hot s.e.x."

"You're right. I'm incapacitated. I'd be totally at your mercy."

"Are you trying to turn me on?"

"Is it working?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm trying."

Suddenly the door opened and a quick glance told Dave that the DeMarco contingent had arrived. Lisa instantly leapt up and moved away from him to sit on the edge of the bed. Too late. Judging from the looks on his brothers' faces, they'd both gotten an eyeful.

Alex strode into the room first, walking right up to Dave's bed, looking, as usual, as if he was ready to take command of any situation that needed commanding.

"We were stuck at Love Field," he said. "They had a f.u.c.king security lockdown thirty minutes before our flight was supposed to leave. We called ahead to the hospital, and all some idiot here could tell us was that you were in surgery."

"Nice to see you, too, Alex."

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"Thanks, big brother. I appreciate that. Got flowers for me, too?"

"Leg wound?"

"Thigh. The bullet's out. I'm okay."

"h.e.l.l of a lot of blood vessels there. Christ, you could be dead right now. Any permanent damage?"

"The doctors say no."

Alex let out a harsh breath. "Good G.o.d G.o.d, you had us worried. For a while there we had no idea what was going on."

"Will you lighten up? I told you I'm fine."

"I talked to the customs agents in Brownsville. They've got the guy locked up. What the h.e.l.l happened down there?"

"I'll tell you all about it later." Dave turned to Lisa. "Alex, John, this is-"

"Lisa Merrick," Alex said, his expression of relief slowly morphing into a stoic glare. "You're the one."

She blinked with surprise. "What?"

"You're the one who called Dave in the middle of the night and dragged him to Mexico. Got him arrested on drug charges. And now he ends up getting shot?"

Dave felt a flash of foreboding. "Alex-"

"What the h.e.l.l happened down there to make my brother end up in a f.u.c.king hospital?"

Lisa's eyes widened. "W-we had a little trouble on our way out of Santa Rios."

"A little trouble?" He pointed at Dave. "You call this a little trouble? Dave goes down there to help you and this is what he gets?"

"Alex!"

"Look at what you've done! You almost got him killed!" Lisa opened her mouth, but no words came out. She got up from the bed.

"Lisa, don't!" Dave held out his hand. "Come back!"

"No, Dave. No. I've . . . I've got to get out of here."

Dave reached for her, but she slipped away, then side-stepped Alex and John.

"Lisa!" Dave shouted. "Lisa!" "Lisa!"

She yanked open the door and left the room, closing it behind her.

Dave whipped around to face Alex. "What in the h.e.l.l h.e.l.l was that all about?" was that all about?"

"You're lying here with a bullet wound, and you have to ask me that?"

"Go get get her!" Dave shouted. her!" Dave shouted.

"No! I told you before. She's bad news! You don't want-"

"Alex," Dave said, his eyes narrowing dangerously, "don't you ever again, in this lifetime or the next, try to tell me what I want, because you don't have a f.u.c.king clue. Do you understand?"

Alex held up his palm. "Look, Dave. I know you've been through a lot here. You're just not thinking straight, you know?"

"I'm not thinking straight thinking straight? What kind of patronizing a.s.shole of a thing is that to say?"

"I'm just trying to show you how misguided-"

"Alex!" John said.

Alex whipped around. "What?"

"Was your head up your a.s.s when we walked into this room?"

"What?"

"Haven't you been listening? Can't you see he's in love with her?"

Alex blinked with surprise. "Huh?"

John made a scoffing noise. "Jeez. I thought I was a moron about this kind of thing. Looks like you've got me beat by a mile."

Alex turned back to Dave. "In love?"

Dave pointed at the door. "Alex, I'm warning you. If you don't go out there and bring her back in here right now, I'm getting out of this bed and tearing you in half. Now go go!"

chapter twenty-five.

Lisa sat in a waiting room chair, her stomach tied in knots, Alex's words still echoing through her mind. It was as if he'd verbalized all the recriminations she'd been heaping on herself for the past several hours, and she just hadn't been able to stand it.

She heard footsteps. Looking up, she saw Alex coming down the hall, and her heart suddenly hammered her chest. No. No. She couldn't hear any more. She just couldn't. She rose from her chair. She couldn't hear any more. She just couldn't. She rose from her chair.

"Lisa!"

As she started to walk away, he jogged after her, catching her arm. "Lisa. Wait. Don't go."

She spun around and yanked her arm loose, staring at him hotly. "What do you want?"

"Dave wants you to come back."

"Hard to do with his bada.s.s brother blocking the door."

"I'm sorry," he said, clearly choking on the words. "I'm sorry I said those things to you."

"No, you're not. You're just sorry you p.i.s.sed Dave off."