Page 90 of Broken Wheels

“No, per your directive, the only one we gave information to was Mr. Cross.”

“Not Dixon?” Josh’s stomach churned at that thought. It wasn’t right that Dixon didn’t get to know.

“Mr. Cross was with two other men who worked with you.”

Josh smiled. “Was one of them tall and broad and had sexy-as-hell eyes?”

That earned him another chuckle. “I’m going to guess you’re referring to the one they called ‘Dix.’ And as for his eyes, I couldn’t possibly comment.” He grinned. “My wife would be a little upset if I told her I’d said a guy’s eyes were sexy, especially since I haven’t said it to her much in the last few years.”

That saddened Josh. The person you love should always know it.

“Maybe tell her more often?” he asked, his voice quiet. “You never know when you won’t have the chance to do it again.”

Something I’m going to remember from now on.

There were things that needed to be shared. Words that needed to be said out loud.

Three little words in particular.

Dr. James stilled. “I will,” he promised. “You’d think my job would be a constant reminder of that.” He covered Josh’s wounds, pulled a chair toward the bed, and sat. “Okay, so. Let me tell you what happened to you, what you can expect moving forward, and how it will impact you.” He went through the story, with Josh listening intently. After he finished, he touched the area gently. “It looks a little red, but that’s to be expected. Now, you need to settle in and turn yourself over to our nurse’s tender mercies.” He snorted. “Just watch out for Claudette. She’s the one they call Attila the Hun’s evil sister. She makes him look like a choir boy.” He peered up at the nurse who’d entered the room. “That’s what they say, right, Amber?”

The nurse—Amber, which Josh knew he’d probably forget before she left the room—coughed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, doctor. Claudette is… well, she doesn’t stand for any nonsense, but she’s an amazing nurse.”

Dr. James laughed. “I’m teasing, of course.”

“Can I see Dixon now?” Josh asked. “Please?”

Why the hell was he on the verge of tears?

Because if you’d died, Dixon never would have known how you felt. He could have been sitting in that waiting room, only to get word you’d died on the operating table.

Dr. James smiled. “I think you’re ready for a few visitors. But they can’t stay too long, okay? You need to rest.”

Dr. James—Jim James… wow—left, and Amber checked the monitors before she, too, was ready to go. “This Dixon? He must really care for you,” she said. “I heard from one of the security guards that he went after that fed in the waiting room. If the other two hadn’t stepped in, they would have come to blows, I think.”

Chalmers? What the hell was going through Dixon’s mind to attack him?

“Can I see him now? Just Dixon first, please.”

She smiled. “Sure. I’ll leave you alone, but not for long, okay?” She left the room.

Josh felt as though hours passed before the door opened and Dixon stepped in. The first thing Josh noted was how haggard he looked. With his hair mussed, his cheeks sunk, and his eyes hollow, he didn’t appear to have slept in days.

“Dixon!” he whimpered, and a moment later, he was at Josh’s side, peppering him with kisses.

“I’m so very fucking sorry, Doc,” he said, his voice gravelly. “So fucking sorry.”

There was no way Josh was having that.

“Shut up. If it wasn’t for you, I’d be dead.” He raked his fingers through Dixon’s hair, remembering the two of them snuggling in bed, Dixon’s face buried in Josh’s neck, the breath warm on his skin. It was after their first time together, and Josh had finally learned what it meant to be content. His brain had stilled. His mind had almost cleared of any other thoughts beyond the fact Dixon was holding him. “Dixon, I don’t know what protocol is for this, but?—”

Dixon snorted. “Protocol?” He leaned in close, his face inches from Josh’s. “I love you so much, Doc. So very fucking much.”

Josh swore the beeping sped up on the monitor.

He gave Dixon a mock glare. “And you just stole my thunder. I was about to say it to you, you bastard.”

Dixon’s eyes widened as he straightened. “You…. You were?”