“No way. In your condition, forget it—the hospital staff won’t let you leave.”

“I’ll come right back after I handle it.”

Tyler’s tone was unusually soft. He was trying to negotiate, but Rachel didn’t even have to think about it before refusing.

“No. I don’t care what you say, you’re not going to the office. Tyler, this is your body we’re talking about! Did you not hear the doctor? If they hadn’t gotten you here when they did, you’d be missing that leg right now.”

Yale stared at Tyler like he was seeing a ghost. His eyes were wide. Had hell frozen over?

He had worked for Tyler for years, and never—not once—had he seen him soften his tone. Tyler had always been a lone wolf, decisive to the point of arrogance, never asking for permission. Now, he was actually trying to negotiate—and it was with a woman, no less. This was rare.

Yale stayed put like he was watching a show. He was curious to see how Tyler would deal with Rachel, who clearly wasn’t easy to convince.

Tyler hobbled over on his crutch, stopping right in front of her, towering over her. His jet-black eyes bore down on her, so intense that Rachel could feel her stomach churning. The scent of hospital disinfectant clung to him, laced with a hint of tobacco. Somehow, it didn’t clash at all—if anything, it made her pulse quicken. For a moment, she couldn’t even tell if it was his gaze or his scent that was making her flush.

She blinked mechanically, her words coming out a little tangled. “Why are you staring at me? Did I say something wrong? Even if you called the doctor right now, they’d tell you the same thing.”

Tyler raised an eyebrow. He then brushed two quick kisses against her lips, his voice low and smooth as velvet.

“Rachel, if you want to keep looking at me, just say so. You don’t have to use my injury as an excuse.” She barely registered his outrageous words. All her focus was on the sudden heat at her lips. Her eyes went wide after a stunned two-second delay, and she instinctively covered a hand over her mouth.

“Tyler, are you crazy? There’s someone here!”

“It’s fine. Think carefully. If you don’t let me out of this room today, I’ll just keep kissing you in front of him until I’ve made up for every kiss I missed when you weren’t by my side.”

Before she could react, he leaned in again. Rachel caught Yale in her peripheral vision. He looked just as awkward as she felt.

What was wrong with Tyler? How could he act this casually about something so intimate with someone else in the room? Wasn’t he supposed to be inexperienced? Years without a single woman around him, and yet he seemed completely at ease. He didn’t seem clumsy at all. It was quite the opposite. He was moving like a man who had done this before.

Rachel, flustered, tried to dodge, but it was too late. Tyler had already pinned her against the headboard and caught her lips. She had no time—or patience—for this right now. She turned her head to break the kiss, but as if reading her mind, Tyler’s hand slid behind her neck, locking her in place before she could move. Now she was completely trapped.

His kiss was fierce, almost overwhelming, leaving her momentarily defenseless. She pushed at his chest, but when his eyes narrowed slightly, she saw it—clear, dangerous desire. Her heart skipped a beat.

Tyler smiled and leaned close to whisper in her ear. His breath was hot and a little uneven. “Rachel, if you don’t agree, and I lose control, don’t blame me.”