“Most doctors, probably.”
“Well, what do they know?”
“A lot.”
I knew he was right, but I pouted anyway. Finally, I said, “Okay, fine. No sex for twenty-four hours.”
“Try a week.”
“That can’t be right. Sex is good for you. It’ll only help the healing process!” He grinned and shook his head. “I want actual scientific evidence,” I said. “Clinical trials and double-blind studies with conclusive evidence that it’s actually bad for you to do it with a concussion.”
He gently traced my chin with a fingertip as he said, “There’s no way you feel well enough for sex right now.”
“Well no, not right this minute. But I will in a day or two, nota week.”
“Let’s just take it day by day and see how it goes.”
“It’s annoying how you’re all mature and right about things.” He smiled at me, and I asked, “So, what’re we supposed to do in the meantime? Die of blue balls?”
“I can stand it if you can,” he said. “And just think how much fun it’ll be once we both feel better and can finally have sex again, without a pounding headache and countless aches and pains.”
I looked at him closely and said, “You feel as bad as I do right now, don’t you?”
“No. I wasn’t shot.”
“But you were knocked out, probably beat up, and then held hostage in an overheated garage. That didn’t do you any favors.”
I pulled the plug and started to climb out of the tub, and he asked, “What are you doing?”
“Switching with you,” I said. “You need this more than I do.”
He plugged the drain again and gently restrained me with a hand on my chest. Then he ran more warm water into the tub and told me, “Just relax, Jack, at least for a few minutes.”
Reluctantly, I leaned back and said, “Fine. But once I’m done, you’re getting in here and taking a nice, long soak.”
“I promise I’ll do that. Tonight though, after dinner.”
“What? Why?”
“Because there’s a lot I need to do today.”
I shot him a look. “Like napping and resting?”
“Like cleaning up the shattered glass at the bar and replacing the front window again. I also need to meet with my men, and—”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Which part?”
“All of it! What do you think, that a double standard applies because you’re a tough guy and I’m a little wimp? If I have to rest, so do you!”
He sat back on his heels and said, “I would never call you a wimp. Just the opposite, I think you’re incredibly strong. I already knew that, but you reminded me yesterday when you were saving my ass.”
“That’s actually very sweet, but my point remains. You’re spending the next couple of days resting, just like I am.”
“But—”
“I’m serious.” Bath water dripped onto his black T-shirt when I sat up and cupped his cheek. “You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, Reno, but don’t you see? You don’t have to take on everything by yourself.”