“I do. But I also think you really need to get on that stationary bike.”

He frowned. “It is downstairs.”

“But the stairs can be part of the therapy. You live in a house full of them, so you need to get back to using them anyway. Plus, the more you do, the faster you’ll heal. And really, don’t you want to sleep in your own bed again?”

“I do.” A wicked gleam passed through his eyes. Like he was imagining himself in that bed, and not alone.

She cleared her throat, but let it pass. Then she realized that her father might have been a little bit right. Unfortunately. But using her feminine wiles wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, especially if they got Van to exercise and heal. And regardless of whether he ever fought again, she should help him to get better if she could. It was her fault he was in this mess to begin with. “Well, I’ll be downstairs, then.”

He scowled. “What?”

She got off the barstool. “Yep. Downstairs. Waiting for you. It’s the door right across from the pantry, right?” It was only a guess. She didn’t really know.

He put his hands flat on the counter. “No one goes downstairs.”

She edged toward the door in the kitchen. His response had pretty much told her this was the right one. “And you’re going to stop me how? Run after me with your crutches?”

“Lisa, I mean it.” His eyes glowed red, and his brow furrowed.

It was enough to stop her in her tracks. He was really serious about this. It couldn’t be that he was just that dead-set against getting on the exercise bike. “What’s the big deal about downstairs? You afraid I’m going to break your precious gym equipment?”

“No, I…” He huffed out a breath. “I will walk the deck as many times as you—”

“Is there even any gym equipment down there?” She crossed her arms and decided to test him a little. “You’re not hiding some weirdo porn collection down there, are you? Or a freaky sex dungeon? What is it down there, all red velvet and black satin with matching his and hers whips and chains?”

“No.” Van looked flustered. “Nothing like that.”

She nodded and pursed her lips. “If you say so. Wait, are you secretly into Hello Kitty? Do you store your massive collection downstairs?”

He stared at her. “Hello what?”

She held her hands up. “No judgment.”

“What is downstairs is very personal.” Then he narrowed his eyes a little. “Just gym equipment.”

Something smelled. “Gym equipment is personal?”

He sighed. “I also keep some valuables down there.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t care if you keep all the gold in Fort Knox down there. I just need you to work out and get better.”

His eyes widened at the word gold, then he regained his composure. “Why?”

“Why do I want you to work out?” She shrugged. “Just like your urge to protect me last night when you thought I was in danger, I have this drive for you to get better so that your life improves. So that you’re not in pain. We’re friends now, right? I want to help you. I feel compelled to. I don’t want my time here to be wasted.”

His eyes narrowed like he was thinking that over. Then he nodded. “You are a healer?”

That was the last thing she was, but what else could she say? “Sure. I like that. For you, I’m a healer.” She smiled brightly. “Does that mean we can go downstairs and get a real rehab session in?”

He sighed and shook his head and was about to answer, when a sly look came over his face. “With one condition.”

“You need to put your brace on first?”

“No.”

“Then what’s the condition?”

His grin expanded as he got up, grabbed his crutches, and made his way around to her side of the counter, stopping only when he was right in front of her. “Kiss me again.”

That wasn’t a hardship, but it also wasn’t part of her plan. “Van, I don’t think that’s such a great idea.”

“It is a very good idea.” He paused, brushing a strand of hair off her cheek. His touch sent a shiver through her. “Or did you not like kissing me as much as I thought?”

Oh, no, she’d liked it very much. She smiled and felt her cheeks go warm, among other parts of her. “No, I liked it.”

“Then why is more a bad idea?”

Because there was so much at stake. He was already going to hate her when he found out the truth. How much more would he despise her if he felt like she’d led him on? But if it got him to work out and exercise that leg… She made herself smile. “I just don’t want you falling for me, that’s all. You know, a therapist and a fighter. It’s just not done.”

“But I am not a fighter anymore.”

And there it was. Her reason for being here, underlined in black and white. “I don’t know how you can give that up.”

“Because I can.” He bent forward like he was going to kiss her.

She stepped back, grinning.

He looked confused. “No kiss?”

“You can kiss me.” She kept backing up until she reached the door that led to the lower level. She opened it, reached in, and flipped the switch. There wasn’t much to see beyond the steps. She glanced back at Van. Grom stood next to him, ready to go but watching for his master’s command. “I’ll be on the stairs. Halfway down.”