“Are you sure you don’t want me to call a doctor?”
“I’ll be fine.” She puts her hands on the floor to push herself up.
Taking her by the arms, I help her to her feet. “Can you walk, or would you like me to carry you?”
“Look at you being so chivalrous. Whenever I’m in trouble, you’re my knight in shining armor. I didn’t think men like you existed.”
Anchoring my arm around her waist, we make our way slowly from the restroom. “I was in the right place at the right time.”
At the elevator, we step inside. She rests her head on my chest. Holding her in my arms feels right. Like I want to protect her and help her for the rest of my life.
Sighing, she says, “Under your grumpy, cold exterior, you are a decent guy.”
I choke back a laugh. “Grumpy and cold?” Of course she’d think that. “I’m sorry I’ve given you that impression. I’ve had my reasons, although I’m sorry for how I’ve made you feel.”
The doors of the elevator open and we step out. Even though I can tell she’s having no trouble walking on her own, I don’t let go. I love having her close to me.
“Harper said you have your reasons.”
Without breaking apart, I pull the keycard from my back pocket and swipe it to unlock the door. “She did? What else did she say?”
I finally let her go so we can walk inside the room. “Nothing. Don’t worry, your deep, dark secret is safe.”
“I don’t have secrets. But there are some things I’m not comfortable talking about.”
“If you ever need anyone to talk to, I’m a great listener.” Her eyes are glassy, and her cheeks are flushed. I need to get her to bed. There’s no time for talking.
As we step further into the room, the king-sized bed dominates the small space, making it glaringly obvious there’s only one bed. We pause and stare at it.
Alyssa glances around the room. “There’s no couch.”
I slide my hands in the pockets of my jeans and rock back on my heels. “You’re sick. If you’re worried we’ll do—”
“No, I’m not.”
I think she wants to say ‘because you keep rejecting me,’ and I can understand why she’d think that. After all, it is what I keep doing. She doesn’t know how much I want her.Iam the problem, not Alyssa.
“We can put a pillow between us if you think I’ll try to seduce you,” she jokes.
I chuckle. “I’ll take my chances.”
Flopping face-first on the bed, she groans, “I’m so tired.”
On the nightstand the hotel staff have left a packet of Tylenol. I pick up the box. “Don’t fall asleep yet, you need drugs.”
In the bathroom I fill a glass with water and take it back to the room. Alyssa’s eyes are closed and she’s breathing heavily.
I nudge her shoulder. “Wake up, Twinkle Toes. You need to take this.”
Cracking her eyes open, she shuffles into a sitting position where she can take the Tylenol and drink it down with water. I place my palm on her forehead and frown. She’s burning up. Hopefully the acetaminophen will bring the fever down.
Taking the glass from her hands, I place it on the nightstand. “I need to take your boots off so you’re more comfortable.”
She nods and I get to work pulling them off. When they’re off, she folds her legs up, presses her hands together and tucks them under her cheek. Closing her eyes, she mumbles drowsily, “Thank you for taking care of me.”
I brush a wayward strand of hair from her face that’s escaped from her bun. “Anytime, Twinkle Toes.” If the fever hasn’t reduced in half an hour, I’m calling a doctor.
A few moments later, her deep breathing tells me she’s fallen asleep. Kicking off my shoes, I sit on the other side of the bed and lean against the headboard. I turn on the TV and put on a movie with the volume low so I don’t wake her.