One Night That Changed Everything

Was she crazy? After the thoughts that had just gone spinning through his head? There was no way he was going to lie down on the floor and—

Even as the words slid through his mind, a wave of exhaustion washed over him, staggering him with its force.

It was the food. The heavy meal was making him sleepy.

What would it hurt? If his eyes were shut, he could block out her face. No more trying to make small talk. No more worrying about how he was looking at her. About what her kneeling on the floor with that pillow had made him imagine.

Before he was fully aware of what he was doing, he’d done as she’d suggested and stretched out on his back, his head on the pillow she’d laid next to her hip. Every muscle in his body seemed to go boneless, and he glanced up to see her leaning over him with a smile. Her fingers brushed across his forehead, the touch light. Comforting.

He pulled in a deep breath. Let it out.

“Close your eyes, Greg. I promise I’ll be right here.”

Even as his lids seemed to obey her every command, a tired sense of triumph went through him.

He’d been right. She’d said his name. Again.

CHAPTER THREE

THE trill of Hannah’s watch alarm registered in her ears, but it took her brain a little more time to place the sound.

Opening her eyes, she punched a button before noticing Greg’s dark, mussed hair, his even darker eyes regarding her with a slight smile. He was upside down. No, wait. She was. Hadn’t she been sitting up while he’d slept? Why were they now reversed?

Ack. Because she’d fallen asleep, too. Had evidently just keeled over sideways and was lying on the floor, looking pretty much like she’d looked sitting up. Bent at the hips, legs straight out.

Greg’s lips curved higher. “Looks like I wasn’t the only one who was tired.”

Only he didn’t seem tired. Not anymore. His eyes glittered with life, and the dark circles beneath them had eased. He also looked much more relaxed. Or was that still due to the topsy-turvy world she’d awoken into? Maybe his smile was really a frown.

“Did you sleep well?” She cleared her throat when her voice came out as a hoarse squawk.

“Like a rock. Good thing you set that alarm.”

He could say that again. She’d only set it so she wouldn’t be tempted to wake him with the proverbial kiss. Like a reverse Sleeping Beauty. That analogy fit her current mixed-up thought processes to a T. “Sorry. I had no idea I was that tired.”

“I should be the one saying sorry. I don’t expect you to keep the same hours I do.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, and somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized she should be moving. “Don’t you think I’m capable of it?”

He gave a soft laugh. “Oh, I know you are. I just don’t want you to run you off before I’ve …”

His words trailed away.

“Before you’ve what?”

“Before I’ve proven I can take better care of myself.”

That made her smile. But when she did try to sit up, the awkward angle at which she’d been lying made her back muscles give a warning twinge. She eased back down, licking her lips as she waited for the spasm to pass.

He frowned. “What is it?”

“Nothing.” Lord, what was she going to do? She couldn’t very well wave him off and send him on his way while pretzeled on the floor. What if she couldn’t get up after he left and he returned in the morning to find her still here? Still folded like a crazed contortionist? “I’ll be fine in a minute. My … er, foot’s asleep.”

He angled away, his gaze sweeping down her pants’ legs. He reached down and plucked off one of her white leather slip-ons and then the other. “Which one?”

“No, don’t touch it!”

Okay, that screech hadn’t been exactly the calm tone she’d been going for. But her feet were seriously ticklish—one wrong move and she’d wrench her back even further.

“Shh. I won’t.” He propped himself on one elbow as he continued to regard her. “Your foot might keep you from walking but it wouldn’t keep you from sitting up. Why didn’t you at least get a pillow for yourself?”

Because I didn’t expect to crash to the floor like a felled tree. Was so busy watching each breath you took that …

No, that wasn’t right. She’d been merely biding her time, letting him get some much-needed rest.

“I just closed my eyes for a second or two.”

“Or more.” He paused, still watching her face. “Do you want me to help you up?”

Her body tensed, her back already sending up a frantic mayday. “No.” She even managed to smile, although she could only imagine what it looked like to him. She’d better come clean before he did something that made the situation worse. “My back is a little … sore. From lying in this position.”

“I thought it was your foot?”

“I lied.” The admission came with a real smile this time.

“Hannah, Hannah, what am I going to do with you?” The soft murmur trailed across her senses, making her back tighten further.

She pulled in a careful breath. “How about leaving me to die in peace?”

His face stilled. “Don’t say that.”

“Don’t say …?” It hit her. Mrs. Brookstone’s turn for the worse. How hard he’d worked to keep that from happening to any of his patients. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He stood up and carefully lifted the chair behind her out of the way. Then the two on either side of it.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to help you sit up.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

When he knelt on the floor behind her and put his hands on the muscles on her right side, a quick flicker of fear went through her. But he didn’t try to jerk her upright. Instead his fingers played over the different areas of her back before muttering something under his breath. Then he said, “I can’t feel anything through your shirt. I need bare skin.”

Her heart went into overdrive, threatening to hammer its way out of her chest. “Wh-what?”

“Sorry. I meant your muscles.” He paused. “Where does it hurt?”

“Below my right shoulderblade.”