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“It’s a little fast but within range.” She pulled the stethoscope from around her neck. “I’m going to need to listen to your heart.” She started undoing the second button of his shirt.
“Why, China, I had no idea you cared. You’ve hidden it so well.”
She fixed him with a look meant to quell him. Instead he enjoyed it. A sure sign he was starting to recover.
China removed another button then slipped the stethoscope under his shirt and listened. She was so close he could smell the salt from the ocean in her hair. One breast brushed his arm as she moved the stethoscope around on his chest. Oh, yes, he was undeniably feeling better.
The look of concentration on her face made him question if she’d heard something out of the ordinary. Done, she pulled the stethoscope away.
Her eyes widened slightly. She’d seen it. She was close enough that he heard her suck in a breath. Seconds later she released it and it warmed his neck. She’d seen the small blue tattoo on his chest. Now she knew what he’d never planned to tell.
“You’ve had radiation.” She stated it in a matter-of-fact way. There was no pity, no sadness, just plain acceptance of fact.
“Yes.”
“How long ago?”
“Months.”
She leaned away from him but didn’t stand. “Why didn’t you drink more tonight? Say you needed to eat? You have to take better care of yourself. You should have said something. Asked for a minute to get something to drink.”
He grabbed the door facing and pulled himself up. “You sound like my mom.” China jumped up and reached an arm out to help him. He shook it off. “Are you about done with the lecture? We were swamped and you expected me to sit down and enjoy a meal. Give me more credit than that. I’m going home, China. You should, too.”
Payton placed a hand on the wall to steady himself and took another draw on the sports drink.
“You’re not driving yourself home.”
“How do you plan to stop me?”
“I’ll call the police if I have to.” She gave him a determined look that made him think she just might.
Too tired, too out of sorts and desperately wanting his bed, he nodded his agreement. “Okay. But you have to promise not to tell anyone about this or that I’ve been sick.”
“Agreed. You wait here while I turn off the lights.”
Payton did as he was told, no longer up to fighting with her. Soon she was back and they headed out the door. She offered to help him but he refused. It was bad enough she had to drive him home. He wasn’t sure how he’d face her on Monday morning.
When China started toward her car he said, “No way am I going to fold into that tiny car. You drive mine.”
She looked a little unsure for a minute then nodded. He dug out his keys and handed them to her.
As she pulled out of the parking lot she asked, “Where to?”
“West Beach Road. Five point three miles on the right. Three-story facing the ocean.”
As he leaned his head back and closed his eyes he heard her low whistle. “Nice real estate.”
Payton didn’t know how long it took China to drive him home because he slept the entire way. It wasn’t until he felt a gentle shake on his shoulder that he woke.
“I think you’re home. Is this it?” China asked, looking out the front window.
“Yes.” Payton reached for the handle and pushed the door open. “See you later.”
“I’m coming up. With all those steps I want to make sure you don’t fall.”
Payton said a sharp word under his breath. “You’re determined to emasculate me.”
“I don’t think that’s possible. Your self-esteem and women’s reactions to your good looks won’t let that happen.”
“So you think I’m handsome?”
“I’m not having this conversation at one a.m.”
He stepped out of the car and started up the staircase. The thump of China’s feet told him she was close behind. Guilt washed over him. She had to be every bit as tired as he was and she was babysitting him. He flipped the mat back and pulled the house key out from under it. Opening the door wide, he went in and flipped on a light. “Okay, now you have seen me home you can go. I’ll get a ride in tomorrow and pick up my car.”
“You plan to get a shower?”
“Why? You want to join me?”
She looked at him with a smirk. “No, but I don’t want you to fall and have no one here with you.”
“How do you know there is no one here?”
With satisfaction he watched her turn red. “I don’t. I just assumed because you have never mentioned anyone...”
“China, there’s no one here. You don’t need to feel any obligation to stay. I’ll be fine getting a shower. Go on home.”
“I’ll just wait.”
After a huff of impatience he moved closer to her. “I want you to leave me alone.”
“I will when I know you’re safe.”
He shifted so close that her breasts were only inches from his chest. She sucked in a breath and her eyes widened. “You can’t intimidate me.”
“I’d bet I can.” Payton wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him. His mouth caught the small sound of astonishment that escaped her lips before he covered them with his. Her lips were warm and full, wonderful. Her hand grabbed his shirt at his waist as if she needed to steady herself. After a few seconds she leaned toward him.
Payton let her go almost as quickly as he’d held her. He looked into her eyes. “I may be sick but I’m not dead. It has been a long time for me so don’t come and check on me before you leave unless you plan to stay.”
* * *
The next morning the sun was high enough in the sky it was becoming warm as China drove Payton’s car toward his house. Had she gone crazy? Unable to stand not checking on him, she tamped down her nervousness. She’d made up her mind it was necessary and started driving.
He’d actually kissed her the night before. Why? Had she pushed him too far? Had he been trying to scare her so she would leave him alone? If that was the answer it had worked. He was walking down the hall when she tore out the back door. She’d run like the proverbial rabbit.
She had worried all night that something might happen to him and now she’d made a fool out of herself by checking on him. In order to stall, she’d stopped to buy donuts. Before leaving home, she’d pulled some of her homemade chicken soup out of the freezer. If he wasn’t into the questionable nutrition of donuts, maybe he’d appreciate the soup for lunch.
The sports car’s tires crunched against the shell drive as she pulled in and stopped beside the stairs. Turning the vehicle off, she rested her forehead on the steering wheel in an effort to gather her wits. What was she going to say? I was worried about you. He wouldn’t like that. He’d made that clear. Maybe I just thought you might like breakfast. I brought you your car back. I loved your kiss, and I came out for more. No, she wouldn’t say that.
She raised her head, took a fortifying breath and opened the car door. As she placed a foot on the drive, a deep voice said in a sarcastic tone, “I was beginning to wonder if you were ever getting out.”
China jumped. Her heart racing, her hand went to her chest before her gaze jerked upward, “Oh, you scared me.”
“What’re you doing here?”
He wasn’t happy to see her. Okay, what was her plan? “I thought I may as well drive out and return your car. You can just take me home.”
“Is that nurse-speak for ‘I’m here to check on you’?”
“Yes. No. Maybe.”
“You couldn’t help yourself, could you? You have to make sure everyone is all right, taken care of.”
China started up the stairs again. “Here I was trying to be nice and considerate.
I brought your precious car back in one piece and brought you some donuts, plus chicken soup.”
“Chicken soup? So you do think I’m an invalid. I don’t need your pity, China.”
She reached the porch where he stood glaring down at her. He was dressed in a pair of sport shorts and a T-shirt that had seen better days. Despite that, he looked heartier than he had the night before. She kind of liked the not so buttoned-up version of him, despite the snarl on his face.
“Please, don’t mistake my concern as pity. I pity people I don’t know. You’re too aggravating to pity. So you can get over that idea.”
His lips lifted slightly.
“I’ll leave these for you.” She indicated the donut box and bag with the soup in it. “I’ll also call someone to come and get me. I’ll just put these on the kitchen counter. You’ll never know I was here.”
