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He carried her down the long hall from her bedroom to his, sat her on the edge of his oversized bed, knelt before her and clasped her hands.
“Stay awake,” he said. “Okay? Just a couple of minutes more. Can you do that for me, Catarina?”
He hurried into the kitchen, put together the noxious drink that would cure her. By the time he got back she was slumped against the pillows.
“Not yet, Sleeping Beauty.” He sat beside her, put his arm around her shoulders, brought the cup of horror to her lips. “Drink.”
Cat swallowed. Her eyes flew open. “Ugh!”
?
?I know, honey, but it’ll make you feel better. I promise.”
She looked at him. Then she parted her lips and let him feed her the rest of the stuff. A muscle knotted in his jaw.
She trusted him. Only God knew why.
“Okay,” he said, when she shuddered. “All done. Now, lie back. That’s my girl. Get under the covers. Good. Just close your eyes—”
She whispered something. Jake bent closer.
“What?”
“I said, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
Again, that sudden tightness in his throat. “I’m the one who’s sorry, Catarina. I should never have left you alone with Lucas. Can you forgive me?”
Two tears snaked down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and turned away.
“It’s my fault. You told me not to go. I should have listened.”
“Cat.” Jake cupped her face. She was weeping quietly and it broke his heart. “I want you to get some sleep. Will you do that for me? We can talk about this in the morning.”
After a moment, she nodded. “All right.”
“Good girl.” He bent closer and kissed her forehead. “If you need me—”
“Don’t go.”
“I won’t go far. I’ll be right next door.”
She opened her eyes, looked at him and put her arms around his neck.
“Stay with me, Jake,” she said softly. “Please.”
“Cat. Honey—”
She was asleep. All he had to do was take her hands from his neck and fold them over the blanket.
Instead, Jake did what he’d wanted to do since they’d reached New York. He got under the covers and took her in his arms.
She sighed and burrowed against him, and he marveled at how right it felt to hold her exactly like this.
Locked together, hearts beating as one, they slept until just before dawn, when a whisper of sound woke Jake from sleep.
It was Cat, looking into his eyes and saying his name, saying it as he’d longed to hear it since he’d first kissed her.
“Jake,” she sighed, “Jake…”
