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My heart started pounding an echoing drumroll through my body, the crescendo building. So much of what had passed between us since we finally gave in was more than I’d ever expected. Grant wasn't alone. I swallowed, feeling cast adrift on a tide of emotion. The rush of it was enough to sweep me away.
I took another shaky breath. All the while, he watched me quietly. It all felt like too much. Even though I was stubborn and never wanted to back down, I looked away first. I swallowed, my chest feeling tight. My throat was knotted with an unfamiliar emotion.
“Are you okay?” Grant asked.
I heard the rustle of movement, and then he was sitting beside me, sliding his arm around my shoulders.
I shifted, curling into the curve of his shoulder. Grant was everything I didn't want to need, much less want. He was strong, solid, and protective. I didn't need a man to protect me.
I hated how vulnerable I felt with him. Yet that was the tricky part. I hated it, yet I couldn't hide it. I couldn't deny that I trusted him down to my bones.
I would not cry. I would not. Grant, because I sensed he knew I needed not to be pushed, simply held me close with one arm curled around my shoulders.
I pressed my cheek against his chest, the sound of his steady heartbeat soothing me. I finally gathered the courage to lift my head and look him in the eyes again.
“Are you okay?” he repeated.
I nodded. “I'm still annoyed.” I mustered enough sass to say that.
His lips twitched at the corners. “I understand. You can be annoyed.”
“Of course, I can be annoyed. Iamannoyed.”
“I should have talked to you about it before I said anything to Diego,” he said earnestly.
“You should have,” I agreed emphatically, lifting my chin.
He angled toward me, lifting a hand to smooth my hair away from my face, his thumb tracing along the edge of my jaw. That subtle touch was like the lick of a flame across the surface of my skin.
“How do I fix it?” he asked.
“Well, you can't unsay whatever you said to Diego. You can rest assured Diego isn't going to forget it.”
“I know. Do you want me to talk to him again? I will.”
“You already screwed it up,” I pointed out.
“Harley, I didn't screw it up.”
“It's okay,” I said softly.
He went quiet with his eyes studying mine. I felt as if he was peeling away all of my defenses, the armor that had served me so well. Speaking of my defenses, I should have been cranky,waycrankier than I was about him talking to Diego. Yet the second his lips brushed against mine, I forgot everything.
ChapterTwenty-Two
HARLEY
The following day I had my appointment with Dr. Quinn or Quinn. I couldn't even get his name right. The whole thing made me too anxious.
“So you’ve had one episode since we met, but it was brief. How are you feeling?” he asked politely.
I shrugged casually. I was determined to downplay this. I could will myself through it. I knew I could.
“I'm fine. I’m ready to start the medication. I thought about it, and you're right. It's not worth the risk.” Maybe I was skirting the details, but Iwaswilling to listen to him.
Quinn nodded. “It's easy enough to manage. If you do well on the medication, it should minimize your symptoms.”
“Will I have this for the rest of my life?”
