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But he knew that, with a few small words, she could very well stop thinking of him as “sexy, dashing pilot man” and start thinking of him as “poor, pathetic brain tumor guy.” There was no way that transition wouldn’t be crystal clear in those incredible, expressive eyes of hers. And, yeah. He just couldn’t stand to see it.
He started the car and, just before he pulled away, she said, “Hey, Gavin?”
He turned his head to look at her. She hadn’t picked her head up from where she was resting it against the window. She hadn’t even opened her eyes, in fact.
“Yeah?”
Her voice was grudging. “Thanks.”
He smiled. He knew how hard that must’ve been for her. “Anytime, babe.”
She groaned. “Let’s hope to God that’s not necessary.”
Gen leaned herhead against the side of the car door, then closed her eyes as the car started moving. She looked like an angel to him every time he glanced over at her during the drive. Her face was blank and peaceful.
Well,he reasoned with a small smile, that’s probably more “trying to keep the vomit down” than “peace” I see there, but who am I to ruin a nice moment?
He pulled up in front of her apartment and turned the car off. She opened her eyes and reached for the door handle but he put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.
“Hold on, I’m coming around.”
She shot him a look of disdain. “You know I don’t like all that chivalry stuff. I’m perfectly capable of opening my own door.”
“Yeah, but are you capable of getting yourself all the way up the walk without losing your balance or blowing chunks?”
She sat there for a moment, hand frozen halfway to the door handle, considering the question. Finally, she sat back with a half-smile on her lips and let her hand fall to her lap. “Touché.”
He hopped out of the car and ran around the back, opening her door and offering his arm for her to steady herself with as she climbed out, and then let her lean on him during the walk up to her front door, his hand at the small of her back to provide support.
She fumbled in her bag but finally pulled out her keys. When she had opened her front door, she turned to him with a rueful grin. “Well, I would give you a kiss goodbye, but my breath isn’t exactly up to kissing standards.”
He shook his head. “No need for a kiss goodbye. I’m staying.”
She put a hand on his chest. “Gavin, you know I’m usually in the mood no matter what, but I’m really not feeling well right now.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself,” he said, voice wry. “You’re hot. But not hot enough that I’d risk jumping you when I’d probably end up with a mouth full of vomit for my trouble.”
She laughed, and the laugh quickly devolved into a groan as she dropped her forehead into her hand. “Don’t make me laugh while I’m hung over,” she admonished him, and stepped inside. “Anyway, you’re welcome to come in. Although I’m probably just going to take a shower, give my teeth an industrial-strength brushing, and then pour myself into bed.”
He followed her into her living room and closed the door behind them, locking it securely. It was part of his ongoing instincts to keep her safe– he knew she was perfectly capable of locking her own door, just like she was perfectly capable of opening the one in the car. But if he was around, he was going to be taking care of her. That was just how he was built.
“Good. That sounds like exactly what you need. While you’re in the shower, I’ll turn down your bed and make you some tea.”
She tilted her head to the side and drew her brows together as she glanced back at him. “Wait a minute, are you staying here because you want to play nursemaid? Because that’s seriously unnecessary. Like I said, I’m just gonna hit the shower, and then the hay.”
He nodded. “That’s fine. You hit the shower. I’ll make the tea.
She opened her mouth to protest again, and he took her hand in his, cutting off whatever she’d been about to say. “Look, Genevieve. I want to take care of you. So will you just let me? If not for your sake, for mine. And I’m well aware that you don’t need it. But you deserve it.”
Her cheeks colored slightly as she listened to what, for him, was an epic speech. The words hung in the silence between them for a moment, until finally she cracked a smart ass grin and, as she turned and headed for her bedroom, said, “Well, since you put it that way. The tea’s in the pantry.”
