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If she did, then everything might spill out.
And she wasn’t ready for that yet.
Jenna took off the blood pressure cuff.
“How is her blood pressure?” Raid asked, leaning against the wall.
Jenna had tried to make him leave while she looked Hannah over. But both Hannah and Raid had refused. When Hannah said she wanted him to stay, his face had gone all soft, his eyes melting into pools of affection.
She liked that.
God, this was so hard. Raid was all she’d ever wanted. If she was smart, she’d keep pushing him away until he gave up.
Hannah guessed that she wasn’t that smart.
The problem was, she knew he’d leave when he realized he couldn’t fix her. That she couldn’t be a proper girlfriend to him. When he found out she wasn’t worth it.
Stop it.
You cannot let him win.
That was what she was doing, wasn’t it? She was letting Steven win.
Jenna shot her a concerned look. Shoot. That was part of the reason she tried not to look at anyone too much. She hated seeing pity. “Hannah, are you sure you want to talk about your health in front of Raid?”
“I’m her guardian.” Raid narrowed his gaze at Jenna, looking slightly irritated.
She swallowed heavily. “I want Raid here.”
“All right.” Jenna nodded, standing up straight. “Well, your blood pressure is low. When was the last time you ate? Have you been drinking plenty of water? What about any headaches? Any other dizzy spells?”
“I’m fine.” She was aware that it wasn’t an answer to either question.
Jenna frowned.
“Hannah,” Raid said in a warning tone. “Don’t lie. Jenna needs to know the truth.”
Jenna whirled on Raid. “Don’t use that tone with her.”
Hannah looked up at Jenna in shock. She’d never heard the other woman talk like that.
Raid just stared at her calmly.
Jenna ran her hand over her face. “Sorry. I’m just feeling . . . protective.”
Of Hannah? Because she was losing it? Because she’d fainted? Because it was clear that she’d been hurt? Jenna was her friend as well as her boss. Jenna had a busy life with her family, so she didn’t come out with them that often, but Hannah loved her.
“I didn’t mean to snap,” Jenna added.
Raid’s face softened. “It’s all right, darlin’.”
She sucked in a breath as he called Jenna darlin’. She fought to contain her upset at him using the term of endearment that she wished he’d use just for her.
It wasn’t like he was going around calling anyone else baby.
So she had no right to complain about him using the nickname darlin’.
Right?
She glanced up to find them both looking at her assessingly. Raid opened his mouth and she tensed, waiting for him to point out her reaction.
“Answer Jenna’s questions, baby.”
She looked away, chewing her lip. She really didn’t want to answer.
Then she felt him come over and crouch in front of her. “Hannah. You need to tell us so we can make sure you’re safe and healthy. Okay? Nothing you say goes beyond this room. Right, Jenna?”
“Of course not.”
“I really am all right. I’m not ill.”
“How about you answer Jenna’s questions and let her make the diagnosis, huh?” Raid said with amusement.
She huffed out an annoyed breath. “Um, I eat when I’m hungry. I could probably drink more water, I guess. I’ve felt dizzy a couple of other times, but I’ve never fainted. Yeah, I guess I’ve had a few headaches. But I often get headaches when I’m . . . when I’m stressed.”
“Right,” Jenna said with a nod. “I want to take some blood and make sure there’s nothing else going on. All right?”
Raid was nodding as he stood.
“No way,” Hannah said firmly.
Both of them stared down at her.
“Shoot. I forgot you don’t like needles.” Jenna gave her a sympathetic look. “I’m so sorry, Hannah. But I think it’s important to run these tests.”
“And I think it’s important that all my blood remains in my body,” she countered. “You know what? I’m feeling kind of tired now.”
“You’re scared of needles?” Raid asked.
Crap.
She wasn’t supposed to be showing any weakness.
Yeah, she was doing really well with that.
“I wouldn’t say scared,” she said.
Right.
She risked a glance at him, wondering if he was running out of patience with her. But he just gave her one of his soft looks.
Shoot.
“I’m going to help you,” he said.
“You don’t need to help me.”
He leaned closer to speak quietly. “No lying, remember?”
She glared at him but didn’t object as he sat beside her.
“Lean into me, baby. I’ll keep you safe.”
“I don’t want to do this.” And she didn’t. She was sick of being made to do things she had no desire to do.
“Trust me?”
Shit. That was a tough question, and she glanced at him, then over at Jenna, who was getting things ready. Looking back at him, she swallowed heavily. “I don’t know.”
Would he get angry at that? She grew tense and her breathing started to come in sharp pants.
