“You sweet talker,” he said dryly. “I tolerate you, too.”

He was proud of himself for not losing his shit at the emergency room. Every hospital staff member was working hard and doing their best to take care of all the patients, but they were just bombarded. After giving her some ibuprofen, they had Tara wait three hours to be x-rayed. She was in pain and tired, and it made him feel utterly helpless and furious that there wasn’t more he could do.

Once they got back to the hotel, they were both exhausted and hungry.

“I’m so relieved it isn’t broken,” Tara said, settling into the wheelchair he’d rented from the hotel. “Now all I want is some room service and a hot bath.”

Shit. He hadn’t mentioned to her that they’d be sharing a room tonight. It seemed like a sound plan when he booked the room, but now he wasn’t so sure.

“Tara, when you suggested an overnight trip, I had assumed—hoped—that we’d stay in the same room.” He paused to clear his throat. “Before you say anything, I wasn’t being completely presumptuous. There’s a sofa bed, if you’d rather have me sleep there.”

“I don’t think you’re presumptuous. That’s what I wanted, too,” she said with an adorable blush.

“Good. I’m glad.” He sighed with relief that Tara wasn’t offended, but at the same time, his body heated up at her words. Get yourself under control. With her injury, nothing was happening tonight. Which was a goddamn shame, but he wasn’t going to risk hurting her.

After checking in, he pulled Tara into their room, then stopped for a moment to orient himself. How could he make her more comfortable? “Do you want to sit in front of the fireplace, while I make you some tea?”

“Tea? I’m not sick, Seth. I just have a sprained ankle. Let’s have some coffee with Bailey’s. There must be some in the mini bar.”

He chuckled as some of the tension left his body. Since she didn’t voice any objections to sitting in front of the fire, he maneuvered the wheelchair to a plush chair by the fireplace and gently placed Tara on it. Then he pulled its twin chair close and lifted her injured leg onto it, placing a cushion under her foot.

“Comfy?” he asked.

“Yes. Thank you,” she said with her smiling face upturned toward him. He kissed her lightly because he couldn’t help himself, and stepped away.

“Coffee with Bailey’s coming right up.”

Once he finished making their drinks, he brought the steaming mugs to her and handed both to her. “Don’t get any ideas. One of them is mine.”

“Spoilsport.” She pouted.

He gingerly lifted her leg and sat down in the chair across from her and replaced her foot on his thigh. Reaching to retrieve his drink, he said, “Tsk-tsk. If you’re not good, I might not share the whiskey and hot chocolate.”

She grinned and took a sip of her drink. “Mmm. This hits the spot.”