Banks felt that movement all the way to his boots. She was overly warm, but her temperature wasn’t what he was noticing. She smelled of wildflowers. She was immaculate, even with her scruffy clothes. He liked the way she felt in his arms. Her firm little breasts were pressed close to him, her whole body trusting as she let him carry her. It was a new sensation, like walking on clouds or something. He didn’t understand the warm glow that washed over him as he carried her out to the SUV. He didn’t like it or trust it. He was getting soft, he told himself.

He put her down beside the vehicle and unlocked the door. He guided her hand to the handle inside that she could use to pull herself up, but he grimaced when he noticed that it hurt her to lift her arm.

“Here,” he said softly, and he lifted her up into the seat. “Chest hurt?”

“Just...a little.” She drew in a painful breath. “Thanks,” she added shyly.

“You’re welcome.”

He drove her to the pharmacy and went inside with her to wait while the prescriptions were filled. She gave the clerk her insurance information and her debit card. She prayed there was enough left in her account to cover what the insurance didn’t pay.

When she had her prescriptions, Banks drove her home.

“But I need to go to work,” she protested when he pulled up in front of her house.

“You need to go to bed,” he said shortly. “You’ll never get well if you don’t.”

She tried to protest, but it did no good.

He lifted her down and carried her to the front door. She got out her key and put it into the lock.

“It’s okay,” she said nervously. “I can walk. It’s just a few steps.”

“If you need anything, you call me, okay?” he asked quietly.

She looked up at him with all the turmoil inside her making silver lights in her eyes. “Thanks for taking me to the hospital, and all,” she said huskily.

He tilted up her rounded chin and studied her fever-flushed face. “Why didn’t you tell me you had asthma?” he asked suddenly.

“How...how did you know?” she faltered.

“One of the techs was discussing your X-ray with the doctor. I overheard them.” He scowled. “He said there was evidence of two broken ribs, as well.”

“Oh, those,” she said quickly. “I had a...a fall.”

“Recently?”

“Several years ago.” She didn’t want to elaborate on how her ribs had been broken. That would lead to Morris and questions she didn’t want to answer.

“You shouldn’t be walking to work with your lungs in that sort of shape,” he said sternly.

She managed a shallow breath. “Well, the limousine service won’t transport me with a Ferrari sitting in my driveway.”

He burst out laughing.