“He was my boss for four years,” she pointed out.

He made a sound in his throat. She didn’t know what it meant.

“All right, then, I’ll get back to work.”

“Call me if you need to know about any files I’m working on,” she said. “I’ll keep the phone with me.”

“I’ll do that. Go to bed.”

She smiled. “Yes, sir.”

He chuckled as he went out the door.

She took the first doses of her medicines, got into her pajamas and went to bed. She phoned Cal.

“I hate to ask,” she began.

“But can I bring Tad home for you,” he finished for her with a chuckle. “Sure. No problem.”

“How...?” she stammered.

“Banks mentioned that you were sick. He was in the office to see Marquez,” he added.

“He took me to the hospital. I didn’t want to go,” she sighed.

“He said that, too. I imagine there will be some gossip at the hospital, considering the way you arrived,” he added, tongue in cheek.

“Well, I refused to go,” she said defensively.

“So he carried you in.” He chuckled. “Leave it to Banks. He said you showed up at work sick as a dog and never said a word about it. I told him that’s the way you always were. You came to work, regardless.”

“I didn’t want to get fired.” Her voice was getting more hoarse by the minute.

“Stop talking and take a nap,” he told her gently. “I’ll pick up Tad and bring him home. What do you want for supper and I’ll bring that, too.”

“Cal!” she fussed.

“Just tell me, or I’ll ask Tad.”

That would mean pizza and she couldn’t stand it. “Soup,” she murmured.

“What sort?”

“I don’t care.”

He chuckled. “Okay. Soup it is. Want one of those Greek parfaits with yogurt and fruit and granola?”

“That sounds heavenly!”

“Thought I remembered those preferences. I’ll bring them. Get better.” He hung up.

She lay staring at the ceiling, propped up on two pillows with a third pillow she could hold to her chest when she had to cough. She remembered Banks carrying her in and out of the hospital, the way it felt, the tenderness in his black eyes, and her heart raced. She’d never thought of Colter Banks as anything except a grumpy boss before, but it was suddenly difficult to put him back into that perspective.