“Right, Gigi, I’m going to carry you out to my car. Is there anything you need to take with you?”
“I. . .my backpack.”
“I’ll pack it up for you,” Kate offered, moving around the room.
Macca leaned in so his mouth was next to her ear. “Do you need to go potty before we leave?”
She gaped at him. He did not just say that to her!
“Well, little one? Do you need me to take you to the potty?” he murmured.
“I’m not two,” she protested.
“No?” He gave her a weird look. “You can’t go by yourself. I doubt you can even get off the bed yourself. So?”
“N-no.” Please Lord, swallow me up now.
He frowned slightly. “Probably dehydrated, I’ll mention that to the doctor.” He slid his arm under her legs and around her back and lifted her easily. It was like he didn’t even notice her weight.
“You weigh nothing,” he told her.
“I really have to do something about my filter,” she muttered.
“I like it. It’s refreshing to know exactly what you’re thinking. Kind of like how a child would talk.”
She shut up at that. He slid her into the passenger seat of the car. “Are you all right sitting up?”
“Y-yes,” she told him before he did up her seat belt. Sheesh, when was the last time someone had treated her with such care? And this was coming from the man who’d this morning accused her of stealing from his grandmother and sent her running from the house. It was hard for her to keep up.
He strode around the car and climbed in. The back door opened.
“I’ve put everything in your backpack, love. When you feel better, come back and I’ll arrange a refund.”
“Thank you,” she called back before Kate disappeared.
“Okay, baby, just rest while I get you to the hospital.”
“I really just want to go home.” Well, it wasn’t her home. Not anymore. But right now, it was the place she most wanted to be.
“Not happening, sweet pea. You’re ill and you’re getting checked over. You can go home once the doctor says it’s okay and not a minute before.”
“You’re bossy.”
“Yep,” he agreed cheerfully, rather than getting annoyed. “I am. I’m also taking charge of you right now, since you’re in no condition to look after yourself.”
“You. . .you can’t just do that.” Did his arrogance know no bounds?
“Actually, I can. My grandmother put you in my care.”
“What? That. . .it’s. . .I’m a grown woman. I don’t need anyone to care for me.”
“Since I just found you lying half-unconscious, running a high temperature, with cuts and scrapes and refusing to get medical attention, I beg to differ. You need a keeper. Until I decide that you are capable of making good decisions regarding your health and safety, I am that person. I owe my grandmother. And you.”
“You don’t owe me anything.” Was he doing this out of guilt over what happened this morning? That made more sense than the nonsense about his grandmother giving her to him, was just an excuse. Obviously, he felt bad over what happened. But he’d had no idea who she was. It was her fault for not speaking up.
“Why didn’t you speak up?” he asked.
“Goddamn it. I need a gag.”