“Easy, I’m just going to take care of you. Nothing more.”
Hearing a sound at the door, Sean jerked his head around.
“What do you need, Phyllis?” he asked.
“I’m going home now.”
Ava gingerly raised her head. “Thank you, Phyllis. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight,” he said in a menacing tone when the woman just stood there staring at them. He relaxed when she scurried away.
“It’s okay, Sean. She’s just mad she didn’t get my job.”
He grunted. “I’m surprised she’s still allowed to work here at all. I hear she’s always been unpleasant to be around. When I’d see her around town, I always thought, now that’s a woman who needs to get laid.”
She laughed and gasped, holding her head.
“I’m so sorry, baby. The last thing I want to do is make you hurt more than you already do.”
She tilted her head back to look him in the face. “You’re not hurting me, Sean. In fact, you’re making me feel better.” She gasped when he stood with her in his arms.
“I’d feel better having you home and resting. Can you take any more medication?”
She knew she was small, but he made her feel incredibly feminine. She nodded. “Yes, but I was waiting until I got home. The full dose of a medication usually knocks me out, and I don’t drive when I’ve taken it.”
He sat her on her desk and reached for her purse. “Where is it?”
Ava tried to grab for her purse. “Sean, I just told you I can’t take it until I get home.”
“I’m taking you home so that you can take some now.” He pulled out a bottle and opened the lid.
She pushed his hand away. “I need my car. I have to be able to get here in the morning.”
“I’ll bring you back in the morning. Now take the damn pill.”
“You’re going to take me home tonight and then come back to get me in the morning? That’s ridiculous.”
“Stop, Ava. I’m staying the night. There is no way I’m leaving you alone when you’re not feeling well.”
Her mouth dropped open, allowing him to pop the pill into it. Raising the glass to her lips, he made her swallow or have the water spilled down her front.
“You can’t—”
“Then I’ll call Nia?”
“No, I don’t want to bother her.”
“Then I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“What? No.”
“You have three choices. Nia, the hospital, or me. Which is it?” he asked.
“I can’t ask you to take care of me.”
“Yes, you can, and I am. Do you really want to fight me on this?”
She rubbed her eyes tiredly. “No, I’m not strong enough to fight you right now.” She also did feel better having him there, but she hated the fact that she was totally helpless under the influence of the migraine medicine.