“I have never missed work and you have a busy schedule. I didn’t want to...”
“You need to go home and rest. You keep clutching your stomach. Are you nauseous?”
“Yeah. I think it is something I ate.” His gaze narrows on me, but then it clears.
“I will call for Benjamin.” His driver? Why?
“No, I drove here. I can…”
“I will be escorting you home, Scarlett. It is obvious you need someone to take care of you.”
I nod, unsure what to say, but seriously, what the heck is going on?
CHAPTER2
SAMUEL
The grim lookon her beautiful face makes me worried. I get her up to her apartment and help her to bed. Not two seconds later, she’s running for the bathroom. I hold her hair back while she casts up what seems like everything she’s ever eaten. She rests back on her knees by the toilet while I hurriedly wet a washcloth from the basket on the counter with cool water.
“Those are decorative,” she says.
“I apologize,” I say, looking around for another.
“I’m just kidding, Mr. Rawlins.”
“I think, considering the circumstances, that you should call me Sam.”
“Sam?” she questions.
“Yeah. That is my name.”
“Right. Of course,” she says, taking the washcloth from my hands and putting it on her forehead. “Thank you, Sam.”
“You think you are good for now?” I ask, helping her to her feet.
“I think so,” she replies.
I lead her back to her bed. When we arrived here, I took a cursory look around her kitchen and found nothing suitable for her nausea. After a quick text to Benjamin, ordering supplies, I went back into her bedroom. She’s lying with the cloth over her eyes, and her bare feet crossed at her ankles. She managed to change into some pajamas. Nothing scandalous, but they appear to be silkHello Kittyshorts and a short sleeve pajama top. Fuck, I am too far gone for this girl if I think herHello Kittypj's are sexy as hell.
I drag a chair from the corner of her room over to her bedside. She’s sleeping, but I can’t bring myself to leave her. Other than my Aunt Penelope, there hasn’t been anyone in my life. My parents died over twenty years ago, leaving me in my aunt’s care. I used the money I inherited upon their deaths to start my company, but there hasn’t been a day where I haven’t felt their loss. I reminded every day that life is short, and at thirty-one, I am ready to settle down and start a family, but only with Scarlett.
Scarlett groans in her sleep, and then she’s suddenly awake, rushing to the bathroom again. When she emerges again, she’s paler than usual, and I feel terrible for her.
“I’m going to call the doctor.”
“There’s no need. Just a stomach bug. I’ll be fine, I promise. I just need to sleep. Everything will be fine in the morning.”
“If it’s not, then the doctor.”
“Right. Sounds good. Um… can you see yourself out?” she asks, and I can take a hint even though I definitely don’t want to leave her like this.
“I’m staying for a little while. Benjamin has gone to the store for you. You know there was nothing in your fridge but half-drunk diet cokes and celery stalks?”
“I did. I haven’t had a chance to go to the store this week.”
“You know you shouldn’t drink diet sodas. It’s not good for you.”
“Thank you, Dr. Sam. Nothing is good for you these days, might as well eat and drink what we enjoy.”