Rush

and smiling. Cheerful. As beautiful
     as she always was. It scared the shit out of him just how dependent he’d become on
     her presence in his office. How integral a part of his day she was. Most people needed
     coffee in the mornings. He just needed Mia.
    As he leaned closer to her, intending to feel her for signs of fever, he saw that
     her eyes were red and puffy and blotchy. As if she’d been…crying.
What the hell?
    What could have happened? What wasn’t she telling him? He was tempted to wake her
     and demand to know what the hell was wrong, but he didn’t want to disturb her. She
     looked tired. Deep shadows rested underneath her eyes. Had she looked this tired the
     night before? Had he been too hard on her? Too demanding? Was he the reason she was
     sick?
    Dread pitted his stomach. Was this relationship too much for her? He couldn’t even
     promise to ease up, to back off. Instead of time begetting distance, with every passing
     day she became more of an overwhelming need within him. Time would only sharpen his
     desperation for her. Not alleviate it. He’d been a fool to ever think allowing another
     man to touch her would somehow prove that he wasn’t emotionally dependent on her.
     That it wouldn’t bother him.
    He still wanted to beg her forgiveness every time his mind went back to that night
     in Paris. She’d already forgiven him, but just remembering had the power to take him
     to his knees.
    He wasn’t worthy of her. He knew this well. But damned if he had the power to do the
     right thing and let her go. It would destroy him.
    Checking his watch, he frowned. He was later getting home than he’d intended. It was
     close to the dinner hour and he wondered if she’d even eaten her takeout. He walked
     into the kitchen to find his answer on the counter. The bag was untouched. The box
     inside unopened. He cursed softly. She needed to eat.
    He rummaged in his cabinets for a can of soup. His housekeeper kept the staples on
     hand for him, and he gave her a shopping list on Fridays for any weekend cooking he
     thought to do. But the simple matter was, he wasn’t home often enough to keep a fully
     stocked pantry.
    After deciding he had nothing suitable, he picked up the phone and called down to
     the concierge to tell him what he required. After being assured the matter would be
     taken care ofimmediately, Gabe hung up and searched the medicine cabinet for a thermometer and
     appropriate medication.
    The only problem was, he wasn’t certain what she was sick with. Or if she was running
     any fever. It could be a cold. Could be a stomach bug. How was he supposed to know
     until he could ask her?
    Deciding it could wait until she awakened—he wanted her to rest as long as she needed—he
     walked quietly back into the living room. The blanket had slid down, uncovering the
     upper half of her body, so he pulled it back up and tucked the ends around her. Then
     he kissed her forehead, feeling for any sign of fever.
    She was warm, but not overly so. Her respirations seemed fine.
    He went to the fireplace, turned up the flame and then disappeared into his room to
     change into more comfortable clothing while he waited for Mia’s soup to be delivered.
    There was plenty of work to be done—he’d left right after his meeting and he still
     had financials to go over in preparation for his meeting with Jace and Ash to discuss
     the construction bids—but instead he picked up his tablet and settled on the couch
     across from Mia.
    She settled him. Made him think about more than just work and business. He liked just
     being in her company, doing something as enjoyable as reading a book in the silence.
    She’d been thrilled when he’d presented her with a brand-new e-reader—the latest upgrade—along
     with an entire collection of her favorite books in digital, loaded onto the reader.
     She’d thrown her arms around him and hugged and kissed him so exuberantly that he’d
     laughed. But then he did that a lot around her. Laughed.
    There was something quite irresistible about her. Her charm was infectious. She was
     his…sunshine. He cringed at how corny that sounded. He was acting and thinking like
     an overdramatic teenager. Thank God no one could see into his thoughts. He’d never
     be able to hold his head up at business meetings.
    Men like him were supposed to be intimidating. Cold. Unreachable. Feared, even. If
     anyone had any clue that a petite brunette with a million-dollar smile was