Rush

the tears escape.
    “Mia? What the hell? Are you all right?”
    Gabe. God, it was Gabe. His arm came around her, urging her to her feet.
    “Good God, baby, what’s wrong?” he demanded. “Why are you crying? Did someone hurt
     you?”
    “Sick,” she croaked out amid another storm of tears.
    Her head hurt, her throat was on fire, and she was so cold and tired that she couldn’t
     bear the thought of walking another step.
    Gabe cursed and then he swung her into his arms and strode rapidly toward her apartment
     building.
    “I don’t want to hear one goddamn word, you understand? You’re sick and you need someone
     to take care of you. Jesus. What if I hadn’t been here? What if you’d collapsed on
     the damn sidewalk and no one was around to help you?”
    She didn’t say anything and instead buried her head against his shoulder, inhaling
     his scent. His warmth seeped into her skin, soothing all her aches. God, it had been
     so long. She hadn’t been warm since he’d left her. Or she’d left him. It didn’t matter,
     because the end result was that she was alone.
    He carried her into her apartment and into her bedroom. Then he rummaged through her
     drawer and pulled out a warm pair of pajamas.
    “Here,” he said. “Get changed and comfortable. I’m going to go make you some soup
     and get some medicine down you. You’re burning up with fever.”
    It took all her strength just to manage the task of getting out of her clothes and
     into the pajamas. Then she sank onto the edge of the bed, spent and wanting only to
     snuggle underneath the covers.
    A moment later, Gabe returned and he promptly did just that. Tucked her in and bunched
     the covers around her. He kissed her forehead and she closed her eyes, savoring that
     brief contact. But he didn’t remain. He positioned pillows so she could sit up to
     eat, and then he disappeared again.
    When he came back this time, he was carrying a cup of soup and two medicine bottles.
     He shook out the pills into his palmafter setting the soup on the nightstand, and then he opened the bottle of liquid
     cold medicine and poured the right dosage into the small measuring cup.
    After making her swallow down the liquid and the pills, he handed her the cup of soup
     and guided it into her hands.
    “How long have you been sick?” Gabe asked grimly.
    For the first time she looked at him. Really focused on him. And she was shocked by
     what she saw. He looked as bad as she felt. Deep shadows under his eyes. There were
     new lines across his forehead and at his temples. He looked…tired. Exhausted. Emotionally
     spent.
    Had she done this to him?
    “Since yesterday,” she croaked. “I’m not sure what’s wrong. I’m just so tired. This
     whole week. It’s just been too much.”
    A shadow crossed his face and guilt flared in his eyes.
    “Drink your broth. By then the medicine will have taken effect and then you need to
     rest.”
    “Don’t go,” she whispered as he got up from the bed. “Please. Not tonight. Don’t go.”
    He turned, regret deep in his eyes. “I’m not leaving you, Mia. Not this time.”
    After she finished the soup, Gabe took it from her and went back to the kitchen. She
     dug deeper into the covers, a shiver overtaking her. Even the soup hadn’t been able
     to warm her.
    Her eyelids were heavy, and she struggled to keep them open. A moment later, the bed
     dipped and to her surprise, Gabe slid into bed next to her, his arms wrapping tightly
     around her.
    “Rest now, Mia,” he murmured. “I’ll be here if you need anything. I just want you
     to feel better.”
    Forgetting everything else but the fact that she was back in his arms, she pushed
     herself as tightly against him as she could get, and then she relaxed, allowing his
     heat to seep into her veins.
    He was better than any drug, any remedy for her illness.
    With a sigh, she closed her eyes and gave in to the sweet temptation he offered.
    • • •
    The next morning when Mia awoke, the bed was empty and she wondered if the night before
     had been just a crazy dream brought on by her fever. Maybe she’d imagined it all.
     But when she turned on her side, nestling her cheek against the pillow Gabe had slept
     on, she saw a note propped on the mattress in front of his pillow.
    Take your medicine. Jace will be by to check on you later today. Rest this weekend
     and feel better.
    Love, Gabe
    Beside the note were several ibuprofen pills, and on the nightstand, already