Chapter 29

Twilight slipped away, and night took its place.

Brinley cleared the last of the dishes and she began considering where she'd sleep.

"I'll stay in the caregiver's room next door," she declared with quiet resolve, scooping up her belongings.

Miguel had already arranged it; the suite-like space next door was comfortable enough for her to rest.

But Austin's expression tightened suddenly, his complexion paling as his breath quickened."My stomach's acting up," he admitted, his voice rough.

Brinley halted mid-step, turning back to him. "Do you want me to call the doctor?"

He gave a small shake of his head, brushing it off,though there was a flicker of fragility in his eyes. "No. It's an old problem. I can manage. Just... if it gets worse in the middle of the night, it's hard being alone."

Her eyes lingered on his bloodless face, and her resolve to leave wavered.

Austin was, after all, a patient. If something did happen...

"There's a call bell in the ward," she pointed out,her tone steady on the surface yet edged with unease.

Austin grumbled with a soft edge of grievance,"That bell's way too loud. I'm not feeling well. All I need is proper rest,nothing else."

Brinley's words caught in her throat; she had nothing to throw back at his argument.

Her gaze shifted from the folded caregiver's bed in the corner to his wide, guileless eyes, and finally she let out a weary sigh. "Fine, I'll sleep on the folding bed."

She told herself there was no difference-sleep was just sleep, no matter the place.

Resolute, she unfolded the narrow frame with brisk efficiency, smoothing out her own sheets and spreading a blanket across it.

Austin's gaze lingered on her small, diligent figure,a flicker of quiet satisfaction flashing through his eyes before he lowered his lids again, pretending weakness.

Night settled thick around the ward, broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the monitors.

Brinley drifted off quickly, her breathing evening out into the steady rhythm of sleep.

After a long silence, Austin's lashes lifted. In the silver wash of moonlight, his gaze lingered on the folding bed.

Brinley lay curled beneath her blanket, her brow faintly knit as though trapped in a nightmare.

Brinley murmured drowsily, her lips brushing against the pillow, "Austin, you jerk... sneaking off with my cookies again..."

A low laugh rumbled from Austin's chest as he reached for his phone on the bedside table. With practiced quiet, he switched it to silent, then angled the camera and captured her sleeping face.

On the screen, a soft crease touched her brows,yet an innocent smile tugged at her lips, leaving her looking almost childlike.

The sight drew him back to that night years ago at the Moore Estate banquet-when she'd been the only one bold enough to stand at his side.

The moonlight then had been just as gentle,wrapping her in silver light, lending her an untouchable grace.

The image on his phone dimmed, but the warmth in his eyes lingered.

Slipping the device back onto the table, he leaned into the pillow and allowed a tender smile to remain as sleep reclaimed him. By morning, the muffled sound of coughing pulled Brinley from her dreams.

She rubbed her eyes and blinked toward the bed.Austin sat half upright, a hand clutched to his chest as a fit of coughs wracked him, his complexion paler than it had been the night before.

Alarm jolted her fully awake. She scrambled to his side."What's going on?"

"It's nothing," Austin said hoarsely, waving her worry away as his breathing slowly evened. His lips curved subtly as he added, "I just need to go to the bathroom."

Brinley took a step back, her finger flicking in the bathroom's direction. "Go on your own."

Austin didn't budge. His eyes stayed fixed on her."Help me."

Her brow furrowed as she retorted, "You didn't lose an arm or a leg."

"I feel dizzy," he countered. He even gave a dramatic sway, as if ready to collapse.

The urge to scream bubbled in her chest,but Brinley bit it back. With no real alternative, she stepped forward and slipped an arm under his.

His skin burned with fever, and the frailty in his body pressed most of his weight against her.

At the bathroom door, just as she tried to pull away,his hand shot out and caught hers.

"Help me..."

Her heart lurched, and her face flamed. "Austin!" She yanked her hand back as if scalded. "Handle it yourself. If you can't, I'll get a male nurse or doctor!"

His expression soured instantly, his frown making his resistance clear."No."

"Why not?" she immediately demanded.

"Because I don't like strangers," he responded, his tone steady. "I hate being touched by anyone else."

Brinley froze, startled by his answer. "Then why do you keep leaning on me?"

Austin took in her fiery expression, a delicate trace of amusement in his eyes, though his voice carried nothing but quiet sincerity. "Because you're different."

Her heart skipped, and the words spiled out before she could stop them. "Different how?"

He didn't speak, only held her in that steady gaze,dark and fathomless.

Unease prickled at her skin. She spun on her heel and stormed toward the door. "Figure it out yourself!Call me only if you're completely helpless!"

The bathroom door shut hard, a barrier slicing the air between them.

Austin leaned back against the cool wall, a low laugh slipping from his throat.

Minutes later, the door creaked open.

He stepped out slowly, hand braced against the wall, his complexion ghostly pale.

Brinley rushed forward, catching his arm, her voice sharp with worry. "I told you to call the nurse! But no -you chose to stay stubborn. And now look at you,suffering and barely able to stand!"

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Austin said, his eyes tracing the flush on her face, a quiet strength stirring in him."With you here, I feel much better."

Brinley was struck dumb, but she quickly guided him back to the bed and eased him down.

"Stay put and quit moving around," she ordered firmly, pulling the blanket up around him, her voice sharp even as relief softened her chest.

Austin's smile widened as he watched her fuss over him.

Her anxious care was exactly what he craved. That raw, unguarded worry made him happy-it was proof she cared.