Page 18 of Crazy in Love

“Should I call nine-one-one?” Ruby asked.

Nick’s eyes fluttered but remained closed. “No,” he grumbled.

“But, Nick, you just passed out,” Faith said.

“I’ll be fine.” This time, his eyes did open. Pretty, tormented milk-chocolate orbs stared into hers. “Really, I feel better already.”

From the grimace, she seriously doubted that. “I’m calling Tess.”

“No,” he said. “Please. I just need my pain meds and to rest my leg a minute. Is there somewhere I could sit and catch my breath?”

“Ruby, help me get him to the office.” They helped him up and guided him down the short hallway. “Shoo.” Faith gave the cat a shove to clear the big corner chair.

“Oof.” Nick grunted, falling back into the seat.

“Tell me where the pills are, and I’ll run and get them.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“You can tell me, or I can call Tess, but you’re not leaving in this condition.”

“Fine.” He sighed. “They’re on the nightstand.”

Faith got him a glass of water, asked Ruby to keep an eye on him, and sped the two blocks to her house. It was so close, it seemed silly to drive, but time was of the essence. Even in a hurry, she took a second to blow a kiss to the old Ashford mansion. The place was an abandoned, dilapidated mess, but she felt connected to it and showed some love every time she passed by.

She parked, jogged up the walkway, turned the knob, and ran smack dab into the locked door. “What the…?” She and Tess never locked the door. She didn’t even have a key.

Nick.

After trying the back door, which was also locked, she noticed the front window was slightly ajar. It took her five minutes to jimmy it open and crawl through, messing up her hair and tearing her skirt in the process.

“Argh. This guy,” she mumbled to herself, stumbling to her bedroom.

She grabbed the pills and drove back to the shop.

“What happened to you?” he asked, looking her up and down. “You get mugged on the way?”

“Someonelocked the door.” She glared. “I had to break into my own house.”

“You don’t have a key?”

“I do not. How doyouhave a key?”

“Found it on the key rack by the door.”

She opened the pill bottle. “How many?”

“Just one. Thanks, Faith.”

“No problem.” Her heart softened at his vulnerability. She refilled his water and set the glass on a box of books near the chair, thinking that would be more accessible than the side table. “Stay as long as you want. Do you mind if I work while you rest?”

“Hmm.” His eyes drifted shut, but not in an alarming way. She tiptoed to her desk and worked quietly, sneaking glances at him every so often to ensure he was still breathing.

On one peek, she lingered. It had been ten years since she’d seen Nick Walker. He’d matured and filled out in a delicious sort of way. Big, broad shoulders and a strong square jaw. Handsome as ever, that was for sure—no wonder she’d crushed on him as a teen.

Tess would kill her for not calling right away, but she wasn’t about to put herself in the middle of a sibling argument.

Fifteen minutes later, she was deep into a spreadsheet when he spoke.

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