Page 21 of Committed to You

“I’m okay.”

He turns in his seat and pulls me back on him. “Just rest. You guys go out. We’re staying in.”

“We can go,” I say but sneeze again. “Or, you can go without me.”

He strokes my hair. “Shh. Don’t be silly. I can go out anytime.”

I don’t say anything and close my eyes.

He adjusts his body. “Put your feet up and rest,” he murmurs into my ear, and I sink further into his chest.

When we arrive at his house, Quinn and Jamison go directly to Jamison’s wing. Chase puts his arm around me and leads me to my room.

“Put your pajamas on, and I’ll meet you in the living room.”

“I’m okay. Honestly, why don’t you go out? I don’t want you to get sick, too.”

“I’ve been around sick people for years. My immune system is pretty strong. I’ll take my chances. Get changed and meet me out in the living room.” He shuts my door.

I pull out a pair of long pajama pants and a long-sleeved, button-down top.

Not sexy, Vivian.

You’re sick. You shouldn’t even be worried about this.

In the mirror, my nose is as red as Rudolph’s.

Awesome. I definitely have no sex appeal going on tonight.

Guess that’s good because nothing is happening anyway.

I meet Chase out in the living room, and he has placed a big, red first aid kit, several king-size pillows, and blankets on the ottoman. He points to the couch. “Lie down.”

“You’re bossy,” I tease him.

He cockily raises an eyebrow.

Ugh. Why does he have to be so adorable?

I lie down, and he puts a pillow behind my head and a blanket over me. He feels my forehead. “Hmm.” He opens his first aid kit and shifts through the contents. Pulling out a thermometer, he puts a disposable plastic part over it then turns to me. He brushes my hair behind my ear and clicks the thermometer.

“One hundred and one point eight,” he mutters more to himself than me.

He digs back into his kit and pulls out a light and a wooden stick then sits next to me. “Say ah.”

“You aren’t serious, are you?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” he sternly asks.

Instead of answering, I sneeze all over him then slap my hand over my mouth, mortified. “I’m so sorry!”

Chase chuckles. “No problem. Now stick out your tongue and say ah.”

You just sneezed on him. Do what he asks.

I stick out my tongue. He looks in my mouth then tilts my head and checks my ears. I think he’s finished, but he takes a stethoscope out and puts it on my chest, right above my cleavage. “Take some deep breaths for me.”

My heart rate goes up as his blue eyes stare into mine, even as he moves the stethoscope around to different parts of my chest.

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