Chill by Stephanie Rowe

wasn’t a question. It wasa statement. His voice had gone hard. Low. “Jesus, Isabella.”
    She shuddered at the violence in his voice, an icy chill that sounded exactly like Marcus at his worst. “I know, but how does it look?”
    Luke flashed his light to the side, so both their faces were lit up. He looked grim. “You need antibiotics.”
    She sighed. “I thought so.” Not good. So not good. “Do you know anywhere I can get them?”
    Instead of answering, Luke laid his hand across her forehead. His hand was so cool against the raging heat burning her up, and this time, she couldn’t stop herself from leaning into his touch. It just felt too good.
    “Fever.” His voice was grim.
    “Felt like it,” she whispered, resting her head against his palm. She was too exhausted to fight her need to lean on him. “I’ll pay you to take me to a doctor who won’t report my visit to anyone.”
    “No, thanks.”
    He wouldn’t even help her get to a doctor?
    He began to pull her sweater back down.
    Tears of exhaustion filled her eyes, and she pulled out of his grasp. “I can get dressed myself.” She tried to work her arm into the sleeve. She didn’t want him touching her anymore, not now that she knew he wouldn’t help her even get to a doctor. God, she was so exhausted…No. She could handle this. She would find a way to do it on her own.
    She struggled to get her arm in, but moving it was too painful. She sucked in her breath at a stab of pain, and he silently caught her forearm and helped guide it into her sweater. His touch was gentle but firm, not giving her the chance to fight it.
    Not that she could.
    She needed his help, and she had to be smart enough to take advantage of what was offered, even while making sure not to count on it. He’d already said he wasn’t going to help her. He was leaving. Period.
    At least he was honest about it. That was a point for him over Daniel and Zack.
    “Can you walk?” he asked.
    She nodded. To her surprise, as she began to walk, he fell in beside her. He said nothing, and the tension built. Why was he staying with her?
    She stumbled, and he caught her arm and righted her almost before she’d lost her balance. “Thanks.”
    He gave her a grim smile, but said nothing.
    She resumed walking and he again stayed beside her. He caught her again when she tripped. After the third time she stumbled, he cupped her elbow and didn’t let go. His grip was strong, and he somehow absorbed her instability each time her legs wobbled. She felt as if she were being supported by a steel beam that would never falter.
    She’d never felt protected like that before. It felt as though even a tornado wouldn’t be able to move a hair on her head because Luke would block the wind for her. How did he make her feel like that? Especially when he wouldn’t commit to helping her?
    He was so tough, he was exactly what she needed right now. Not just because he was Marcus’s son and because of his background and expertise, but because he was so solid. A rock.
    “Luke?” God, her head hurt. She was cold. Hot. Sweaty. Trembling. Focus, Isabella.
    “Yeah.” His grip tightened on her arm, and she realized she had just stumbled again.
    “I would make it worth your while to help me.” She tripped again, and this time she would have gone down if Luke hadn’t caught her.
    Without a word, he picked her up and turned her so she was tucked against his chest, front to front. Too intimate, and she started to pull away.
    “Stop fighting.” His grip tightened behind her back. “Put your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist. It’s easier to carry you this way. Unless you think you can walk another mile.” His voice was calm and businesslike with none of the intentional seduction Daniel always had used on her.
    His professional attitude eased some of her tension, and she realized he was right. She couldn’t walk anymore, and he clearly wasn’t trying to cop a feel. She would take it.