Page 40 of A Prescription to My Heart

I clear my throat awkwardly. “I wanted to thank you for uh… agreeing with my offer, and standing up for me in the office the other day. Tt… meant a lot.”

She nods once, an unfamiliar flicker in her eyes. “It’s alright. I overheard they were planning to use the accident to take Marigold away. I just had to do something.”

“You didn’t have to, but I’m grateful you did.”

I was. Truly.

For a moment, Talia looks like she doesn’t know what to say. I know she’s never seen this side of me.

“So,” she goes on. “We will need to make this… real. But not. Obviously.”

“Obviously.”

“We’ll need to set some ground rules,” she says. “No kissing or unnecessary touching. The likes.”

I grin. “I agree. Why don’t you come in, so we can discuss?”

She steps forward, but I move at the same time. Talia bumps into me, brushing against me, and momentarily stumbling. My hands react before I can think, catching her wrist as she tries to steady herself.

And then we’re frozen.

Close. Too close.

Talia’s wrist beneath my fingers is warm, pulse quick. Her breath catches, lips parting slightly, eyes flicking up to meet mine.

The space between us crackles.

I should let go.

But I don’t.

Because there’s something about the way she’s looking at me right now—something unguarded, something I want to understand. Because if I do, she’ll step away, and for some reason, I don’t want that.

“Talia!”

Marigold’s voice shatters whatever was building between us.

Talia jerks back. I drop her wrist. We step apart just as Marigold comes skidding into view, socked feet sliding against the floor. Looking all the world like she wasn’t just in the ER.

She beams at Talia, her wide eyes completely oblivious to whateverthatwas.

“I knew I heard your voice,” Marigold says, throwing herself at Talia.

Talia catches her with ease, laughing as Marigold squeezes her tight.

“I told Dad you would!”

Talia lifts an eyebrow at me. “Did she?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You’re supposed to be sleeping.”

Marigold ignores me, tugging Talia’s hand. “Come see my new doll! I named her Star.”

Talia grins, her cheeks still slightly flushed. “Good name.”

Marigold nods seriously. “She’s a doctor like Dad. But she also fights bad guys.”

“Multitalented.”

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