Page 16 of The Restoration Program
She wasn’t entirely lying when she told him she wanted to turn in for the night. Sleeping at the hospital last night had been fruitless and full of vivid dreams with Dr. Jenning looming over her, syringe in hand.
Ryan took her to the bedroom on the tray. Though he wasn’t moving with any less care than before, Nicole still found herself windmilling for balance and had to lower onto her hands and knees.
Ryan paused mid-stride. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Dizzy, I guess.” She shot him a sheepish smile. “Just a little out of it.”
“You think it was the booze?” He flipped on the bedroom light, a frown pinching his expression.
Nicole frowned.Great, I’ve got the tolerance the size of a pea.
Ryan set the tray on the nightstand and doubled back to find her new bed things. They were lucky that the NüPrint mattress and duvet had been packed toward the top of one of the crates. After a few minutes of dedicated rifling, Ryan returned to the bedroom with the items clutched victoriously in one hand.
Just one hand,Nicole thought with a shiver. It was chilling to see how effortlessly he swung around what was to her a queen-size mattress.
“This ought to do for tonight,” he said, tearing off the clear plastic wrapping that covered the mattress. “We can go through everything tomorrow and find the bedframe.”
“Sounds great.” Nicole nodded politely from the nightstand, unable to do anything but offer support as he cleared its surface and placed the mattress in the middle. She sauntered over and laid down, letting herself sink into the clean-smelling fabric.
Ryan cleared his throat. “So? How is it?”
“Like a cloud,” Nicole hummed. “Wish you could feel it.”
His smile dulled somewhat. “You’re sure you’ll be okay here?” His eyes flicked to the other bed—theirbed.
Nicole propped herself up on her elbows, craning her neck to hold his gaze. “Dr. Jenning said it was better this way for the first few nights, didn’t she? Until we both get used to the whole… size difference thing.” The excuse was flimsy. Still, it sounded better than,Hey babe, I’m afraid you might roll over and crush me in your sleep.
He exhaled through his nose, nodding. “Fair enough. I don’t wanna get my wrist slapped for not following doctor’s orders.”
“It’s not like we’ll be very far from each other,” she said.
“Yeah, of course.”
To her relief, Ryan dropped the matter and strolled over to the dresser across the room to change out of his rumpled jeans and polo shirt. Nicole stayed propped up, staring. Intimidating height or not, she appreciated the glimpse of his toned chest and back as he threw on a sleep shirt.
His eyes darted to her immediately when he turned back around. A faint smirk lifted the corner of his mouth. “Enjoying the show?”
“Can’t complain.” She shrugged. “But let’s be honest here. You’re a mess.”
“The hottest mess you’ve ever seen.”
Nicole giggled, but a lump swelled in her throat. His eyes roved over her, and it pained her to see his usual warmth fraught with fear of rejection.
“Ryan,” she said, stopping him in his tracks.
He came back to her, crouching in front of the nightstand. Her muscles tensed, but she managed to smile at him.
“I… I don’t want you to think I’m mad at you. I know how much you’ve gone through for me. Forus.”
Ryan rested a hand by the mattress, but she shook her head. She got to her feet and moved forward uncertainly, knowing every waver of hesitation cut him. He held perfectly still for her, holding his breath as she closed the distance. Once within arm’s reach, she brushed her hand along his jaw, prickled by his unshaven skin. His eyes fluttered shut, as if her minuscule fingers had sway over him.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“You deserve to live, Nicki.”
She fought the instinct to argue thatlivewas a loose term in this situation. She focused on him, his nearness, his ache to make this work.
“Do me a favor… and don’t move,” she said.
