Page 6 of Beyond Reach

She looked over at him to find him smiling, and her heart skipped a beat.

“I can’t help them all—especially the ones who just aren’t ready to make a change. But I have helped a lot of people. It’s a fulfilling job.”

“I’m glad. Good for you.”

“And you?”

“Me?” She coughed. “I’m not doing anything special.”

“I bet you are. You were studying to be an interior designer before you left.”

She didn’t want to talk about herself. The tragic losses she endured steered her off course for a long time, and even now she hadn’t made it back to where she started out as a fresh-faced hopeful twenty-year-old. She didn’t have any excuses, but she wouldn’t tell Gardner that.

r /> The car in front of them slowed down sharply, and Garner slammed on the brakes. Chanda jerked forward. The seatbelt stopped her from cracking her face on the dash, but her stomach and head turned upside down. She let out a small choked sound as the world tumbled every which way.

“Oh God, I’m going to be sick.”

Garner swerved to the edge of the road, but it was too late. She ruined her clothes and the interior of his fancy new car.

Chapter 3

“I can’t believe I did that,” Chanda moaned.

“Shh. I’m going to put you down. Hang on.”

“I didn’t need you to carry me to my room in the first place!” She tried to work up some gumption to get Garner to stop trying to care for her, but she didn’t have the energy or the clear head.

He set her gently on her feet, but kept a strong arm around her waist. The man didn’t even seem to notice that he was risking making himself smell from her being sick. The clean clothes in the trunk were a godsend, but there wasn’t a shower back there.

Now they stood outside her hotel room after Garner checked her in and insisted on carrying her down the hall to the elevator and the rest of the eternal journey to her sixth floor room. Thank God it was late, and the only witness was the man at the front desk.

“Don’t complain. I wanted to take you to the hospital. Since you refused to go, this is the compromise.”

“All I did was throw up, for Pete’s sake. It’s not a reason to sit in the ER all night. Oh God, your car.”

“Don’t worry about that.” He used the key card on the lock. “Let me—”

“Not on your life. I’m feeling better already.” She held up a hand to keep him from taking her into his arms and stepped forward. The room swayed, and she stumbled.

Garner caught her and swung her into his arms. Against her will, he carried her to the bed and deposited her gently onto it. She complained halfheartedly.

“Stay put,” he ordered. “I’m going to get you something to settle your stomach. Don’t try to change by yourself. I’ll be right back.”

“You must be out of your mind. Did you forget you’re engaged? You can’t help me change.”

Color flooded his handsome face. He actually seemed to have forgotten he didn’t have the right to help her to get undressed. It was as if no time had passed since they were last together. With her reminder, the present came flooding back. He was marrying her cousin.

“I’ll call Marcella. She’ll come over and help.”

“No, I can take care of myself.” There was no heat to her words. “I promise you I can handle it. I don’t want to make her work to help me when she’s already doing so much in preparation for your wedding day. All I’m going to do is shower and sleep. In the morning, I’ll be right as rain.”

“Chanda…” He paused, watching her as if he had something else to say. She wondered what was on his mind and half wanted to hear it and half preferred him to keep his thoughts to himself. “I’ll be right back.”

He was gone, and she rolled to a sitting position. The best move was to shower before he returned. Garner was sweet, but he was also stubborn. He wouldn’t decide she was fine and not return. He would see for himself.

By sheer miracle, she made it to the shower and stripped before stepping inside. The cold spray sent a shiver down her spine and popped out goose bumps on her arms. She should have waited for the water to warm up.

She hugged herself. After spending just a few moments in Garner’s arms, she picked up his scent all over her skin. Hurrying to wash it away before she lost her mind, she grabbed the soap and rolled it within one of the pristine white washcloths.

---