If I brought her back, then I'd never let her out of my sight again and that also made fine sense while sounding rather criminal.
If she stayed at my apartment, then I'd want to touch her because she was a living, breathing magnet.
If I wanted to touch her, then she'd let me because she needed it as much as I did.
If she let me touch her, then I couldn't have her work for me because there was a limit to the number of complications I could supervise at any time.
If she couldn't work for me, then I'd lose my fucking mind. And I still didn't need a damn reason.
That'd pissed me off to no end, right up to the point when she'd stood in my entryway, looking like she didn't know where she belonged.
Right here, I wanted to say. You belong right here.
Instead of saying that or anything close to it, I made a half-assed suggestion about taking a shower. Deranged. I was absolutely deranged. And the worst part? I'd dedicated ten solid minutes to this sideshow. I still didn't have a functional watch to confirm that but I knew. I knew what seventeen percent of a billable hour felt like.
"I can help you out of your sling." She reached for me with both hands but stopped herself before making contact. Stepped back. Folded her arms. "I can do that, if you want. If that's what you're asking."
"Come here." I beckoned her closer. She didn't move. "Zelda, please. I can't do it by myself."
A shaky breath burst from her lips. Then, "I bet you can. You're very capable, after all. You don't need anyone and you're the first to remind everyone of that fact."
"You should know by now I need you more than I care to admit." I scratched my jaw with the one useful hand I had left. "It's rather convenient for you. Is it possible you're the reason I was knocked on my ass in the terminal? Now, tell me the probability of you setting off the chain of events that sent me cartwheeling over a kid."
She untangled her arms as a laugh shook through her body. God, she was pretty when she laughed. "I'm not calculating those odds."
I took a step closer. She did the same. "I thought you liked a challenge," I said. "I thought you liked to invent statistical proof for your mental math games."
She pursed her lips and bent an eyebrow as she started loosening the sling. "And I thought you were busy performing a one-man show. Go on. Show me how you do it all yourself."
I couldn't stop myself from asking, "You're staying, right?"
She glimpsed up at me while disengaging the cinches and straps, her lips still pursed. "I don't have to. I don't want to invade your space and—"
"You're staying," I interrupted.
"That seems like a not-great idea," she replied. "It isn't a problem for me to call some friends. It might be better that way."
"It might be better if you stay," I argued.
She slipped the sling from my arm and flattened her hands on my chest. Aside from the fact everything hurt like hell, it was exactly what I needed. A million more doses of this and I'd be right as rain.
"Tell the truth," she said. "You're after one of my breakfast sandwiches."
I pressed my hand on top of hers. "Let me introduce you to the café on the ground floor of my office building. You'll never eat another serving of pocket eggs again when this place is through with you."
She grinned at me but then her gaze shifted, sliding down to the spot where my hand covered hers. "You couldn't wait to get rid of me yesterday."
"That was yesterday," I replied.
"You were extremely clear about myrole"—the word sounded like a slap in the face, one I'd definitely earned—"this morning."
"That was this morning," I replied.
"And tomorrow? What will that bring?"
"I don't know," I admitted.
A brittle laugh filled the space between us as she shook her head. "Perhaps you can see my dilemma, Ash."
