“Sorry,” she mumbled.
“I’m the one who’s sorry.” Blaise’s voice was thick. “You told me you didn’t feel well, but I made us come.”
“Let’s get her up.” That sounded like Adam.
“I’m carrying her,” Blaise said. “I don’t want to chance her falling.”
“No.” Her voice sounded raw. “I’m too heavy.”
He picked her up. “You’re perfect.”
Yeah, right.Though Hadley hoped she remembered his words the next time she chose a donut over a piece of fruit. Because a donut would always win.
Blaise holding her brought much-needed warmth. She rested her head against his chest. The beat of his heart against her ear soothed her but didn’t stop her eyes from stinging.
She was a professional. She had a plan. Getting sick wasn’t part of that.
The next thing Hadley knew, she was sitting in the back of the SUV that Rizzo drove. Someone had buckled her seat belt. “What’s going on?”
“You fell asleep.” Blaise sat next to her, rubbing the top of her hand with his thumb. “We’re going to the hospital.”
She gave a shake of her head.Oh, man.Bad move. That hurt. “Too much trouble. I just need to sleep.”
“You’ll sleep soon.” His voice comforted her, making it hard not to press into him, letting his warmth blanket her once again. “After a doctor examines you. I need to know what’s going on.”
“Me, too,” Rizzo called from the front seat. “This is for the best.”
Shadows flickered across Blaise’s face, but they didn’t hide his closed-mouth smile. He brushed her hair off her face. “You wouldn’t want us to stay awake and worry all night.”
“No.” She didn’t want that. “It’s just a cold.”
“Then this won’t take long,” he said softly. “And we’ll be home soon.”
Home.
And then she remembered.
She wasn’t in San Francisco.
Hadley cringed. “I never checked in to the hotel.”
“Don’t worry.” Blaise covered her hand with his. “I’ll take care of it. Which hotel?”
It took her a minute to remember the name of the hotel and tell him. What was wrong with her brain?
“Hey.” He cupped the side of her face with his hand. “It’ll be okay.”
She wished she felt as certain. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked.
She coughed, the hacking sound much worse than it had been. “For being here. With me. It means…”
A lot.
* * *
“Pneumonia.”
