I stuttered to a stop when I realized the pressure from the anxiety was gone. I was calm and enjoying the conversation about my upbringing. “How in the hell did you do that?” Iasked.
“My mom had debilitating anxiety. She spent most of her time at home and rarely left because of it. I learned at an early age how to help her, how to talk her around. It was usually as simple as asking open-ended questions and listening intently to her.” He gave me a pleased grin. “I’m glad it worked foryou.”
Tears threatened to fall again, but not because of anxiety. He’d noticed I was struggling and had taken the time to help, even though he’d just met me. He owed me nothing yet had taken the time to be kind. “Thank you so much,” Isaid.
I hoped it wouldn’t be so bad staying there for a week. If I had to, I could hang around Ellion and avoid the others, especiallyGriffin.
We sat in companionable silence for a few minutes as I stared at the darkness beyond the bay windows opposite the kitchen. “Ellion, what time is it? It’s got to be close todawn.”
“It’s ten a.m. You slept all night after passing out in thesnow.”
Of course. What an idiot I was. It was northern Alaska in December. They didn’t have dawn; all they had was constant night. I stood and made my way to the windows. The view would be the same no matter what time of day I looked out. Darkness. I’d never been afraid of the dark, but the thought of endless night made me feel small in an extremely largeworld.
Chandler came out of the hallway from the direction of Ellion’s computer lab. “Hungry?”
My stomach gave a loud rumble. “Seems that way,” Ireplied.
He laughed at thetiming.
When I turned toward the kitchen I had to freeze. Sharp pains shot across my torso. I let out a lowmoan.
Ellion jumped up the moment he heard me moan and hovered over me like a worried mother. “What can I do? Sit; we’ll get you something toeat.”
I moved to the couch and sank into the plush couch cushions. “Maybe I’ll hang out here for a minute. I think all the adrenaline and shock has left my system, and the pain and soreness is setting in.” Ellion turned toward the kitchen. I didn’t think I’d ever seen anyone scurry until I watched him walk away. His concern over my ribs just reminded me that he’d seen me naked. I rubbed my cheeks to try to avoid the blush I felt creepingup.
Chandler watched, bemused. “He worries. A lot. Relax, we’ll make some soup. Do you like potato soup?” he asked over his shoulder on his way to thekitchen.
“Do you make it with bacon andcheese?”
“Is there another way?” he called from thekitchen.
“If there is, I’ve not found it.” I said the last bit to myself as I settled into the couchcushions.
A TV remote was on a coffee table in front of me. I stiffened in the act of reaching for it, sensing someone standing directly behind me. I tried to move my entire body so I wouldn’t twist my middle. Griffin stood behind the couch, glaring at me. I hadn’t noticed him comein.
He turned without a word to me and headed for the kitchen. Making no attempt to keep his voice low, he addressed his employees. “Get herthe fuckout of myhouse.”
I heard Chandler’s eyes rolling in his tone of voice. “I told you, this storm is a bad one. She’s notleaving.”
My face burned. No way would I stay where I was so vehemently unwanted. I’d wait until I had access to warm clothes again and borrow their snowmobile. I could easily get to the main road, then surely the gas tank would last the short ride over to my new patient’s home. Bundled up, I’d last thirty minutes to an hour in the cold,easily.
The massive man couldn’t help but make loud footsteps as he walked past me, and stupidly, I twisted to see where he went. I gasped in pain, which he ignored as he stalked toward the only hallway I hadn’texplored.
“What’s down there?” I asked when he was out ofearshot.
Ellion had come to stand beside the couch when I’dgasped.
“His rooms. We generally stay out of that part of the house. He’s pretty private about them.” Ellion sat beside me. “We need to be careful about your ribs. I’m pretty sure they’re not broken, but without any x-ray equipment, I can’t bepositive.”
My anxiety trickled into the back of mythroat.
“Untreated rib injuries can lead to stuff like pneumonia or chronic pain. I need to check your wrappings soon. If they’re fractured or broken, you’ll likely have the most pain starting tomorrow, and that’ll last for two to threedays.”
He recited all the information like anencyclopedia.
“Did you swallow a medical dictionary?” I asked with a little more venom than Iintended.
He barely showed it, but his eyes dimmed alittle.
