Page 25 of Stanton Unconditional

“What did the police want?” she asks.

“Umm…nothing. They were inquiring where I got the drugs from the other night.”

Her eyes hold mine. She knows I’m lying but is staying silent while the others are in the room.

“Tash, Ben will be swapping with Max to guard you,” I mutter. She frowns as I pick up her hand and hold it in mine. She looks nervously at Ben. “Ben, I don’t mean to be rude, but I would rather stay with Max. I am only comfortable with Max.”

Ben and Cameron both smirk at me. I narrow my eyes at them.

“Then Max can stay with you, baby, that’s ok,” Adrian interjects. “Now that you are in the States, Tash, you need more protection that’s all. There is a nasty story in the paper today about you and you will be followed by photographers. They are really pushy. You cannot go anywhere without protection.”

“What kind of story?” Her eyes widen as Adrian hands her the paper. She slumps into the chair to read it.

A nurse enters the room. “Nurse, please let the doctor know I am checking out this afternoon.”

“Joshua,” Natasha snaps. “Your treatment.”

“Tash, I need to go home.” She frowns at me.

“I am going to find the doctor.” Cameron stands and leaves the room.

“Josh, I want you to do this drug rehab, it’s really important.”

“I know, Presh. I promise I will continue the treatment from home.” My eyes flick nervously to Ben. “The pap has access to me in here, baby. We are safer in a more protected environment.”

She rolls her eyes. “I think you are being a bit of a drama queen, Josh.”

“It is safer at Joshua’s house, Natasha. I will go and make arrangements for the transfer,” says Ben as he leaves the room.

I pull her to lie down next to me on the bed and I hold her tight. “You ok, baby? That was a pretty awful nightmare you had last night.”

She smiles warmly and kisses me, and her lips linger on mine. “The wake-up call I got has erased all bad memories, thank you Mr. Stanton.”

I squeeze her tightly. “Good…Tash do you want to go travelling for a while? Take a couple of months off, see the world.”

Her eyes widen. “You are serious about this? Could you take time off?”

“I don’t see why not.” I smile warmly.

“Oh, I have to go back to Australia this weekend. I need to be back at work on Monday.”

My eyes widen, “Well that’s not happening. I need you with me.”

“Joshua, I am going back to resign and there is not a thing you can do about it. My boss has been so good to me and two other staff are on holidays and I am booked solid all week. I will come back in two weeks.”

“I will come with you then. I am not letting you out of my sight.” Bloody hell, this is a logistical nightmare.

The doctor enters the room. “Cameron has just explained the situation to me. I understand you are checking out.”

“Yes, I have to go to Sydney on the weekend, Doctor, so I will just pick up my treatment over there.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. You are unable to fly for at least two weeks, your heartbeat is too erratic. Let’s not forget that you almost died three days ago. You will risk a heart attack at that altitude.”

“Josh, I will just come back in two weeks. It will be okay,” Natasha urges as she picks up my hand again.

“I will send a nurse in to put a drip in for a couple of hours to rehydrate you and then I will hook you up to an angiogram for an hour and if the results are all good, I will check you out this afternoon. Definitely, no flying for two weeks.”

Natasha