about leaving me to die in peace?”
His face stilled. “Don’t say that.”
“Don’t say …?” It hit her. Mrs. Brookstone’s turn for the worse. How hard he’d worked to keep that from happening to any of his patients. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He stood up and carefully lifted the chair behind her out of the way. Then the two on either side of it.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to help you sit up.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
When he knelt on the floor behind her and put his hands on the muscles on her right side, a quick flicker of fear went through her. But he didn’t try to jerk her upright. Instead his fingers played over the different areas of her back before muttering something under his breath. Then he said, “I can’t feel anything through your shirt. I need bare skin.”
Her heart went into overdrive, threatening to hammer its way out of her chest. “Wh-what?”
“Sorry. I meant your muscles.” He paused. “Where does it hurt?”
“Below my right shoulderblade.”
His fingers shifted, testing. “Can you roll onto your stomach?”
“I don’t know.” She tried, inching to the right, his palms taking some of the work off her back muscles. Then she was there, legs stretched straight behind her, feet bare, all the while a group of muscles sizzled with fire. Even drawing too deep a breath caused it to tighten further. A tiny whimper made its way out before she could stop it.
His fingers began exploring her back again until he reached the ball of agony around which her world currently swirled.
“Oh, God, don’t. Please.” She was horrified at the hoarse plea in her voice.
He swore softly.
“Stay here. I’m going to get a muscle relaxant and a heating pad. I’ll be right back.”
As he walked away, Hannah heard him talking softly to someone, giving them his cell number and asking whoever it was to call him if there was an emergency. The hospital? His answering service?
She hadn’t wanted to interfere with his work. She’d just wanted to leave some food for him and be on her way.
He could have just left her, like she’d suggested …
But he wasn’t that kind of man.
She heard him come back. “I don’t want you to take the pill lying down like that, so we’ll see if we can loosen you up a little first.”
Despite the pain, she giggled. It sounded more like he was trying to get her drunk than help her get back on her feet.
“You find this funny?”
“No. It’s just … Never mind.”
A second later he draped something across the sore part of her back and the sound of a switch clicking hit her ears. Soft vibrations made their way through her back, not hard enough to hurt but enough that she knew it was there.
“It’ll warm up in a minute or two.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t normally have back spasms.” The last time had been after her biopsy, when lying in one position for a prolonged period of time had left her muscles stiff and sore. She’d moved too quickly and driven home in quiet agony, too embarrassed to tell anyone at the hospital what was going on. It had taken two days for the pain to ease—she hadn’t even been able to lift her arm to brush her hair. And it had been in the same muscle group as now.
What if she were laid up for two days again? No. If she could just get up, she’d be fine.
Greg’s voice came back to her. “It’s okay. Just rest a few more minutes.”
Unable to do anything else, she watched as he cleaned up the remainder of their shared meal, tossing containers into one of the trash cans and drawing the plastic bag up tight.
Sure enough, the vibrating pad began to warm, the heat working its way into the affected muscle. It didn’t completely relax but the pain wasn’t quite as severe as it had been moments earlier. Maybe she could … Shifting a bit, she gasped as the muscle contracted again.
“Lie still. You’re not going anywhere for a couple of hours.”
A couple of hours? A second ago he’d said to rest for a few minutes.
“Why don’t you go to the hospital and then head home? I’ll be fine in a little while. Promise.”
“Not going to happen, Hannah. The hospital can do without me for one night. I’ve already told them to call me if there’s an emergency.”
Guilt rolled through her. He never skipped his rounds that she knew of. Always did them every night. Even weekends.
And here he was, stuck at the office, babysitting the person who’d told him to get some rest. Having to take care of her. Again. Just like during her treatments.
The thought brought tears to her eyes. She never wanted to go back to those days of fear and pain and that dark hole that had threatened to close over the top of her.
Stop it. You’re not sick. It’s just a muscle cramp.
The pain would soon be gone then she’d be strong and healthy once again. Free to live every day to the fullest. She visualized those words, made them her reality. Added an image of herself with a rounded tummy and pink, glowing cheeks. She was happy. Content.
Pregnant.
She blinked, remembering the procedure she’d undergone just that morning. She also realized her back was feeling better, at least while she was lying still. If she could just stay where she was a few minutes longer …
A half hour later, she found herself again nodding off, the pain finally sliding away. The vibrations stopped and she was aware of the heating pad being lifted off and gentle hands again moving over her back, this time right where it had hurt. She pulled in a deep breath and felt nothing but that contentment she’d reached for a few minutes earlier. “It’s gone.” She whispered the words, afraid the pain would find her again if she spoke any louder.
“I’m sorry. Do you want me to put it back?”
“Put it …?” She realized he was talking about the heating pad. “No, I meant my back feels better. Can you help me sit up?”
“Yes, but we’re going to roll you onto your back first so you won’t have to twist at an awkward angle. I don’t want to give that muscle any reason to flare up again.” He placed his hands on her right shoulder and hip. “Ready?”
His fingers were almost as warm as the heating pad and a tiny shudder went through her. “I’m ready.”
“On three.” He counted slowly and when he reached three, before she could even brace
