Adam couldn’t look away from rene’s wine–flushed lips. His throat went bone–dry as he realized how close they were–mere inches, apart, their breaths mingling in the night air. A strange lightheadedness hit him that had nothing to do with alcohol since he hadn’t touched a drop all evening.
Moonlight caught in her eyes, giving them an almost liquid gleam. The usually buttoned–up doctor had vanished, replaced by someone whose walls had crumbled under Hayes vintage. Something about seeing her this unguarded kicked his protective instincts into overdrive.
“You need to stay put,” he said, frowning as she swayed. “I’m getting you home.”
Irene leaned closer, half–draped over his wheelchair arm. Her warm and stayed firmly on his, refusing to let go. He grabbed his phone with his free hand and hit Thomas’s number.
“Garden exit. Now,” he said before hanging up.
Irene moved even closer, her face inches from his. “What’d you say?” Her voice came out soft and slightly slurred. Her perfume mixed with wine created a scent that made Adam’s head swim despite being stone–cold sober.
He cleared his throat, fighting whatever magnetic pull she suddenly had on him. “Ride’s coming. Time to get you home.”
From the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of pale blue–Samantha frozen on the garden path, taking in the scene. Her eyes narrowed as she turned and stalked away, heels stabbing the gravel with each step. Adam immediately forgot her, focusing instead on the woman using his wheelchair as her personal leaning post.
Thomas arrived promptly with the car. When Adam tried freeing his hand from Irene’s surprisingly strong grip, she simply held tighter.
“No,” she murmured, leaning into Adam with an almost feline movement. “You take me.” Her voice carried a playful note neither man had ever heard from the serious doctor.
Adam’s lips twitched despite himself. “Think you can walk straight?” he asked, his voice softer than usual.
“Mmmm,” Irene hummed noncommittally, making no move to unwrap herself from his side.
With a quick nod to Thomas, Adam kept his hand firmly in Irene’s as they made their way to the waiting car, her steps wobbly but
determined.
Inside the car, Irene immediately slumped against Adam’s shoulder, her expression pinched as though the movement disagreed
her.
with
“Take it slow, Adam said, his voice unusually gentle. “No bumps.”
Thomas nodded, easing off the gas. The car fell quiet except for the soft purr of tires on payement.
After a few minutes, Irene shifted restlessly. “So hot in here,” she complained, tugging at her dress collar. Her fingers fumbled with the fabric, trying to loosen it.
Adam’s eyes widened, his pulse suddenly jumping as he caught her wrists. “Don’t,” he said firmly.
Thomas smoothly raised the privacy partition without comment. Irene wrestled free, leaving red marks where Adam had held her, and immediately went back to wrestling with her dress.
“I’m burning up!” she insisted, voice rising as she yanked at her zipper.
1/3
Chapter 190
Adam sucked in a sharp breath as the dress slid off one shoulder, revealing more skin than he was prepared to see. Heat rushed through him, followed by immediate self–reproach. She was drunk and vulnerable—and he was supposedly her patient.
Moving carefully, he reached on and fixed her dress, covering exposed skin. His fingers worked quickly, clinically, though his thundering heart was anything but professional.
“Here,” he said, voice rough as he grabbed for something–anything to help. His hand landed on a folder beside him–the billion- dollar contract he’d just hammered out with Lee. Without hesitation he started fanning her flushed face. “Better?”
Irene’s struggles stopped as the makeshift fan created a cooling bree. She sighed, leaning closer to Adam. “You’re warm,” she murmured, voice dropping to almost a whisper.
A small laugh escaped her, so utterly different from her normal controlled tone that Adam found himself staring. “Doctors shouldn’t get this close to patients,” she said dreamily, words slurring together. But…”
She trailed off, her hand settling on his chest. “Why do you make me feel so safe?” The raw honesty in her voice hit him like a sucker punch. “Nobody ever makes me feel safe…”
Adam’s heart slammed against his ribs, unsure if she even knew what she was saying. Her head settled more comfortably on his shoulder, eyelids drooping.
Her breathing gradually evened out, warm against his neck as she dozed off. Adam stayed perfectly still, afraid the slightest movement might wake her. After a brief hesitation, he carefully removed his jacket and draped it over her, fingers lingering in her hair for just a moment.
When they arrived at Irene’s house, Thomas announced quietly from the front seat. Adam nodded, gently nudging Irene. “Home,” he said softly.
She stirred reluctantly, blinking up at him with unfocused eyes.
The front door flew open before Adam could say more. The triplets appeared, framed by the light behind them, rushing down the steps when they spotted their mother. They skidded to a stop when Thomas helped Irene from the car.
“What happened?” Alex asked, worry in his voice.
“Your mom had a little too much wine,” Thomas explained diplomatically.
The kids exchanged glances, then Lily nodded with the seriousness of a tiny adult. “Thanks for bringing her back, Uncle Adam.”
The triplets surrounded their mother like protective shadows, steering her toward the door. Adam watched them go, a strange hollowness forming in his chest. If his legs worked, he could have carried her inside, saved her the stumbling walk. The thought blindsided him with its intensity.
Later that night, Adam sat in his darkened bedroom, tie loosened, staring at his hands. The same hands that had just held Irene’s. The memory of her weight against his shoulder, her breath warming his neck, replayed in his mind. Her uninhibited words echoed in his thoughts.
Nobody ever makes me feel safe.
The confession stirred something raw he couldn’t quite name. He could still feel the warmth of her fingers against his palm, still smell her perfume lingering on his jacket. Adam ran a finger over the spot where she’d touched him, startled by how a drunk doctor had somehow crashed through barriers even board members couldn’t breach.
Company stock prices and upcoming meetings ‘suddenly seemed distant, unimportant. Somehow the only thing that mattered was a drunken doctor and three small kids next door. He wheeled to the window, looking toward Irene’s house where lights still glowed softly behind curtains.
2/3
Chapter 190
Something pulled at him, urging him to go back, to check on her. He stopped himself, recognizing a line he wasn’t ready to cross-
maybe one he wasn’t sure le should cross. His eyes lingered on her window, searching for a shadow, a movement, any sign of her.
Adam finally turned away, but ot before committing the sight of her illuminated window to memory–a beacon in the darkness he, Couldn’t seem to ignore.
Chapter Comments
LIKE
