“Yep, I do. I’m going to make sure you stay off that foot. And I’ll make you some dinner. You got anything to cook?”
“You don’t have to do all that. I’m fine.”
“So you said.”
“I’m not sure what I have. I haven’t made it to the grocery store yet.”
“I’ll find something.”
He headed to the kitchen, and she closed her eyes. There was really no arguing with the man. Sounds of cabinets opening and closing and a pot clanking on the stove came from across the room.
She grabbed her tablet from the table and browsed through the entertainment news. She might not be performing now, but she still liked to know who was getting what roles. She smiled in delight when she saw her niece, Chloe, had snagged a leading role in an off-Broadway show. Guilt tugged at her for the choices she’d made, but at least she hadn’t messed up anything for her niece. Which was the whole point of her choice. She wasn’t going to tank anyone else’s career with her decisions.
Gavin came back and handed her a bowl. “You’re right. You didn’t have much. But I found some pasta and bacon. Made some pasta carbonara.”
She took the bowl and tried a bite. “It’s delicious.”
“Thanks.”
He sat in a chair near her, eating a bowl of his own. The room started to darken with the evening.
The day finally took its toll, and she set the bowl on the table. She should probably keep up a nice conversation with Gavin, but exhaustion crept in. She’d just close her eyes for a moment.
When she opened her eyes again, early morning light was filtering through the window. Had she spent the whole night on the couch? She pushed herself up to a sitting position, wincing slightly as she moved her foot.
She’d had the strangest dream about Gavin. He had been standing over her, adjusting the throw around her, and pushing a lock of her hair away from her face. And she’d had the strongest feeling that he wanted to kiss her. She stretched her arms and blinked her eyes, slowly waking up, chasing away any remnants of the dream.
Her mouth dropped open when she looked across the room and saw Gavin sleeping in the most uncomfortable position ever in the chair by the window. He’d spent the night?
She reached for her crutches and cringed when one went crashing to the floor. Gavin sprung from the chair. “You okay?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. I knocked over one of the crutches.”
He nodded and scrubbed his hands over his face. “Okay, let me help you up.”
He came over, handed her the crutches, and watched her carefully as she swung through them.
“I’m going to go get cleaned up. Get ready for work.”
“You got coffee in this place?”
“I do.”
“I’ll make us some while you get ready. Then I’ll drive you to the theater.Ifyou promise to stay off that foot.”
The way her foot was throbbing this morning, he wasn’t asking much of her. The thought of walking made her shiver. “Thank you, Gavin. You’ve done so much for me. You didn’t need to stay all night.”
“It was nothing.” He stepped back, letting her pass. She could feel his gaze on her as she headed down the hallway.
She changed and got ready—it took longer than she thought it would. Who knew how awkward it was to do every little thing when you were on crutches? She clumped back into the main room. Gavin was standing by the window, sipping coffee. She maneuvered over by him.
“Your coffee is there on the table. Why don’t you sit while you drink it?”
“It’s getting kind of late.” Wasn’t he the one always commenting if she wasn’t at the theater first thing each morning?
“We have time for coffee,” he countered.
She lowered herself onto the chair and took a sip. A few minutes wouldn’t make much difference.
