Flicking on the television, Jared stretched out next to her on the bed as he watched the cable news channel.
Kelsey spooned the soup into her mouth, surprised at how hungry she felt. When she was finished, she put the spoon on the tray. Jared immediately clicked the TV off and got up to take the tray.
He came back as she was wiggling down in the bed, fatigue dragging at her again. Helping her rearrange her pillows and tucking the sheet, Jared flicked off the bathroom light.
She closed her eyes, assuming he’d go back to whatever work he’d been attending to that morning. But she felt the bed sag and realized he’d lain back down next to her.
“Jared?”
“Mmmm?”
She had to know. “Are you still mad at me?”
“Yes,” he said.
She felt him smooth her hair back gently.
“I’m furious.” He brushed his knuckles along her cheek. “Go on back to sleep.”
This, she thought muzzily to herself as she sank into unconsciousness, was weird. Here she was at possibly her least attractive with a husband who claimed to be angry with her and she felt…cherished.
Jared watched her sleep, unable to make himself get up and leave. How could one woman have become so important to him in so short a time?
He’d gone out on limbs before, taken risks others thought were foolish, but nothing came close to this. He still wasn’t sure that Kelsey would ever let herself fall in love with him. She’d had enough disappointments in her life to convince her to protect her heart permanently.
Her own father had never cared for her.
Lying on the bed next to her, he acknowledged to himself that he’d taken on the tiger this time. He couldn’t force her to love him, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop loving her, either.
He’d told her the truth. Their argument last night did still rankle. Somewhere in the early morning hours as he sat trying to work, he’d admitted the truth to himself. He needed Kelsey to believe in him. Maybe he hadn’t given her enough reason, but he wanted her faith, just the same.
***
Later in the day, Doug rang the bell at his boss’ apartment, his heart thudding hard in his chest. He shouldn’t be here, he knew.
“Hello,” Kelsey offered with a weak smile, opening the door and leaning against it.
She looked slender and pale in the over-sized robe, her feet bare on the thick pile carpet. Jared’s robe, his mind told him mockingly.
“How are you?” Doug asked sympathetically, ignoring the stab of jealousy. He was here for Kelsey. She’d never been one to succumb to minor ailments and he remembered now that she’d always fought against even the slightest cold.
Kelsey chuckled, stepping back and gesturing him inside. “I’m pitiful, but I think I’ll live.”
“I heard you were sick when Jared called in this morning,” he said, shutting the door firmly and flipping the lock home. “He actually cancelled several meetings. I thought you must be at death’s door.”
“He doesn’t cancel meetings often?” she asked, returning to a nest of blankets on the wide couch.
“No,” Doug said, seating himself at the other end and surveying her with concern. She looked pale and delicate. Not like his vibrant, sparkling Kelsey.
Not his Kelsey anymore, if she ever truly had been.
Amy’s face flashed before his mind’s eye and he pushed away the guilt that followed. When he’d heard Kelsey was sick and Jared at home nursing her, envy and resentment bit into him fiercely. He was supposed to be her knight-errant, the one who sheltered her from life’s storms. All morning he’d tried to shake the old emotion and lost the effort.
“Would you like something to drink?” She asked him, struggling to get up. “I’m forgetting my hostess responsibilities, but we’ve known each other so long you never seem like company.”
They’d always been comfortable together. If the habit of long practice still hadn’t removed the breathlessness he felt with her, Doug knew his old hopes of being man enough to win her were at fault.
“I’d like some coffee, if you have it made,” he said, “but I can get it myself. Relax. You’re the sick one.”
Ignoring his admonishment in a way that reminded him of her sister, she followed him into the kitchen. Leaning against the refrigerator, she watched as he found the coffee.
Refusing to think of how he’d left Amy this morning, his mouth still warm from her kiss, Doug told himself he hadn’t had any choice but to cancel their lunch date. He’d been compelled to see Kelsey, to make sure she was truly okay. To have a few moments alone with her now that Jared was at the office.
It wasn’t anything sexual, wasn’t like he was cheating.