Of course, he hid what he was thinking or feeling. The only hint I got was his hand resting on the table. It was curled into a fist.
I didn’t need jewelry. I needed two words. But I knew I’d never get them. Along with three other words I’d give my left arm just to hear once.
“I won’t explain myself again.”
“I don’t need you to.” I understood why he'd done it. He'd been trying to protect me. That still didn’t erase how I felt. Exposed. Lied to.
Closing the lid on the beautiful pendant, I slid the box over to him, leaving it next to his clenched fist. “I need time.”
“It’s a gift, Maura. No expectations. I had it made for you,” he said, pushing the box back to me.
I locked my eyes with his. “It’s an insult.”
He let out a frustrated sigh. “You’re being stubborn.”
I clenched my jaw, preventing myself from lashing out. I glared at the box. I couldn’t accept it. Not like this. Relaxing my face, I put on an empty mask before meeting his eyes. “I want to meet the person you’ve chosen before we hire him. To see if it’s a good fit,” I said, hoping to change the subject.
Stefan studied me with narrowed eyes for a few heartbeats before relenting with a slight nod. Angela returned with mine and Jamie’s breakfast. She placed our plates in front of us without a word or a lewd glance at Jamie before disappearing back into the kitchen.
Looking around the table, I sighed. We really needed to invest in a coffee carafe. Standing, I drew Jamie’s attention right before he was about to take a bite of eggs. “Want some coffee?”
He nodded. I took one step away from the table. Just like in my bedroom, the world tilted, but a lot faster this time. Pressure built behind my face and my vision spotted to black.
“Maura?” I heard Stefan say as a hand touched mine.
I was falling before everything went black.
CHAPTER 23
“Maura?” Jamie called to me through the darkness. When a hand brushed against my cheek, I knew it was him.
“Maura, damn it! Wake up!” Stefan yelled. I felt myself being shaken awake.
I groaned and blinked my eyes open a few times, getting glimpses of blurry bright light before I squeezed them closed. Why is it so bright? Am I hungover? My head was killing me.
“She’s waking up,” a woman said. Aunt Kiara?
“The doc is on his way,” I heard Louie say.
I tried to open my eyes again, this time squinting to help shield them from the light. My vision was less blurry, and I found myself staring up at a bunch of faces peering down at me. Am I on the floor?
Stefan and Jamie were sitting on the floor with me, hovering. Louie, my aunt, my uncle, Rourke, Brody, and a few goons were all standing around me.
“What’s going on?” I asked, rubbing my forehead.
“You passed out, babe,” Louie answered.
“You went down like a sack of potatoes,” Rourke stated.
The more they talked, the more my memories came back to me. I'd been heading to get coffee from the kitchen. I'd been in the dining room about to eat breakfast. Shit, I didn’t eat. When was the last time I ate? Damnit! This was freshman year at Trinity during finals week all over again. I'd gone days without eating because I'd been stressed about passing my classes, and I'd almost fainted. I guess this time I actually did. Great. Just great.
I tried to sit up only to get pushed down by Stefan.
“I know this looks bad but I’m fine. I just need to eat—”
“No. Stay down until the doctor gets here,” Stefan ordered, his tone brooking no argument.
“Maybe you should move her somewhere a little more private until then,” my aunt suggested. Bless her. I was not enjoying the audience.
“Let’s take her to my study,” Stefan agreed, exchanging a look with Jamie.
Jamie nodded and scooped me up into his arms. I let out a frustrated sigh. I was fine. Well, if you didn’t count the mind splitting headache and feeling shaky. If I ate a PB&J, I would be back to normal, not that I could convince them of that. I had no choice but to ride this out and see this doctor they called. Pouting, I mourned my breakfast left behind in the dining room. “I really wanted my bacon and hash browns. It’s why I ordered extra,” I told Jamie as he carried me to Stefan’s study. “Maybe we can ask someone to bring—”
“Let’s see what the doctor has to say first,” Stefan snapped.
Jamie laid me down on the couch. I got into a seated position. Thankfully, they didn’t protest. Jamie took a seat next to me on the couch and with Stefan leaning against the front of his desk, we waited.
Embarrassingly, my stomach growled loudly multiple times as the three of us sat there. Jamie’s phone beeped a few agonizing minutes later. I about cried with joy when he told us the doctor was at the gate.
“I know me passing out was scary and I’m very sorry to cause you both to worry, but I promise I’m going to be fine. If I just eat something—”
“You’re seeing the doctor, Maura,” Stefan said.
“I’m fine with seeing the doctor. That’s not what I’m trying to say. I’m hungry. You ever reach the point of hunger where you’d stab someone for a cheeseburger? Well, gentlemen, I’m starting to feel stabby.”
They both ignored me until the doctor walked in with Louie leading the way. The doctor was unexpectedly young. For some reason, I was imagining an old man looking like Santa Claus who did house calls with a black leather medical bag. This guy, however, was in his mid-to-late thirties, was covered in tattoos, had long golden hair tied at his neck, and was carrying a duffel bag. Hello, Doctor. He was fine. His skin was tan with a golden hue and he had caramel colored eyes. Don’t get me started on the muscles. He was bulkier than Jamie and had the perkiest ass. I was awestruck.
“Ben, thank you for coming so quickly,” Stefan greeted the doctor, shaking his hand.
“You’re drooling, baby,” Jamie whispered in my ear. I turned to find him smirking. Oops.
“Jealous, baby?” I teased him.
With a mischievous glint in his eye, he walked away to go greet Dr. Ben. Louie took Jamie’s spot next to me and threw an arm over my shoulders to offer comfort.
“Louie said someone fainted?” Dr. Ben inquired, looking between Stefan and Jamie.
“My daughter,” Stefan confirmed, gesturing to me. Dr. Ben gave me a dazzling smile. Oh, jeez. If I hadn't been completely consumed by everything that was Jamie, I might have blushed.
“Do you get fainting spells a lot?” he asked, kneeling in front of me. He sat down his duffel bag on the floor next to him and pulled out a blood pressure cuff along with a stethoscope.
“No,” I answered, lifting my arm for him to strap the cuff on.
He tapped his cheek. “When did this happen?” It took me a second to realize he was asking about the bruises on my face.
“Most doctors would ask how it happened.”
Dr. Ben’s eyes dropped from mine.
Anger bubbled in the pit of my stomach. “Have you worked for the family long?”
“Five years.”
“Seen many battered wives?”
“Maura,” Stefan said, tone full of warning. Dr. Ben’s golden face paled and he swallowed audibly.