Stepping out into the hallway, she spotted Ben consulting with a young blonde woman wearing a lab coat. Just beyond him, Nathan and Ed were engrossed in conversation. Ben saw her and waved her over. “Dr. Scarpetti, meet Chloe Russell, Millie’s granddaughter.”

Nathan walked up to stand beside Chloe. He was close enough that the hem of his jacket brushed against her arm as he moved. She resisted the urge to take a step sideways so she could feel the warmth and comfort of his body against hers.

She and Scarpetti shook hands. The doctor’s grip was firm but brief, as though she needed to get on to the next task. “I’ve agreed to let Dr. Cavill examine Mrs. Russell even though he’s not affiliated with this hospital,” Scarpetti said. “He’s seen all of our test results and the records we received from your grandmother’s PCP so he can bring you up-to-date. Now if you’ll excuse me, we’re short-staffed.” She strode away.

“But—” Chloe started to follow the doctor.

Ben held up his hand to stop her. “She’s doing us a big favor in allowing me to see Millie, so let her get to her rounds. With your permission, I’d like to go in to see your grandmother now.”

“Yes, of course. Thank you so much. I told her you were here.”

“And she didn’t curse my name?” Ben said. “She wasn’t very happy with me when I insisted she take my phone number during Nathan’s flu.”

“Actually, she’s looking forward to hearing her diagnosis in plain English.”

“I can’t promise that,” Ben said, giving her a wry smile before he headed down the hallway toward her grandmother’s hospital room.

“Ed’s going to pick up some food for everyone. Any requests?” Nathan asked.

“Any kind of sandwich is fine,” Chloe said as she realized she was, in fact, ravenous.

The butler walked off in the opposite direction, and Chloe stood alone with Nathan. The adrenaline that had been fueling her through the crisis seemed to drain from her body all at once, and she shivered, regretting that she’d left her wrap in the limo.

Nathan stripped his jacket off and swung it around her shoulders like a cape. The smooth satin of the lining slid over her bare arms, enveloping her in the heat of his body and the exotic scent of his soap. Pulling the lapels together across her chest, she closed her eyes and inhaled.

“There’s a lounge this way,” he said, steering her toward a set of double doors, his arm around her waist.

At last she allowed herself to lean into him. It was heaven to be cocooned in his scent, supported by the strength of his arm, and warmed by the feel of his body against her side. She simply followed wherever he led her without thought or question. It was a relief to let go for a few moments.

“Sit,” he said, maneuvering them both onto a green vinyl sofa without letting go of her. Chloe sank onto the hard cushion and snuggled in closer to Nathan’s side.

“How was she?” he asked softly, his breath stirring the hair on top of her head.

Chloe’s breath caught on a swallowed sob. “Much better than I hoped. In fact, she seems fine. It was just at the beginning, when she was lying still with her eyes closed, that she looked so small and frail.” She sniffled, and Nathan fished in his pocket to offer her a small packet of tissues. It startled her to see the mundane little item in the long, elegant fingers of such a powerful man, but she took it gratefully. “I still want to see her as the loving but formidable grandmother of my youth, but she’s not anymore. As I’ve grown up, she’s grown old. I don’t want to face that truth.”

His arm tightened around her. “She’s still pretty tough, you know, at least on me.”

“Her mind and her spirit are,” Chloe said, smiling a little. “But her body is betraying her. She and I both need to deal with that fact.”

“Let’s find out what’s causing her falls before we worry about the long term.” He rubbed his hand up and down her arm over the fabric of his jacket. “When Ben has a better idea of the situation, he’ll refer Mrs. Russell to a top specialist. We’ll have her moved to the appropriate hospital.”

Chloe sat up straight as the implications of what he was saying sank in. It was so tempting to let him use his money and influence to get Grandmillie the best medical care available. She could almost justify it because it was for her grandmother, not herself. But she couldn’t allow it when she needed to break the bonds of their relationship, not add to them. Reluctantly, she shook her head. “That’s generous of both of you, but I can’t accept any more of your help.”

She felt him stiffen. “It’s for your grandmother’s benefit.”

She slid sideways on the cushion, forcing him to drop his arm from around her waist. “She’s my grandmother, not yours or Ben’s.”

He frowned and hesitated for a second, as though choosing his words carefully. “Your grandmother’s well-being is important to me because you are important to me.”

Chloe didn’t want to hear this. She stood up.

“What is it?” he asked. His eyes narrowed as he scanned her face, not liking whatever he saw there.

She took a few strides away before turning to look him in the eye. “I had hoped—” She took a deep breath. “I had hoped to do this in a different place, in a different mood.”

“Do what?” He rose from the sofa and took a step toward her. She halted him with a sharp gesture, but he still towered over her.