Page 29 of In Too Deep
He wished people would stop saying that.“I’m fine.”The words scraped against his throat like sandpaper.
Liam exchanged a look with Teague.
When had Teague walked in?
“I told you.”Eden was there again with her arms crossed.She must have called them.
“Would you all relax?I’m fine.”He looked back at the map and squinted.The trees.The hikers.He had to coordinate the rescue before dark, before the cold set in.“We need to get a team out there before?—”
Meg stepped in with her medic bag slung over one shoulder, eyes blazing.“Eden told me you’re sick and won’t admit it.No doubt still trying to save everyone on your own.”
Caught.
But this wasn’t just about keeping others safe.If he admitted weakness, if he let them see him break, he’d have to face why he drove himself this hard in the first place.Why he couldn’t stop moving, couldn’t rest.
And he wasn’t ready for that conversation.Not with Meg watching him with those knowing blue eyes that saw too much.
“It’s just allergies.”
“Then you won’t mind if I check your vitals.”She moved toward him with that determined look that said arguing was pointless.
He dropped the marker and leaned against the map table.“I’m a little tired.”
She angled toward him, close enough that he could smell her shampoo—something floral and clean.Her long brown hair fell over her shoulders in loose waves.“Exhaustion is a liability, Noah.”
He ran a hand through his hair.The room felt like it was tilting.Or maybe that was him.
Meg placed her cool hand on his forehead.The touch grounded him and made the spinning slow.“You’re burning up.”
“I’m fine.It’s just warm in here.”But even as he said it, chills raced down his spine.
She lifted his arm and rolled up his sleeve.“Stitches look good.No redness.”She released a deep sigh.“Probably viral.But you need water, medication, and sleep.”
“Can’t.”He tapped the map, but his finger missed the mark.“We have people to save.The hikers—they’re stuck and it’ll be dark in four hours.”
“Teague and I will handle it.”Liam’s voice held an edge he rarely used.“Trust us to do our job.You go to bed.”
“But the cave?—”
“Isn’t a problem for today,” Teague cut in as he stepped closer.“We’ll patrol it tomorrow.The world won’t end if you rest for twelve hours.”
Won’t it?
The thought came unbidden, irrational but persistent.Because the last time he’d let someone else take the wheel, the last time he’d believed everything would be fine…
He stood upright and his body swayed.Suddenly Teague’s hand was on his shoulder, gripping tight enough to steady him.
“That’s it.”Meg’s voice went firm.“Head to your cabin and I’ll check on you in fifteen minutes.And before you argue, you’re not driving anywhere.You can barely stand.Someone needs to monitor that fever.”
She seemed to be waiting for him to tell her no, to push her away again like he always did.But right now, he didn’t have the strength to deny what he desperately wanted—her.
When he only nodded, she left.
Leaving Noah fifteen minutes to think about why letting her be there for him—be close to him—was a very bad idea.
“Need help back to your place, boss?”Liam eyed him.
“Now that I’m up, I’m fine.It was just a head rush.”
