Page 19 of Home Again

“Gianna, can you wake up for me?” Sebastian gave her shoulder a gentle shake.

“Huh?” Her eyelashes fluttered, but she didn’t open her eyes.

“Honey, I need you to open your eyes.”

“Wanna sleep.”

Sebastian lifted her head and put two pillows underneath her. Then he positioned her so that he could place the bag of frozen peas so that it rested between the bump on her head and the back of the sofa.

Her eyes slammed open. “Cold!”

Sebastian chuckled. “It’s supposed to be cold.”

Gianna lifted her hand to the frozen bag, but Sebastian caught her before she could pull it away. “Stop that, Champ, you need to keep the ice on to stop the swelling.”

“Not a champ. Didn’t play sports,” she scowled. “Don’t like sports.”

Sebastian chuckled again. Her scowl was cute.

When she moved her head away from the ice, he gently pushed her back against it. Her hand slapped against his. “Stop that. I told you it was cold!”

Sebastian really started to laugh.

“And stop laughing at me.”

“Then stop being funny.”

Gianna tried to sit up before he could stop her, then she groaned. “That hurts.” Sebastian helped her to lie back down.

“Honey, do you remember hitting your head?”

She frowned. Then her eyes went really wide. “Oh frick. You apprehended me!”

Yep, funnier than shit. “Actually, I think I was offering you the use of my flashlight.”

He watched as she considered what he said. “You’re right, you did.” A slow grin spread over her face. “Plus, you’re being pretty darned nice to me right now. What’s up with that?”

“Hmmm, there’s a lot of possibilities. How about the whole Southern hospitality thing?”

Gianna looked at him carefully. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s it. Try another one.”

“I thought you were cleaning underneath my grandfather’s desk and you needed more light?”

Gianna snickered. “Nope. Try again.”

“You’re beautiful and I want to ingratiate myself with you?”

Gianna snorted with laughter, then winced, her hand going to the back of her head. “Darn, that really hurts.”

It was cute how she didn’t swear. You really didn’t see that anymore.

“So tell me why you offered the flashlight.”

“I will after you tell me what you were looking for in Lazar’s office.”

She bit her bottom lip. “I really can’t.”

“You mean you won’t.”