Chapter 51



“What’s the deal with you just standing there? The patient is starving! I’m going to grab some food too. If you need anything, just press the call button for a nurse.” With those words, Steven turned and departed, quietly shutting the door behind him.

Kallie began unloading the food containers from the carrier, arranging them meticulously on the table in front of Jake. Her movements were slightly awkward, a sign of her unfamiliarity with caring for Jake so attentively.

Kallie lifted the lids off each container while standing beside Jake. “Take a seat,” Jake said firmly, pulling her gently to sit beside him on the bed. “Why are you standing around like you’re a servant?”

gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s․com is your escape to fiction Avoiding Jake’s eyes, Kallie felt that maybe in his eyes, she wasn’t much different from a servant. She gingerly took a spoonful of food, carefully cooled it by blowing gently, and attempted to feed Jake.

Being so close, the memory of how Jake’s lips had once kissed her lingered in Kallie’s mind. Her hand trembled, and the spoonful of food tumbled onto the bed.

Kallie hastily gestured her apology, leaping up to clean the mess. Aware of Jake’s strict standards for cleanliness, she anticipated his annoyance.

However, Jake stopped her. He nonchalantly grabbed a napkin, scooped up the food that had fallen, and tossed it into the trash. “Clean up after I’m done eating.”

Nodding, Kallie sat back down.

“These two dishes are great, and this one’s nice. Pack up the rest of the dishes. I won’t try anymore,” Jake commented as he gestured toward the dishes, a smile spreading across Kallie’s face. The dishes he praised were the ones she had prepared, not those made by the household chef.

“Aren’t you hungry?” Jake inquired midway through the meal.

It truly was dinnertime, and after all her bustling about, Kallie felt her stomach rumble. Yet, she shook her head.

“Let’s eat together,” Jake suggested.

But Kallie had only brought one set of utensils, having thought only of Jake and neglecting to consider herself. Now, if she wanted to eat, she’d have to share Jake’s fork. Concerned that Jake would find that unsanitary, she shook her head once more and gestured she would eat after he finished.

Jake looked at her but dropped the subject.

After dinner, Kallie cleaned up and stored away the dishes.

Shortly after, Steven came back. He had swapped his white coat for casual attire. “I’m done for the day!”

“You came all this way just to say that?” Jake’s gaze was questioning.

“Sure did. Pretty considerate of me, right?” Steven quipped, a grin tugging at his lips. “But wait, there’s more. There’s a major inspection underway, so they’ve cleared out all the spare beds for patients’ families. Looks like, Mrs. Reeves, you’ll have to cozy up in the same bed as your husband tonight.”

Kallie, taken aback, stared at Steven, her eyes wide with astonishment. A hospital under the Reeves Group banner, and they were out of spare beds?

Jake chuckled. “Really? Who do you think you’re fooling?”

Steven’s face took on a serious expression. “Why on earth would I lie about something like that? Need me to drag the dean here to show you the inspection memo? Come on. Do I look like a liar? What’s in it for me to make this up?”

Jake gave a derisive snort and waved Steven away dismissively.

Steven, having delivered his message, left the room without further ado.

After he departed, Kallie lingered by the bed, feeling uneasy. The room was bare, furnished with only a hospital bed and a sofa. She motioned toward the sofa and explained she would just sit over there and keep watch over him.

Jake, attached to a heart monitor but clearly stable, raised an eyebrow. “I’m not gravely ill. Why the need for you to keep watch over me?”

He frowned, a mix of annoyance and amusement on his face. “Just come sleep next to me.”

The hospital bed was wider than usual but still designed for just one person.

Jake wasn’t injured in any way that made sharing the bed difficult, so there was technically nothing stopping them from sleeping together.

However, the idea made Kallie extremely uncomfortable. Even though she and Jake were occasionally intimate, they never actually slept in each other’s arms. She hesitated and then tentatively suggested she should go home.

“Now you’re not worried about me? Didn’t you say you wanted to keep watch over me?” Jake questioned, his tone laced with a hint of frustration.

With no other choices available, Kallie fidgeted with the hem of her clothes and suggested she summon Sarah over for his company.

In Kallie’s mind, it seemed more appropriate for Sarah to share the bed with Jake. After all, Sarah had been visibly upset when Steven had dismissed her earlier, and Kallie thought perhaps Jake would want to offer Sarah some comfort.

But at Kallie’s proposal, Jake’s expression turned sour. “You’re not staying? Are you that anxious to leave?” he questioned.

Kallie lowered her gaze, too apprehensive to respond. She wanted to remain by Jake’s side, yet she was scared that he would not want her there.

Watching her expression, Jake tapped the edge of the bed twice and urged Kallie, “Come sleep here with me. I won’t repeat myself.”

.

.

.