Chapter 14

NATHANIEL. All of this was Ysabel’s fault. If she had not canceled their meeting yesterday, then he would have never followed Aurora to Italy and she would never have needed to save him by getting hurt in his stead. As Nathaniel stared at her almost lifeless body laying in the hospital bed, covered in bruises and a cast over her left leg, another resilient wave of guilt engulfed him. He’d known she was capable of closing the deal herself but the foolish organ in his chest had controlled him and he’d wanted to be close to her. Where it concerned Aurora, Nathaniel did not know how to think straight. He’d come so close to firing Ramos for not being there when they’d left the meeting. The Mexican had apologized saying that he’d gone to get something to eat as the meeting was taking too long. When we got back to New York, I’d figure out what to do with him. He should be thankful the doctors had said Aurora would be fine in a few weeks or Nathaniel would have sent him back to Mexico the same way he’d come. Aurora’s eyelids fluttered open. Nathaniel was instantly next to her. “Water…” she croaked, her voice cracking. Reaching over to the bedside table, he grabbed the glass of water that lay there and lifted it to her lips, watching as she gulped hungrily. When she was done, he returned the glass. “How do you feel?” Her brown eyes scanned the hospital room. “Where am I? How long have I been out?” “In the hospital,” he said, barely containing his angst. “And it’s been a little over five hours. Do you remember what happened?” A haze of confusion settled in her eyes. “Last thing I remember is seeing the motorcyclist running towards you.” Nathaniel couldn’t help the dry chuckle that flew out of his mouth. “Do you realize you saved my life? I ought to increase your salary.” Lifting a hand to her head, Aurora winced. “When can I get out of here? We have to go back to New York. I have work tomorrow.” “Don’t be ridiculous, Aurora. You were in an accident. I’m sure your boss will understand if you don’t come in for a few weeks.” With much effort, she turned to give him a look. “Did you just make a joke?” “I have a sense of humor, you know.” How could he begin to explain how terrible he felt that she was lying here because of him? How could she act like everything was okay? “Why did you do that?” “What?” “Push me out of the way. Put yourself in danger because of me.” She wetted her lips. “I don’t know. I guess I just… did. There wasn’t time to think about it.” “And if you had?” he continued. “Thought about it, I mean. Would you still have done it?” He realized her answer to his question mattered to him greatly. While he was grateful that she had saved him, it would completely shatter him if given the chance, she would do it again. Nathaniel didn’t know what he was fishing for here. It could blow up in his face if he came on too strong, but he had to know. Aurora’s gaze pierced through him, calculating, uncertain. “I’m not quite certain what you’re asking me, Nathaniel.” But he could see she knew. The knowledge danced in her eyes, and her brown orbs contained a great deal of speculation at knowing. This woman was his employee, for goodness’ sake. Did he really want to go down this road? One they could never come back from? Something told him to say what was dangling at the tip of his tongue. After all, he was not an adolescent boy in the first throes of infatuation with his crush. He was a full-grown man. He opened his mouth but she beat him to it. “Don’t.” A silence ensued, one that pierced through him like a sword. Had she known he’d been about to ask her if she felt for him what he did for her? “We are very different people from separate worlds,” she said, tearing her gaze from his. “I appreciate you bringing me to the hospital and taking care of me but I’m fine now. I would appreciate it also if you maintained a respectable distance between us, Sir.” Sir. Not Nathaniel but sir. She was letting him down. He wanted to say he couldn’t believe it but somehow, he did. Aurora was a married woman, and even though his own wife had a knack for cheating, she didn’t. More than anything, he respected that. He didn’t have to like it, but he respected it. Even though her gaze was turned from him, Nathaniel nodded, choosing not to say anything because he did not trust that he would not counter her wishes. He told himself it was better this way. At least, now he knew where he stood. **** AURORA. I was still thinking about what had transpired between Nathaniel and me when Winter suddenly burst through the door, his body rigid, his eyes searching. “Aurora?” he said the second he laid eyes on me. “I heard about what happened. How are you doing?” “What are you doing here?” I was surprised to see him, especially since I knew he had no business being in Italy. “I thought you were in New York.” Then he was standing next to me and I noticed the bags under his gray-green eyes and how rumpled his clothes were. He had been in a haste to get here from the looks of it. “I was, till I heard you were in an accident.” That made no sense. “How did you hear?” Winter gave me a small smile. “I have a lot of connections. You’d be surprised.” I was, but I was also glad to see him. The signs that he seemed to like me were there and I would be a fool not to see it, but if I hadn’t known previously, I sure as hell knew now. Why else would he travel all the way to Italy to see me if he didn’t? Nathaniel cleared his throat, alerting us to his presence. I noticed his cool gaze rested upon Winter, but as usual, his face showed no emotion. Honestly, it was crazy how well Nathaniel controlled his emotions. Anyone who knew him could tell that he was a man of order and reservation, but there was something about the way he was able to appear so unfeeling and succeed. “Winter,” he said. “Nathaniel,” Winter replied. I, on the other hand, felt awkward. Not less than thirty minutes ago, Nathaniel and I had a moment, if one could call it that. And now his best friend flew here —on an international flight, no less— just to see me because he’d heard I was injured? Because my gaze was still on Nathaniel, I caught the muscle that twitched in his cheek. If I hadn’t been lying down, I might have fallen over in fright at his expression, which only seemed to harden with each growing minute. Yes, this was a recipe for disaster.