Chloe retreated from the grumpy doctor and retrieved the report. When she approached the doctor again, he gestured for her to sit in an armchair pulled up beside the bed. “Go ahead and read.”
She enlarged the print on her phone and began. “?‘Analysis of Marketing for Product Number Seven-Two-Two’ by Richard Sinclair.” She hadn’t changed the title, even though she’d longed to. She glanced over at Trainor. His eyes were closed and his hands lay still. That must be a good sign. She launched into the first paragraph, mentally editing it even more severely as her oral presentation highlighted additional problems in the sentence structure.
She forgot about her audience and plunged into the second paragraph.
A weak chuckle emanated from the bed. She stopped and looked up. Trainor’s eyes remained shut but a smile touched his lips. “Knew it.”
“Knew what?” she asked.
“You’re a ringer,” he said.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Sinclair has never written a sentence that good.”
“You gave me permission to do some editing,” Chloe said, not sure if he was offended by her corrections.
He turned his head on the pillow and opened his eyes, the striking combination of dark and light gray sending a shimmer of fascination through her. “Didn’t expect such a good job. You’ve been hiding your talents under a bushel basket.”
“Thank you.” Gratification sent a billow of warmth through her. “Shall I go on?”
“No,” he said, turning his head back again. “Wanted to confirm my suspicions. Who are you, Chloe Russell?”
Chloe sent a questioning look toward the doctor. She didn’t know if she should keep talking or let Trainor sleep. Cavill nodded for her to continue.
The problem was, she didn’t know what to say. “I’m just a temp,” she said. “But I’ve worked for several small companies, start-ups, so I’ve had to learn about every aspect of business. Even accounting, which is not my favorite.” She gave a comic grimace and then realized his eyes were closed so he couldn’t see it.
“Nor mine,” he surprised her by saying.
Cavill stepped forward. “Nathan, I have another house call to make, but I’ll check in on you in a few hours. Tricia will keep an eye on your temperature. And Chloe will keep you company.”
Chloe almost exclaimed out loud. Sitting beside a sickbed was not part of her job description. The doctor looked amused. As he walked to the door, Chloe jumped out of her chair and followed him. “Dr. Cavill, I’m not a home health aide.”
“Are you supposed to be working for Mr. Trainor today?” the doctor asked, stopping just outside the door.
“As his executive assistant,” Chloe said. “In his office.”
Cavill started down the hallway. “I’ll have Roberta explain your new assignment to your employer. I suspect she’ll be agreeable.” His tone had turned sardonic again. “I’ll see you later, Ms. Russell.”
Chloe put her hands on her hips and glared at the doctor’s back. She had no idea what to do.
CHAPTER 4
When she walked back into the master bedroom, Trainor was twisting himself into the sheets again. “Talk to him,” the nurse said. “Your voice seems to help.”
“Um, Mr. Trainor, it’s Chloe Russell. I’m here.” Chloe reached out to touch the back of his hand, hoping that would bring his attention to her. The heat from his skin practically singed her fingers. She jerked her hand away.
“Shouldn’t have taken the bet,” Trainor mumbled, yanking at the bed linens. “Why the hell did Archer make it?”
Casting around frantically for a way to distract him, Chloe noticed a paperback sitting on the bedside table, a spy thriller by Gavin Miller. “Why don’t I read to you?”
He opened those incredible eyes again. This time they were clouded. “You’re the temp with the cool hands.”
“Yes.” She grabbed the paperback and flipped it open to the bookmarked page. “Best faced Pasternak across the table in the interrogation room. Pasternak looked at his watch. ‘You’ve got two minutes to make up your mind.’ Best smiled. ‘I don’t need two minutes.’ Pasternak waited. Best kept smiling. Pasternak finally spoke. ‘Your smile irritates me. I’ll have Smeltin start with pulling out all your—’”
An electronic alarm shrilled, making Chloe drop the book in a flutter of pages. The nurse muttered something under her breath as she checked one of the screens.
“What’s going on?” Chloe asked as the alarm vibrated through her skull and her pulse raced with fear. She checked Trainor’s chest to make sure it was still rising and falling.
“His temperature is spiking,” Tricia said, hitting a button that silenced the alarm. “We need to bring it down, stat.”
“I can make ice packs. Do you know where the kitchen is?” Chloe rocketed out of her chair.
“A lukewarm bath will work better.” Tricia pointed to a door across the room. “The bathroom’s there. Run the water at room temperature, and I’ll call for some help to move him.”