He reached around her for the coffee, taking her breath for a second time with his nearness. She hated that he possessed that kind of power over her. Men like him should come with a warning. Don’t get too close. She knew the hazards, had learned them firsthand with David. And David had been a kitty cat compared to this guy. Hennessey’s unmarred record for getting the job done wasn’t the only thing for which he had a reputation.
He poured him self a cup of coffee then started to put the carafe away. Elizabeth quickly scooted out of his path to avoid another close encounter.
“Trust me, Doc,” he said before taking a sip of his coffee. The groan of satisfaction was another of those things she could have done with out. “I’ll be the first to admit it if I can’t handle the pain with out the second pill every four hours. Deal?”
The last time she’d agreed to a deal with him it had landed her here. But then, like him, she had a job to do. People to protect. And maybe that made her an adrenaline junkie, too, although she didn’t think so. Sure, her work for the CIA was covert to a degree, but she only saw it as doing her part. It wasn’t much but it was something.
Did men like Joe Hennessey look at “their part” the same way? She just didn’t know. Figuring out what made him tick wasn’t on her agenda. She’d thought she had David all figured out and she’d been wrong and they’d shared thoughts as well as bodily fluids for more than a year. What could she possibly expect to learn about this man in a mere three weeks?
Nothing useful.
Nothing that would add to the quality of her life or give closure to her past.
Considering those two cold hard facts, her best course of action was to steer clear of emotional entanglement in this situation.
“All right, Agent Hennessey,” she agreed reluctantly. “You’re correct. You are a grown man. The level of pain you can and are willing to tolerate is your call. Just make sure you take the antibiotics as directed.” She looked him square in the eyes. “That part is my call.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The wink immediately obliterated any hope of sincerity in his answer.
She had to get her mind off him. Her gaze landed on the break fast another agent had delivered. Food was as good a distraction as any. Hennessey had said he was hungry.
Each container was laden with oodles of cholesterol and enough calories to fuel an entire soccer team through at least one game. Hennessey didn’t hesitate. He dug in as if he hadn’t eaten in a month. But his enthusiasm waned when the chewing action elicited a new onslaught of pain.
“Sure you don’t want that full dos age?” she asked casually. It wasn’t that she enjoyed knowing he was in more pain than he wanted to admit, but being right did carry its own kind of glee.
“I’m fine.”
She didn’t particularly like the idea that her unnecessary remark only made him more determined to continue with out the aid of additional medication. Maybe she shouldn’t have said any thing at all.
While she picked at the eggs, sausage and biscuits on her plate, he ate steadily, how ever slowly. Oatmeal or yogurt would have been a much better choice. She wondered if he’d been the one to order the food. There hadn’t been any calls in or out. Or perhaps the agent just picked up for them what ever he’d picked up for him self.
Checking on the menu for the next few days might be a good idea.
Elizabeth dropped her fork to her plate. Why had she done this? Why wasn’t she on that cruise? She could have said no. That wasn’t true.
People will die.
Saying no actually hadn’t been an option.
“Agent Hennessey.”
He met her gaze. “Yeah?”
As much as he tried to hide it she didn’t miss the dull look that accompanied the endurance of significant pain.
She sighed and set her food aside. “Look, let’s not play this game. You’re obviously in pain. I would really feel a lot better if you took your medication.”
“I told you I’m fine.”
The words had no more left his lips than he bolted from the table and headed for the short corridor be yond the kitchen that led to the laundry room and downstairs bathroom.
Instinctively, Elizabeth followed. His violent heaves told on him before she caught sight of him kneeling at the toilet.
He’d been pushing the limits ever since he regained his equilibrium after anesthesia. This was bound to happen.
Ignoring the unpleasant sounds she moved to the wash basin next to him and moistened a washcloth. When he’d flushed the toilet and managed to get to his feet, she passed the damp cloth to him.
“I think you should be in bed.”
“You know what, Doc? I think you’re right.”
Unbelievable. What was most incredible was that he didn’t try to turn her words into something lewd or suggestive.
She followed him up the stairs and into the room he’d used the night before. He climbed between the sheets with out putting up a fuss. To her surprise he even took the other pain pill she offered with out argument.
“Thanks,” he mum bled, his eyes closed.
When Elizabeth would have moved away from the bed his fingers curled around her wrist and held on. “What’s the rush, Doc?” He tugged her down onto the side of the bed next to him.
She tried to relax but couldn’t. “You should rest.”