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“Ice packs. Stay with her for a couple minutes?”
“Sure.” He walked inside.
Matt returned to the nurse’s station and requested two more ice packs from Cheyenne. Without a verbal response, she left the desk, returned with the cold packs, and slapped them on the counter.
“Thanks.” Matt grabbed the packs and left the desk. As long as Cheyenne took care of Delilah’s needs, he wouldn’t complain no matter how rude she was to him.
As he approached Delilah, he noted her pallor and nearly colorless lips. Matt glanced at Trent and inclined his head toward the door. “Go tell Cheyenne that Delilah needs anti-nausea meds.” After his teammate left, Matt laid one pack on Delilah’s forehead and slid the other one at the nape of her neck.
She shivered.
“I know,” he murmured. “The cold will help.”
“You need to leave. I think I’m going to barf.”
“I’ve seen worse. I’m staying.”
“Matt, please go.” She clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide.
He grabbed the plastic container, rolled her to the side, and held her while she puked. When her stomach quit spasming, Matt settled her on the pillow, repositioned the ice packs, and carried the container to the bathroom to clean it. He returned to the room, sat beside her again, and gathered Delilah against his side.
“This isn’t fair.”
Matt glanced down. “What isn’t?”
“I don’t want you here as a medic. I don’t want you to see me as a patient.”
He thought about her choice of words. “How do you want me to see you?” Not as a friend. That just might kill him. The friend zone didn’t leave him any wiggle room.
“As a friend.”
Oh, man. Disappointment spiraled through Matt. He hated to do this to himself, but he had to know if there was any chance she would change her mind. “Only a friend?”
She turned her face into his neck without answering.
What did that mean? “Delilah, look at me.”
A head shake.
His heart rate accelerated. He eased her away from him and raised her face to his. “Can I tell you a secret?”
Delilah’s gaze focused on him. “Of course. Anything.” A small smile appeared. “I promise not to spread the news all over town by daybreak.”
Matt chuckled. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m hoping you do tell everyone in town.” If she agreed to give him a chance, that is. If not, well, maybe she would be kind enough to not make him a laughingstock. Before he could explain, Trent knocked on the door and peered inside.
“Cheyenne’s here with the medicine.”
The nurse pushed past the SEAL. She ignored Matt. “Ms. Frost, Dr. Anderson approved an anti-nausea patch to help settle your stomach. Turn your head to the right for me.” A moment later, the patch was in place behind Delilah’s ear. “If you need anything else, send Trent or press the call button.”
Once she left and Trent returned to his post, Delilah nudged Matt. “Spill. What’s your secret?”
This was it. Hoping he wasn’t making a huge mistake by declaring his feelings this early, Matt cupped her cheek. “My secret is I’m crazy about you. Have been for months. I’m really hoping you want me with you as more than a friend.”
“Why?”
Matt blinked. “Which part?”
“Why me?”
