Page 185 of A Matter of Time

“I think I have an ice pack.” My statement cut off his rambling as I leaned around him to look at Maggie. “I gotta go. It was really nice to meet you. I’ll see ya, all right?”

“Jory, why don’t we⁠—”

I turned to go, but the arm around my neck stopped me.

“Stop fighting me,” he said gruffly, pinning me against his body, fiddling with the collar of my coat. “You’re always fighting with me.”

I closed my eyes, let out a deep breath, and leaned back against him.

“Let’s eat something. Then I’ll take you home and fix up your ankle.” His breath was warm down the side of my neck, the words spoken softly, gently, meant to soothe me.

“I—”

“I bet I even have extra crutches at my place.” His lips grazed my skin; he was that close to me.

“I can’t go to your place.”

“Why not?” His voice was so low, so deep.

“I just can’t.”

“That makes no sense.”

“I just… Let go.”

“You’re shaking,” he nearly growled.

“Sam, what’s going on?” Maggie asked suddenly.

“Nothing.” He sighed before he clutched me tighter. “Lean on me, J.”

I had to let him help me to the booth. I gave him my weight, and he wrapped an arm around my waist. He was careful, moving slowly, and I heard the deep sigh that came up out of him as I leaned on him.

“Sam, maybe we should run Jory to the hospital,” Maggie offered, her eyes darting between us.

“No,” he said flatly. There would be no argument.

At the table, he slid into the booth beside me after shedding his coat and picking up his menu. “What’re you gonna eat?”

“I’m not really hungry,” I told him, leaning back.

“You’re gonna hafta take something for the pain, so you need food in your stomach.”

“I can just⁠—”

“Take off your coat.”

I rolled my eyes but took off my trench coat, folding it in half and then laying it down between us.

“Put it on the other side. I’ve got no room.”

I moved it against the wall and took a sip of the water the waitress dropped off. After a couple of minutes Sam realized I was staring at him and turned to look at me.

“What?”

“Is there anything else?”

“Meaning?”