Mia had taken the day off to play nurse to Mr. Austin, or so the office gossip went.

Joy gaped in disbelief. "Nurse him back to health?" Right when people were at their most vulnerable, physically and emotionally, that's when they were easiest to get close to. She had seen it firsthand, that sly fox Curtis weaving his spell around Leanne!

Here she was, busting her tail at the office-okay, so maybe she had slacked off for a good thirty minutes, but still-while her first decent flirt in years was about to be snatched away? Fueled by indignation, Joy grabbed her phone and stormed over to Austin's place.

Austin answered the door in his pajamas, a mask covering his face, his cheeks flushed from fever, looking unusually fragile.

He leaned against the door frame, obviously not keen on letting her in. "What are you doing here?"

"Drug delivery," she declared, shoving a bag of medicine into his arms and trying to peek inside. Austin pushed her head out and blocked the entrance. "Just drop it and go. I don't want you to catch it."

The way he was acting so secretive made Joy instantly suspicious that he was hiding someone inside.

She waved off his concern. "Please, I'm as sturdy as they come. I've bunked with my bestie who had the flu and didn't catch a thing. What's your excuse?"

"You're not worried?" Austin asked.

"Flu should be worried about me," Joy retorted confidently.

stepped aside to let

searchlights. But there was no sign

you?" she asked,

took off his mask and collapsed onto

guard dropped, and she

looked at her, a weak "hm" escaping his throat before he closed

Joy to stop

his forehead,

so nice

which only made him cough

this warm," Joy said, flipping her

shifted to make room on the couch and patted the space next to

was hardly spacious, but lying there meant winding

hesitated, Austin teased, "What, are you

if!" So, she lay down

to prevent her from falling

nice, not like cologne, but a comforting, homey

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255