First stop, pharmacy.

“I switched out the Porsche for the X3 when I stopped to get your glasses,” Dimitri said over his shoulder to Natasha, propped up in the back seat of the SUV with her right leg stretched out on the bench to keep her ankle up.

“Mmm. Thanks for that, by the way.” She’d taken the glasses off and was holding them in her lap, eyes closed.

“The nurse called ahead, so your prescription should be waiting when we get there.”

“I heard you the first time you said it.”

His face cracked in a smile, the first since he’d received the call that she was injured.

Natasha. Ambulance. Hospital.

That was all he’d gotten from the call. He didn’t know who’d made it, and he didn’t care. He’d called Gina from the car, since she would be able to reach Natasha’s other friends and family. Home had been on the way to the hospital, so he’d made a quick stop there, then broken all kinds of traffic laws to reach her.

Seeing her in the hospital bed like that, looking tired and wan, dark bruises spreading over her swollen foot and up her leg . . . He’d wanted to gather her tight in his arms. Fuck whatever anyone else thought. The fear and worry had been tempered by crushing relief. She was awake. She was alert. She was mostly okay. The urge to touch her had been overwhelming, and he’d only held back by diving into action and harassing the staff.

Nothing broken, the doctor had said. Likely not even a ligament tear, but just in case, she had to stay off it.

She wouldn’t like that.

Dimitri grinned and shot a glance at her in the rearview mirror. Lucky for her, she had someone who would take very, very good care of her.

After a quick trip into the pharmacy, he opened the back door. “Hey.”

Her eyelids fluttered. After a moment, she gave him a bleary-eyed stare. “¿Qué pasa?”

“Got your meds.” He held up the container and shook it.

“Dios te bendiga.” She stretched out a hand toward him, palm up. “Dame las drogas.”

He laughed and shook out the pills, checking the instructions on the side. “When was the last time you ate?”

At her bland stare, he cursed and wrestled a box of protein bars out of the plastic bag. “I knew it. Here, eat this.”

She scrunched up her face in a way that was really cute and rubbed a hand over her eyes. “Ay, Macho, no los quiero I don’t want those.”

“Stick to Spanish, sweetheart.” She had to be exhausted and in pain. It was easier at those times to slip into your first language. “I’ll figure it out. And you’re going to eat one, or you’ll kill your stomach. These pills say to take them with food.”

She grumbled, but took the protein bar he’d ripped open. He waited until she’d taken three bites, then handed her the pills and a large bottle of water.

“Keep eating that, and drink the water. I’ll drive us home.” He closed the back door and climbed into the driver’s seat. When he looked back at her, her eyes were closed.

“Tasha . . .”

“Hmm?”

“You’re going back to sleep, aren’t you?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Eat another bite. Please.”

With a heavy sigh, she lifted the protein bar and shoved half of it in her mouth. “Only because you said please,” she mumbled with her mouth full. Her eyes drifted shut again as she chewed. “Take me home?”

His heart squeezed. Damn, he was so in love with her. Didn’t she know he’d give her anything she asked? “Of course, Kroshka.”

Her lips curved. “Gracias.”

When he pulled up to his house, he parked in the driveway, angling so he could bring her in through the front door. First, he ran to open it and disable the security system, then he went back and carefully opened the door she was propped up against.

He’d expected her to put up a fight when he attempted to carry her, but she poured into his arms, body limp. He was carrying her through the living room before she managed to rouse herself enough to complain.

“I can walk,” she said, slurring.

He barked out a laugh. “Uh, no. You can’t. Your ankle looks like a cantaloupe.”

“What?” She made an effort to lift her head. “Everything’s blurry.”

“Your glasses are in the car.”

“Where are my contacts?”

“You took them out.”

“Oh.” Her head lolled on his shoulder. “Wait. Stop.”

He paused. “What is it, Kroshka?”

She lifted a limp hand and pointed. “My room is that way. No, not my room.” Her forehead scrunched and she pouted. “Nik’s room. The room. Guest room, I mean.”

“You’re so cute.” He kissed her forehead and continued toward his own room.

“This is your room.” Even her mutter sounded accusatory.

“Oh, so you can see.” He gently deposited her onto his bed.

“I can smell.” She tapped the side of her nose and nearly poked herself in the eye. “It smells like you in here.”

He quirked an eyebrow at her. “Yeah? What do I smell like?”

“Delicious.” She rocked her head side to side on his pillow. “Like that stupid cologne you’re always searching the internet for.”

He snorted, concentrating on making her comfortable in the bed. “It’s my signature scent. I can’t help it if it was discontinued. Trust me, I’ve contacted the designer many times. He’s on the verge of a restraining order.”

“You’re so stubborn.”

“I never said I wasn’t. Sit tight.” After grabbing extra pillows from the hall closet and ice packs from the freezer, he propped up her ankle, bandaged tightly by the nurse.

“Stop it,” she told him.

“Stop what?”

“Taking care of me.”

His hands stilled. In a quiet voice, he said, “It’s what I do.”

She didn’t realize it, but she’d just hit at the heart of who he was. It was all he wanted from life, to have the means to take care of those he cared for most. His parents, his brother, some extended family, and her. He would give her everything, if she let him. If she asked.

He still wasn’t sure where they stood, and as badly as he wanted to keep her in his life, he couldn’t tell her. Not until he was sure.

“Don’t. I’ll take care of myself.”

“You can barely keep your eyes open.”

She opened them now, comically wide. “Yes, I can.”

“You can’t walk.”

“I—” She shut her mouth. “Where are my crutches? I know they gave you some.”

“They’re in the car. You don’t get them until you promise not to go hobbling around unnecessarily. Doctor said you have to keep your ankle elevated and stay off it.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re pissing me off.”

Good. Maybe if he annoyed her enough, she’d let him past her walls. He shrugged. “Just looking out for you. Someone has to.”

Her expression turned fierce. “No. I need to take care of myself.”

Need to? That was interesting. He sat on the edge of the bed. “Why?”

“I just—I just do. I have to do it on my own.” She turned her face away from him and covered it with her arm.

Dimitri stroked her good leg and waited, hoping she’d say something else. When she didn’t, he got to his feet. “Stay here. I’m going to get the other things from the car.”

Her voice was muffled. “What about my car? It’s still at the gym.”

“I sent a couple guys from the restaurant to get it. It should be here soon.”

“Oh.” Her voice was small. “Thanks.”

“Anything you need, Tasha. I’ll do it.”

She sighed.

Dimitri went back out to the car and parked it in the garage. Okay, so she was still holding back. It was bad that she was injured, but at least now, she couldn’t get away from him. Before she was back on her feet, he’d get to the bottom of her feelings for him.

And then he’d know, one way or the other.