I teetered between surges of pain and trying not react to how insanely hot the prince was. He towered over me protectively, leading me into the hospital. I knew the jacket had tied around me was wet, but it was reassuring and sweet how he had cared for me in the back of the car.

We walked to the admissions desk. The nurses behind wore white hats. I suddenly felt as if I were starring in a World War II movie.

“I-I don’t think I have my insurance card.” The only thing I had with me was my phone with one of the production assistants shoved in my hand before I was hurried into the car.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Or any of my medical records.”

“It’s not a problem,” he answered.

Suddenly I realized how scary it was to be hurt in a foreign country. It seemed as if things were whirring and blurring around me. I couldn’t panic. I willed myself not to think about all the things that could go wrong now.

I took a deep breath. I could do this. I could do this.

“Are you ok?” Liam looked at me. “Why don’t you sit down while I check you in?”

The throbbing in my arm moved down, rounding my elbow and invading my wrist. I flinched at the pain.

I nodded. “Ok. Probably a good idea.” I didn’t want to admit I was close to passing out. I thought I saw flashing lights and floating glimmering spots. That couldn’t be a good sign.

I found a green chair and lowered myself. I noticed the agent was next to the prince, scanning the area. I wondered what he thought about me. I wondered what he thought about the prince interjecting himself on the show’s set after my accident.

It felt as if an hour passed before he walked in my direction.

“Dr. Fines has arrived,” he reported. “They will take you to an examination room. I imagine you’ll need an X-ray, maybe an MRI.”

My eyes bulged. “An MRI?” I gripped the sides of the seat. “But isn’t that in a tunnel thing-y?”

He laughed. “Yes. Why is that a problem?”

“I’m not doing it.” I didn’t care that I sounded like an unreasonable toddler.

“This is the best medical center in the country. Why don’t you let them decide what you’re going to do?”

I could almost feel the prickly cold start to creep along my spine. The thought of the MRI was enough to make me nauseated.

“I-I don’t like small spaces. Claustrophobia.”

He rubbed the sharp angles of his jaw. “All you do is lie there. There’s nothing to it. It’s not a procedure, love.”

“Maybe for you,” I argued. “For me, it’s the beginning of a panic attack.” I realized how few people knew my secret. “Can you keep that between us?” I asked. “Please.”

“Ok. Ok. Let’s just see Dr. Fines first. It might not be that bad.” I could tell from the look on his face that he didn’t believe a word of what he had said.

I nodded just as a wheelchair wheeled into view.

“That’s not necessary. I can walk.” But when I tried to stand, my knees buckled as a shot of pain fired to my fingertips.

“Whoa.” Liam’s arms caught me with a strong grip. “You’re going in the chair.”

I had practically wiped out in front of him and the nurse. I couldn’t debate my walking skills. I wasn’t going to win that argument.

“Fine.” He placed me in the chair and followed behind as the nurse wheeled me into an elevator.

We stopped on the fourth floor and I realized how different this part of the hospital looked from the first floor. We might as well be in a different building.

I glanced at a row of orchids on display. The lighting was soft, along with the classical music on the speakers overhead.

“Is this the same hospital?” I asked.

“Dr. Fines is at the end of the hall,” the nurse answered.

Everything seemed ridiculous. I had a nurse, a prince, and a security escort. I covered my mouth so no one saw me laughing. Was I delirious from the pain?

“Ahh, Your Highness.” A man with a startling white full head of hair greeted us. There was a stethoscope draped around his neck.

“Dr. Fines, thank you for seeing us.”

He glanced at me. “You are the patient, mademoiselle?”

I nodded, still confused when I was supposed to answer in Spanish or French. It was one of the things I loved about Galona. How the languages blended and flowed together, but there were times when it made me feel like a clunky American, stuck in a language that had neither flow nor finesse.

Liam helped me to the examination bed. It certainly wasn’t a table. It was lush and pilowy. I looked at it, realizing I hadn’t slept in almost twenty hours. Combined with jetlag, my workouts, and the all-day shooting marathon, I was exhausted in the deepest parts of my bones.

I’d accept the pain, if everyone would leave me alone and turn off the lights. I even spotted a throw tossed on a visitor’s chair. I eyed it longingly.

The nurse began to untie Liam’s jacket. I bit my lip when the grip loosened on my arm.

“We’re going to need to remove your coat,” she instructed.

I tried to helplessly wriggle out of the wet leather. I was embarrassed that underneath was nothing but a skimpy matching leather crop top. My stomach and chest were exposed. I heard the prince inhale quietly. I shivered.

“Hmm.” Dr. Fines looked at my shoulder over the bridge of his nose. His fingers pressed into my arm. “How did the injury happen?”

I looked at the prince, standing in the corner. “Well, I was on the set filming our season finale. Our closed set,” I corrected. “I was supposed to run and jump into the center of the fountain. I’d rehearsed the maneuver a hundred times today.” The doctor nodded along to my story. “But on the last take the path to the fountain wasn’t clear.” My eyes landed on Liam’s. “I didn’t see the prince and we fell into the fountain. I think I hit my arm on something on the way in.”

“I see.” Dr. Fines tapped my elbow and wrist gingerly. “At least that explains why you are both soaked like wet kittens.”

“I didn’t want to go into that fountain any more than you did.”

I sighed. “It doesn’t matter, does it?”

I wanted to get back to the set. I wanted to let Lance know I could film tomorrow. And I wanted my stomach to stop flipping every time his gaze caught mine. Every time his deep voice said my name. I had to get out of this hospital and away from the prince.

Dr. Fines tsked with his tongue. “I’m going to need an MRI. I have a theory, but without a scan I can’t confirm.”

“I-I can’t do that,” I whispered.

“Mademoiselle, it’s simple. I’ll meet with you once I have your scans. You are on the private floor, so you won’t have to wait long. You’re getting the royal treatment.” He smiled.

I shook my head. “You don’t understand. I can’t do it. I can’t get in that machine.”

I was surprised when Liam stepped forward. “Doc, she has claustrophobia. I think it will be a problem. What else could you do?”

I looked between them, anxious for a solution. I didn’t want the prickly sensation to override my logic. That’s exactly what happened when I felt the walls closing in around me. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t focus.

“If the injury is severe and requires surgery, it’s going to be harder for me to detect it.” The older man scratched the back of his head. “Let’s start with X-rays instead of the MRI. Can you tolerate an X-ray?” he asked.

“Yes. I can do that.”

“Good. Nurse, please put the X-ray order in and let me know when you have images for me.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll do that now and be back for you in a few minutes, Miss Sparks.”

They walked out of the room, leaving us alone. The guard was posted on the outside of the door. For a brief second I felt as if I had won a battle. Although, I realized I hadn’t won it on my own. It was Liam who stood up for me.

“Thank you.” I exhaled.

He tipped his head to the side. “I might feel slightly responsible for your accident.”

“You should.” I bit my lip. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

“I think you did.” He smirked. “I shouldn’t have walked past the barricade. I was running for a different reason. We both know I caused this.”

I lowered my head. I didn’t want to blame him. He had been nothing but chivalrous and nice since I tackled him in the fountain. He had also been overbearing and cocky. I tried to ignore the hot and sexy part.

“I couldn’t see. The sun was too bright. Who’s to say you didn’t break my fall? Maybe it would have been worse if you hadn’t been there. It wasn’t like Tom was going to stop me from falling in.”

He chuckled. “Believe me. You don’t have to spare my feelings. Or be afraid of me.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“That would be a first.”

“Why should I be? Because you’re a prince? We don’t have royalty in the States. It’s not something I can relate to.”

“Instead, you’re the royalty?”

My mouth dropped. “I am not. I’m an actress.”

“In the highest-rated show on TV.”

I opened my lips to argue, but the nurse walked in. “We’re ready for you, Miss Sparks.”

I threw Liam an icy glare as I walked toward the hall. “You know you can leave,” I reminded him.

“I know.” He winked. “But I think I’ll wait and see what the damage is.” He lifted the bag on his shoulder. “And change out of these wet clothes.”

I shook my head. Not only was he devastatingly handsome, he was also stubborn.