“How are you holding up?” Julian asked in a near whisper.

Robert loaded the last plate into the dishwasher and turned around. “What exactly are you referring to?”

Julian tilted his head toward the living room. “Who, not what. Sharon is cranky as hell. It’s not easy to deal with someone who suddenly is not the same person you’ve grown to care for.”

It seemed Julian had never had to deal with difficult people, or he would’ve known that Sharon’s irritation was nothing to get worked up about.

“The irritable mood will pass. I’ve dealt with much worse. My ex-commander was a monster. He could turn from charming to murderous in a blink of an eye.”

Robert wiped his hands with a dishrag and leaned against the counter. “On one hand Sharim, or Sebastian—the name he’d adopted for that mission, was good to us. He took the time to get to know each of his soldiers and provided us with perks whenever he could. But he was unpredictable, and we never knew what would trigger his anger. His soldiers were afraid to breathe the wrong way around him.”

Julian chuckled. “I know the type. My chief at the hospital was like that. Not the murderous part, though he had the power to kill a resident’s career.”

First World problems, Robert thought.

As the coffee machine announced it was done brewing with a loud beep, Robert filled up three cups and handed two to Julian. “Take these to the living room.”

“Yes, boss.”

The third cup in one hand and the creamer in the other, Robert followed Julian to the living room where they found Sharon asleep on the couch.

“The meat must’ve been too heavy for her.” Robert put the cup on the coffee table.

Julian’s two were still in his hands as he stood and stared at Sharon. “Take the cups, Robert.” His tone, which was serious and commanding at the same time, implied something was amiss. The guy wasn’t serious about anything other than his profession.

“What’s wrong?” Robert asked as he took the cups from his hands and placed them on the coffee table.

Julian knelt next to Sharon and touched two fingers to the pulse point on her neck. “The way her body is arranged suggests she fainted rather than fell asleep. But her pulse is strong, so that’s good.”

Could human females lose too much blood during their menses and faint because of that? Robert felt like an idiot for not knowing and debated whether to ask Julian or not.

The guy pulled out the thermometer from his pant pocket and checked Sharon’s fever again. “It’s gone a bit higher.”

“Should we wake her?” Robert asked.

Julian nodded. “Could you bring her a cup of water?”

“Sure.” He hurried to the kitchen.

“Sharon, wake up, honey,” Julian said softly. When there was no answer, he touched her shoulder and repeated, “Sharon, wake up, sweetheart, I just want to make sure you're okay, and then you can go back to sleep.”

Sharon groaned and turned to the other side.

Julian took the glass from Robert and then turned to Sharon. “I need you to open your eyes, Sharon.”

Under normal circumstances, watching Julian leaning so close to Sharon, listening as he talked to her in that soothing tone of his that was way too intimate, Robert’s jealousy would’ve roared by now. But something was wrong with her, and Julian was a doctor and could help her.

“I felt dizzy,” she murmured. “It started with those colorful spheres, and then I blacked out.” She opened her eyes. “I don’t remember lying down on the couch.”

“You probably fainted and just dropped sideways. Let me help you get more comfortable.” He lifted Sharon’s feet, which were still on the floor, and put them on the couch, then tucked a pillow under her head.

“Would you like a drink of water?” Julian asked.

“Yes, please.”

“I can do that.” Robert snapped the glass off the coffee table, gave Julian a slight shove, and crouched next to Sharon. “Here you go, love.” He propped her head gently.

“Thank you.” She smiled. “But I think I can hold the glass up by myself.” She reached for it.

“As you wish.”

Sharon took a few small sips and handed him the glass back. “Any idea why I fainted, Julian? That never happened to me before.”

Smart man that he was, Julian took a couple of steps back so as not to crowd them. “It was probably because you ate a large dinner. It can be caused by postprandial hypotension, low blood pressure in layman’s terms, or low blood sugar. The first one is more common among older folks, so low blood sugar is the more likely culprit. You should get it checked.”

“Can you do it for me?”

“I don’t have a lab here. You should have your regular doctor run some tests.”

Robert held his breath. Sharon knew where Julian worked. The question was whether she’d remember she was not supposed to know that.

“But you have a thermometer,” she said.

Robert’s shoulders sagged in relief.

Julian chuckled as he pulled the device out of his pocket again. “This thing? It’s a present from my mother. I’m not taking it with me to work.”

“Speaking of work.” Robert looked into Sharon’s eyes. “I want you to call Eva and tell her you’re sick. And I want you to stay here tonight and tomorrow and rest.”

“But you and Julian are going to be gone all day. What am I going to do all alone in here?”

“I work in the building and Julian works nearby. Both of us can be here on a moment’s notice.”

“I’ll come and visit you during the day,” Julian offered. “With Robert,” he added quickly when Robert glared at him.

“You guys are fussing over me as if it’s a big deal. I’m a little sick because of the freaking period, that’s all. That’s no reason to skip work.”

“I can give you a sick note for your boss,” Julian said.

“It’s not like Eva is going to be mad because I missed one day. We are not all that busy lately. But I like working and hate doing nothing.”

“I have every episode of Game of Thrones on DVD,” Julian said. “You can binge watch it. If you’re up to it, that is.” He arched a brow, issuing a challenge.

“I’ve seen them all, but I don’t mind watching again. Jaime is hot.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll bring it here.” He turned and headed to his room.

“Who is Jaime?” Robert asked.

“A character from the series.” She reached for him and cupped his cheek. “But you have nothing to worry about. You’re much hotter than the actor playing him.”

“Good, you just saved that poor schmuck’s life.”

Sharon laughed. “I see that Eva is rubbing off on you.”

He had no idea what she was talking about. “And you’re saying this because?”

“You said schmuck. That’s something Eva would’ve said.”

Robert rubbed his jaw. “Isn’t it part of the English language?”

Sharon laughed again. “I guess it is.”