"Fine. I''ll walk you back,"n said, his tone leaving no room for argument.


    "No, thank you," Eleanor refused immediately.


    The hotel was just across the street, and Kingston was a safe city.


    Eleanor was speechless. He had a point—she owed him for what happened—but she hated feeling dependent on anyone, especially her ex-husband.


    "I won''t trouble you," she insisted, feeling a bit steadier now. She touched her forehead; the fever was gone.


    As Eleanor walked out of the hospital,n followed. At four in the morning, the main square was deserted. The wind was sharp and cold. Eleanor''s cashmere coat wasn''t enough to stop her from shivering. Behind her,n unbuttoned his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.


    The weight of it settled on her, carrying the distinct, masculine scent of cedar. She immediately reached up to shrug it off. "Take it back. I don''t need it," she said coldly.


    Before her fingers could touch thepel,n''s hand mped down on her


    shoulder, holding the jacket in ce. "Wear it," hemanded, his voice firm and unyielding.


    Eleanor looked up, her gaze meeting his under the dim glow of amppost. Her eyes were like ice. "Take it back."


    Her tone was even more forceful than his.


    "Don''t be difficult,"n''s voice softened, a hint of pleading in his tone. "You''re still recovering from a fever. You can''t afford to get a chill."


    His hand remained steady on her shoulder, and she had to admit the fine wool of his jacket blocked the biting wind.


    But she refused to be indebted to him and tried to wrench herself free.


    Suddenly,n pulled the jacket tighter around her, then scooped her into his arms


    and started walking toward the five-star hotel across the square.


    "Ian, put me down!" Eleanor''s furious cry was snatched away by the wind.


    Gavin, who had followed them out, watched the scene with his jaw on the floor,


    thinking his all-nighter was causing him to hallucinate.


    Was Mr. Goodwin actually forcing himself on Eleanor?


    Worried she might struggle and fall, Gavin quickly jogged after them. The sub-zero wind out at his face, making him shiver. He had to admire his boss, who was wearing nothing but a thin cashmere sweater.


    Eleanor''s angry struggles were useless againstn''s strength, and her protests were lost in the howline wind Held tightly in his arms, she felt her whole body go rigid, the blood rushing to her head,


    Finally, drained of energy after her copse, she gave up. She closed her eyes and turned her face away, trying to ignore the scent and feel of him.


    Her sudden shift to the silent treatment maden nce down at her. It was clear this was her way of expressing her protest and humiliation.


    He frowned. He would have preferred her to yell at him, even hit him, rather than this cold indifference.


    But he didn''t stop, his steps steady as he carried her across the empty square and through the hotel''s main doors.


    Once inside the heated lobby,n wisely set her down and took his jacket back.


    Eleanor said nothing. Without so much as a thank you or even a nce in his direction, she strode toward the elevators.


    Gavin hurried to catch up. The silence inside the elevator was suffocating.


    When Eleanor reached her room,, she swiped her key card and disappeared inside. Gavin opened the door to the adjacent room. "Mr. Goodwin, you should get some rest too


    "Right,"n said, but he didn''t move from the hallway.


    Gavin left, andn leaned against the wall, clutching his jacket. He rubbed his


    temples, a flicker of hurt in his eyes.