Eleanor Sutton nodded, her gaze fixed on Joel Kingsley''s wound. If—if Faye Yeaton''s fork had been just a little lower... she couldn''t bear to imagine the consequences.


    Her eyes welled up, and she bit her lip, the tears threatening to spill over.


    Seeing this,n Goodwin pulled another tissue and handed it to her.


    Eleanor took it and dabbed the corner of her eye. Just then, Joel''s eyes fluttered open. The anesthesia must have been wearing off. He blinked a few times to focus on Eleanor''s face. He caught the raw worry in her eyes and managed a ghost of a smile. "I''m fine," he croaked, his voice a dry, gravelly rasp that betrayed the effort behind the words.


    Then, Joel''s gaze shifted ton, who was standing at the foot of the bed. He looked surprised. "Mr. Goodwin, you''re here too."


    Joel tried to push himself up. Beneath his hospital gown, his chest was wrapped in thick gauze. A dinner fork wasn''t sharp enough to have caused a life-threatening wound.


    "Joel, have some water." Eleanor picked up the ss of warm watern had poured for her and held it to his lips.


    Joel reached for it, but Eleanor, worried he would pull at his injury, said gently, "Don''t move. I''ll help you."


    Joel paused for a moment but still raised his right hand. "I can do it myself."


    If she had, and was now giving it to Joel, wasn''t that a little too intimate?


    Watching the natural, gentle way Eleanor cared for Joel, a sense of closeness that seemed so effortless, a knot formed in his chest. It was a heavy, suffocating sensation,ced with a sharp, bitter pang of jealousy he couldn''t suppress.


    Joel was injured, and he was her savior. It was only right for Eleanor to take care of him. Ian knew he couldn''t—and shouldn''t get hung up on such a small detail right


    now.


    But reason was one thing, emotion another.


    The sight was like a thorn buried in his chest-not a deep wound, but a constant, irritating throb that refused to fade.


    After drinking the water, Joel looked atn. "Mr. Goodwin, thank you foring to see me."


    "You saved Eleanor. I''m the one who should be thanking you. Get some rest. We''ll have someone else handle your work for now."


    Joel looked at Eleanor, who was safe and sound, and said with relief, "I just did what anyone would have done."


    Eleanor turned to Joel. "Should I call a doctor to check on you?"


    "No need, I''m fine," Joel said, shaking his head. He then looked atn. "Mr. Goodwin, if you''re busy—"


    "I''m not.


    said, stay with you both,"n


    said, sitting back down in the He looked at Eleanor. "Do to go home and charge?


    Eleanor''s clothes were still stained with Joel''s blood. She nced down at herself and replied, "It''s fine."


    She then decidedn didn''t need to stay. Hispany had plenty of matters that needed his attention.


    "Joel, you should get some rest," Eleanor said before turning ton. "Mr. Goodwin, could I speak with you outside for a moment?"


    "Trying to get rid of me?"n''s eyes narrowed, seeing right through her.


    "You being here is stressing Joel out," Eleanor said with a helpless look.


    "Fine. Answer one question for me, and I''ll leave,"n said, his voice low as his gaze locked onto her face.


    Eleanor blinked. "What question?"


    "That ss of water you gave Joel. Did you drink from it?"n''s gaze was serious, demanding an answer.


    Eleanor was stunned for a few seconds before retorting, feeling speechless, "Does it matter?"


    Eleanor took a deep breath, suppressing a flicker of annoyance, and answered truthfully, "No."


    refusing."


    Eleanor froze, the refusal on the tip of her tongue dying in her throat. She knew he


    was doing it to protect her.


    "Thank you," Eleanor said, lowering her gaze and nodding.


    "I''ll have Lanny and his mene up shortly,"n said before turning and walking


    away.