He crossed the room.
She continued packing.
“Ellie.”
“What?”
He took the medical bag from her hands.
Not roughly.
He placed it on the table.
Ellie stared.
Jasper’s voice lowered.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“Do you really think I’m asking you to stay because I’m frightened of my own cabin?”
Ellie swallowed.
“I don’t know.”
“I am frightened.”
The admission surprised her.
“Of what?”
“You riding down that mountain.”
Her breath caught.
Jasper stepped closer.
Not touching.
“I’ve been trying not to say this.”
“Why?”
“Because you came here as my nurse.”
Ellie waited.
“You saved my life.”
“Yes.”
“That creates gratitude.”
“Yes.”
“Debt.”
“No.”
He almost smiled.
“Fine.”
Jasper exhaled.
“It creates confusion.”
Ellie knew where this was going.
Her heart was already racing.
Jasper continued.
“I wanted to know whether what I felt would fade when the fever did.”
Ellie’s throat tightened.
“Did it?”
“No.”
His voice became rougher.
“It got worse.”
She almost laughed.
“Worse?”
“I can’t drink coffee without thinking whether you’ll complain it could peel paint.”
“It can.”
“I can’t look at that chair without seeing you asleep in it holding my wrist because my fever was too high.”
Ellie’s eyes burned.
“I can’t eat biscuits without wondering if you’re counting them because some fool taught you hunger should embarrass you.”
She stared.
Jasper continued.
“And every morning I wake up before you come downstairs and listen for your steps.”
Ellie could barely breathe.
He looked terrified.
Not of bears.
Not of wounds.
Of this.
“You asked me once what this was.”
“Yes.”
“I know now.”
Ellie’s voice was almost a whisper.
“What?”
“I want you.”
Silence.
Not crude.
Not casual.
The words held too much weight.
Jasper’s eyes moved over her face.
“All of you.”
Ellie felt heat move through her body.
She tried to make a joke.
“You’re still recovering.”
“Ellie.”
“Yes?”
“I’m healthy enough to know what I want.”
She swallowed.
His gaze dropped briefly toward her lips.
Then returned.
Ellie whispered, “And what if I told you I wanted you too?”
Jasper’s breath changed.
He lifted one hand.
Stopped before touching her.
“Then I’d ask how close.”
The words sent warmth through her.
Ellie stepped forward.
“Closer.”
Jasper moved.
Only one step.
Their bodies were inches apart.
His size surrounded her.
Yet she did not feel trapped.
His voice lowered.
“Here?”
“Closer.”
He raised one hand toward her cheek.
Again he stopped.
Ellie took his wrist.
Guided his palm against her face.
Jasper exhaled.
His thumb touched her cheekbone.
Ellie looked up.
“You think too much.”
“Only around you.”
“That doesn’t sound flattering.”
“It’s self-preservation.”
She smiled.
Then her smile faded.
“Jasper.”
“Yes?”
“If I say stop?”
“I stop.”
“If I change my mind?”
“You change it.”
“If tomorrow I decide this was a mistake?”
“I’ll hate that.”
Ellie blinked.
Jasper continued.