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She thought about continuing to argue, though she didn’t really feel like doing so, but the need for sleep won out, and she surrendered to it gladly

She had been mistaken about an uninterrupted stretch of sleep, and she felt bone-weary the nextwhen Dr Whitaker caotten to sleep for roused when the doctor asked how she felt

Dr Whitaker just smiled “We had to check on you frequently towell though, and I have no hesitation sending you home with some caveats If your symptoms worsen, of course come back or call nine-one-one, and of course you can’t be alone for the next forty-eight hours”

“You can stay in my apartment, or I’ll stay with you,” volunteered Connor, who looked just as handsoh he hadn’t spent an uncoht in the chair that folded out into a too-narrow, too-short bed She nodded her agree the doctor’s orders Having someone around for the next two days seeue until she was free froe herher

The doctor finished up with her a little while later, and Angelina shuffled into the shower, pleasantly surprised to find the hospital had h to fill the entire small bathroom with steam It was only after she had finished her shower and dried off that she realized she hadn’t brought her clothes into the bathroom with her

Feeling aard, she cracked the bathroom door and poked out her head “U me my clothes? I hope they’re in that little closet cubby over there”

He nodded “Sure”

A ht theirl when he accidentally dropped her panties and picked the thearment “Nice,” he coerated—she hoped

She rolled her eyes, a ly painful with her had still aching “Thanks for the clothes” She took athe door in his face, but his husky laugh detracted fro of victory

She dressed as quickly as she could, having to pause between motions to allow the waves of dizziness to pass Finally, feeling like an invalid, she shuffled froe papers A few minutes later, the nurse wheeled her to the exit, and she stepped out of the wheelchair at the front door Connor put his arh hers to offer support as they stepped into the sunlight

For a ht flashes were a reaction froht It took a moment for her to realize they were camera flashes, and there were a lot of them, all centered on her and Connor Each flash was like an icepick through her head, and she grasped her temple and pressed closer to Connor in her confusion She was doing her best to avoid the flashes, so it took ascreamed at her to coalesce into comprehensible sentences

“Is this the first tiressive reporter as he shoved the microphone toward her face

“Can you confirement?”

“When is the baby due?”

“Is it true he hit you because you wouldn’t agree to marry him?”

“Sources say he struck you because you tricked hi Is that true, Ms Walsh?”

“Who will you be wearing on the big day?”

“How long you been engaged?”

“Are you staying with him after he beat you? What kind of exa women everywhere?”

The questions blurred together, but she quickly realized the reporters were there for her and Connor, and because they believed Connor had been the one to injure her She was confused and overwhelmed Her head spun, and it was a relief to allow herself a elina reveled in the way he swung her into his ar her in a tender fashion as he pushed his way through the throng of reporters with the assistance of security guards from the hospital

She’d never been so glad to be in a car in all her life as she hen he placed her in the passenger seat of a black sedan less than five un It had been over in minutes, but felt like years had passed He drove like he was on the race course as he sped away froressive pack of reporters with their vicious lies

“What was all that?” she asked, rubbing her aching head