Chapter 61

Jamison snapped, “Then why didn’t you call an ambulance or just take her straight to the hospital?”

He kept griping, but his pace quickened all the same.

Micah replied, “She refused to go. I think she’s convinced she has something serious and doesn’t want to be treated like an outcast at the hospital.”

“She doesn’t have anything like that!” Jamison shot back, exasperated.

“Uncle, she’s obviously sick!” Micah’s voice was heavy, as if to say, Don’t lie to me.

Jamison cursed under his breath. “Idiot!”

When they reached the car, Jamison leaned inside for a look.

The woman sprawled across the backseat looked as pale as a ghost, her lips drained of color.

Jamison’s expression darkened. He reached out with long, practiced fingers – first checking her pulse, then feeling for a heartbeat at her neck, finally pressing a knuckle to her upper lip.

“Ivy? Ivy!”

His methods weren’t exactly gentle; the sharp pain jarred Ivy from her daze.

She blinked open her eyes just enough to see him looming over her. “Leave me alone,” she muttered weakly.

Micah really was meddling too much. She’d already told them she was fine. Micah just wouldn’t let it go – dragging her off was bad enough, but now he’d called this quack?

“You don’t get a say,” Jamison said, his face set. Without any further argument, he pulled out his phone and started dialing the hospital.

Ivy caught the movement and, with effort, pushed herself upright. “I’m fine… it’s just cramps…” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“Cramps?” Jamison’s phone was already ringing, but at that word, his expression flickered between surprise and skepticism. “You’re in this much pain from cramps?”

Ivy nodded, unable to get another word out.

If it was just that, it was manageable. Jamison told the person on the line never mind, then hung up.

He turned to Micah: “Take her upstairs.”

“Um… Uncle, I – this isn’t really proper…” Micah stammered, clearly uncomfortable.

“Now you’re worried about ‘propriety’? Then why’d you bring her here?” Jamison shot him a look.

“Well, I couldn’t just leave her there – she was in so much pain she passed out!”

In truth, Micah was squeamish and secretly afraid of catching something, so he’d rather Jamison handle it.

While the two argued, Ivy slumped over again on the backseat.

“Uncle, she fainted again!” Micah suddenly yelled.

Jamison glanced back, his face growing even grimmer. He quickly leaned in to check her, then, without another word, scooped the unconscious woman into his arms.

“Get the door!” he barked.

Micah dashed ahead, swiping the keycard and calling the elevator.

Jamison had an apartment here – at least Ivy would have a place to rest for now.

Inside the elevator, Jamison looked down at the frail woman in his arms, his brow furrowed deeply.

He’d never seen period pain take someone out like this before.

Something wasn’t right.

She was so light, barely a feather in his arms – couldn’t weigh more than ninety pounds. Too thin, by far. No wonder her body was breaking down.

“Ivy… Ivy?” He tried to rouse her, giving her a gentle shake, but she just lolled against his arm, unresponsive.

Once inside the apartment, Jamison carried her straight to the bedroom and laid her on the bed. He fired orders at Micah: “Go buy some painkillers. Get a heating pad and rubbing alcohol, too. And a box of acupuncture needles.”

Even in this heat, Ivy’s hands and feet were icy; a sheen of cold sweat had broken out on her forehead – her circulation was shot.

Warmth might help a little.

“Okay, I’ll go right now!” Micah agreed immediately, not daring to hesitate.

Jamison pulled a comforter over Ivy, then slid his hands underneath, gently lifting her shirt and unzipping her jeans.

At his touch, Ivy startled and quickly grabbed his hand.

“Ivy, I’m just going to massage some pressure points. It’ll help with the pain,” Jamison explained quietly.

She didn’t answer, but her grip slackened just a little.

Carefully, Jamison began to press and rub along her lower abdomen, working over the spots where he knew the nerves knotted and pain lived.