Chapter 51

"What's with the frozen stance? The patient needs to eat! I'm heading out for dinner myself. Just hit the call button if you need anything." With that casual remark, Ryan turned on his heel and exited, the door clicking shut behind him.

Olivia carefully unpacked the meal containers from the insulated bag, arranging them precisely on Liam's bedside table. Her movements were hesitant, betraying how unaccustomed she was to tending to Liam with such care.

As she removed the lids while standing beside him, Liam's firm voice interrupted. "Sit down." His hand gently tugged her wrist, pulling her onto the edge of the hospital bed. "Why are you hovering like hired help?"

Olivia avoided his gaze, wondering if in his eyes, she truly wasn't much different from staff. She picked up a spoon, carefully blew on a bite of food to cool it, and tentatively raised it toward Liam's lips.

Their proximity brought back vivid memories of Liam's mouth claiming hers. Her hand trembled, sending the spoon's contents tumbling onto the crisp white sheets.

Flustered, Olivia gestured an apology and jumped up to clean the spill. Knowing Liam's notorious standards for cleanliness, she braced for his irritation.

Instead, Liam calmly grabbed a tissue, scooped up the fallen food, and tossed it away. "We'll deal with that after I finish eating."

Olivia nodded and cautiously resumed her seat.

"These two dishes are excellent, and this one's decent. You can put the others away - I won't touch them." Liam's comment made Olivia's lips curve slightly. The dishes he'd praised were the ones she'd prepared herself, not the chef's creations.

"Aren't you hungry?" Liam asked mid-meal.

It was indeed dinner time, and Olivia's stomach growled after all her bustling about. Still, she shook her head.

"Eat with me," Liam suggested.

Olivia's cheeks warmed. She'd only brought one set of utensils, having focused entirely on Liam's needs. Now sharing his fork seemed too intimate - surely he'd find it unhygienic. She shook her head again, indicating she'd eat later.

Liam studied her but let the matter drop.

After dinner, Olivia efficiently cleared away the dishes.

Ryan returned shortly after, now in casual clothes instead of his white coat. "My shift's over!"

"You came all this way to announce that?" Liam's skeptical eyebrow arched.

"Thoughtful of me, right?" Ryan's lips quirked. "But wait - there's more. Major hospital inspection means all family cots are being used. Looks like Mrs. Blackwood gets to share your bed tonight."

Olivia's eyes widened in shock. A Blackwood Enterprises hospital, out of spare beds?

Liam chuckled darkly. "Really? Who do you take me for?"

Ryan adopted an exaggerated serious expression. "Why would I lie? Want me to fetch the administrator with the inspection notice? Honestly, what would I gain from making this up?"

With a dismissive snort, Liam waved Ryan away.

Having delivered his message, Ryan exited without further ado.

Left alone, Olivia lingered awkwardly by the bed. The private room contained only the hospital bed and a small sofa. She gestured toward the sofa, indicating she'd keep watch from there.

Liam, connected to monitors but clearly stable, frowned. "I'm not at death's door. Why would you need to keep watch?"

His expression shifted between annoyance and amusement. "Just sleep here."

While the hospital bed was wider than standard, it remained designed for one person.

With Liam's injuries posing no obstacle to sharing the space, there was no physical reason they couldn't sleep side by side.

Yet the idea made Olivia's pulse race. Though they'd been physically intimate, they'd never actually slept entwined. Hesitating, she tentatively suggested going home instead.

"Now you're not concerned about me? Weren't you just offering to keep watch?" Liam's voice carried an edge of frustration.

Seeing no alternative, Olivia nervously fiddled with her sleeve and proposed summoning Evelyn for company.

In Olivia's mind, it seemed more appropriate for Evelyn to share Liam's bed. Evelyn had seemed genuinely upset when Ryan dismissed her earlier, and Olivia assumed Liam might want to comfort her.

But at this suggestion, Liam's expression darkened. "You're that eager to leave me?"

Olivia lowered her gaze, too apprehensive to respond. She wanted to stay, yet feared Liam didn't truly want her there.

Watching her conflicted expression, Liam tapped the mattress twice. "Sleep here. I won't ask again."