Chapter 312
Therefore, he said, “I’ll be fine here by myself. Why don’t you head home and get tome rast?”
Aria paused for a couple of seconds, then said with a teasing smile, “After all those free meals I’ve mooshed off you, it’s only fair I return the p
once.”
Owen looked up at the IV drip, the medicine slowly dripping. The words to refuse rose to his lips, but he swallowed them back.
Just then, the doctor pushed open the door and walked in.
Owen quickly spoke up, “Doctor, I feel like my fever’s gone down. Can I stop the IV after this bag is finished?”
The doctor paused briefly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He quickly stepped forward and reached out to feal Owen’s forehead, then turned to grab the thermometer. After giving it a brisk shake, he handed it to Owen and said, “Let’s take your temperature first.”
Owen thanked him and took it with his free hand.
But with his left hand stuck with the IV and his right holding the thermometer, Owen realized–great, now he didn’t even have a free hand to pull up his shirt.
The doctor’s lips quirked in amusement as he shot Aria a discreet glance. “Other patients are waiting, so I’ll get going. Could you help your friend lift up his shirt?”
With that, he hurried out–but not before shooting Owen a knowing wink on his way
out.
Owen caught the implication in the doctor’s look and froze for a moment, then glanced awkwardly at Aria. “I can manage it myself,” he stammered.
With that, he set the thermometer aside, reached for his jacket zipper, then, using just one hand, awkwardly fumbled with his shirt buttons.
Aria stared at his fumbling hand for two silent seconds, then suddenly stood up and leaned in closer.
Owen’s pupils dilated. His fingers froze mid–motion on the buttons, his entire body rigid as if frozen in place. He stared fixedly at her.
“Let me,” Aria said.
Aria’s voice was calm, her eyes clear and guileless–utterly devoid of even a hint of anything suggestive.
Her hands moved swiftly, nimble fingers working their way down his shirt buttons one by one.
Owen instinctively held his breath, muscles tensing imperceptibly.
As Aria undid the fourth button, the back of her hand almost accidentally brushed lightly against his chest.
Her hand was slightly cool. That gentle touch was like an electric current shooting through him. Owen nearly lost his composure–his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.
Halfway through unbuttoning, Aria’s gaze involuntarily flicked to his chest.
Her gaze landed on his perfectly defined abs, toned and firm.
Her gaze drifted lower, but the view was cut off by his shirt.
In that split second, Aria’s heart hammered faster. She swallowed hard, quickly averted her gaze, picked up the thermometer, and handed it to Owen. Her voice came out tighter than she intended as she said, “That’ll do.”
Aria worked diligently on the buttons, completely unaware that Owen’s gaze remained fixed on her face–he didn’t miss
eting change in her eyes.
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Chapter 312
Guess all those workouts weren’t for nothing. Guess she’s not as maffected is the pretende: Owen thought, the tremare at leas Involuntarily. With a small sigh of relief, he tucked the thermometer under his tek armpit
As Owen withdrew his left hand–the one connected to the IV he accidentally knocked against the glass, producing a faint denting card,
with his left hand hooked up to the IV and a thermometer tucked under his arm, Owen’s movements were painfully autward. He who tension.
Aria neticed his discomfort and, after a brief hesitation, softly suggested, “Why don’t you try tucking it under your other arm instead?:
Aria thought, ‘Right now, I kind of regret coming to this little clinic. If I’d gone to a proper hospital, at least they’d have digital thermometers for oral readings. Then I wouldn’t have to endure this painfully awkward situation!
Owen didn’t want to trouble her further in this situation. He shook his head and insisted, “Ho, this works fine. Really, the Wisn’t in the way
As he spoke, he fumbled one–handed to button his shirt.
Having done it once before, the second time felt much
more natural–no longer as awkward or hesitant as before.
“Let me,” Aria said, stepping even closer and reaching out to fasten his buttons.
She leaned down, and Owen looked up.
They were so close that each could hear the other’s poundin
heartbeat.
Owen dared not take deep breaths, but the more he restrained himself, the faster his heart raced–its pounding growing louder with each passing second.
Aria could distinctly hear the rapid pounding of his heart. As she fastened the last button, her fingers stilled, and she lowered her gaze to meet his.
His heart hammered wildly in his chest–he could barely breathe.
Owen’s lips trembled slightly with nerves as he blurted out, “You…”
Just then, the door swung open abruptly, and the doctor entered with a patient, shattering the tense atmosphere.
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