Theodore caught the flying pillow with an easy stretch of his arm. Surprised, he looked at her; Phoebe, in her anger, somehow seemed more enticing. Her eyes sparkled with life.
“If you don’t want to get up, we can go another round,” he suggested.
“You beast!”
Phoebe was genuinely terrified. She scrambled out of bed, frantically dug out clean clothes from her luggage, and scurried into the bathroom.
Theodore touched his nose, and oddly enough, the gloomy mood that had clouded him for days cleared. He placed the pillow back on the bed and picked up the torn clothes tossing them into the trash.
Dressed, Phoebe stood by the sink, the mirror reflecting a cut at the corner of her mouth and her swollen lips.
She bit down hard. She never expected him to be gentle.
The knock on the bathroom door startled Phoebe, then came Theodore’s drawl from outside, “You done yet?” Phoebe didn’t respond.
She opened the door to find Theodore leaning casually against the wall, half-smirking at her. The very man who had been rough just moments before now stood there looking like a perfectly put-together gentleman. “Why haven’t you left?” she asked.
Usually, he’d be out the door as soon as they were done, but today appeared to be an exception.
Theodore’s gaze lingered on the split corner of her lip, a wound he had inflicted earlier. His expression turned sheepish. “Let me drive you home.”
“I’m not of such high regard to trouble you,” Phoebe replied briskly, stepping past him. Even the most patient person has their limits, and Theodore had rubbed hers raw.
He grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. “Phoebe, do you realize when you get all fiery like this, it just makes me want to tame you more?”
Knowing she couldn’t break free from his grip and refusing to suffer more than she had to, she met his gaze with a clear, piercing look. “Theodore, Vanessa’s back. After all the years you’ve kept her close to your heart, don’t you think you owe her some sort of commitment?”
Theodore’s irritation spiked at the mention of Vanessa. “Mind your own business!”
Phoebe let out a cold laugh. “Eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot, Theodore, you’ve really got some nerve!” Having said that, she wriggled free from his grasp and strode to the hospital room door, yanking it open with a swift motion. Theodore’s face burned as if he had been slapped. Just as he was about to follow her to have the last word, he saw Mrs. Ziegler standing outside. He froze in his tracks.
With an embarrassed look, Mrs. Ziegler clung to the door frame, caught eavesdropping. Her dignity seemed to falter as she asked, “Are you two finished?”
Her question chilled Phoebe’s demeanor even further. “What, now you want to come and watch?”
Three years with Theodore had honed Phoebe’s ability to return a sharp retort. Mrs. Ziegler’s expression soured instantly.
“Phoebe, what are you insinuating?”
Ignoring her, Phoebe headed straight for the elevator. Her mother’s earlier actions had left her utterly disgusted.
Mrs. Ziegler glanced at Theodore and couldn’t hold back a rebuke, “Theodore, Phoebe’s just recovering. Be gentle with her, will you?”
Theodore pursed his lips briefly. “Mom, I’m going after her. I’ll have the driver take you home later.”
“Just go, Phoebe has a soft heart. Just charm her a bit, and she won’t be mad at you anymore,” Mrs. Ziegler nodded, watching as Theodore grabbed his duffel bag and dashed out.