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A smile parted her lips as she turned a corner and hit a solid body with enough force that she bounced off and went flying to the floor, landing hard on her butt, sending a sharp pain up her spine.
“I’m so sorry,” she gasped as she tried to stand, finding the pain in her back making it a difficult maneuver.
“Are you okay?”
Ari’s body froze as her eyes traveled up the exquisitely encased legs of none other than Rafe Palazzo. What was he doing at her mother’s hospital? Had he followed her there? When she reached his eyes, his concerned expression made her forget all about her bruised tailbone.
“What are you doing here?” she gasped.
“I could ask you the same,” he answered as he bent down and ran his hands over her legs. “Can you stand?”
Not if you keep running your hands across me, she nearly said before stopping herself. “I’m fine. ”
“Are you sure? You fell pretty hard. It may be wise to get an x-ray,” he insisted, causing her temper to override the shock of seeing him.
“I said that I’m fine. Just back off so I can have some room to stand,” she practically snarled. His lips quirked in a slight smirk as he stood and held out a hand. She thought about ignoring it, but her tailbone was really smarting, so with reluctance, she placed her hand in his and let him lift her.
“Mr. Palazzo, is everything all right, sir?” a man in a suit asked as he came skidding up to the two of them.
Ari wanted to turn to the little weasel and say, Gee thanks, I’m just fine, but managed to hold her tongue. Rafe wasn’t the one who’d hit a solid wall of chest and plummeted to the floor. It was nice to see the staff so concerned about her. She supposed that’s just how it was when a person was in Rafe Palazzo’s presence – everyone else turned invisible within his wide-reaching shadow.
“I’m not the one who just got knocked to the ground. Maybe you should ask Ms. Harlow how she’s doing,” Rafe replied coldly.
Ari found herself thawing slightly toward this man of steel. At least he was human enough to acknowledge her being injured. As she stood awkwardly by, glancing at him from the corner of her eye, she had to admit he was a fine specimen to look upon. She wished he wasn’t quite so good-looking. She didn’t want her gaze pulled to him.
“Of course, sir. How are you feeling, Ms. Harlow? We should take you back and make sure nothing was broken in the fall,” the man said as he turned to her with fake sympathy written all over his face. She had to fight the urge to roll her eyes at him.
“I’m just fine, but thank you anyway. It was my fault. I wasn’t watching where I was going. If you’ll both excuse me,” she said as she turned to leave.
“I don’t think so, Arianna. Whether you like it or not, we’re getting that x-ray done. You're limping, and I know that couldn’t have felt good on your tailbone,” Rafe said as he turned to the small man next to him and demanded a wheelchair.
Before Ari knew what was happening, she was being plopped down and wheeled through the corridors. She didn’t appreciate the choice taken away from her like that. She was sure it was nothing more than a large bruise that would be quite colorful on her butt in the following days.
“Mr. Palazzo, the ceremony is about to start. I can take care of this matter for you. ”
Ari craned her neck to look behind her in surprise at Rafe, who was pushing the wheelchair. Her glance then took in the other guy who seemed to be doing a lot of sweating.
“The ceremony will have to go on without me,” Rafe said as if the subject was closed.
“But… you’re the guest of honor. We can’t have a grand opening ceremony without the donor being present,” the little man said in horror.
“Then I guess you’ll just have to wait. I’m seeing to Ms. Harlow. Leave us,” Rafe commanded as he entered a door, shutting it with finality in the man’s face. Ari almost felt sorry for the guy, even if he was just a weasel.
“What did you donate?” Ari asked, her curiosity piqued.
“It’s not a big deal,” he replied in a clipped tone.
“If it’s not a big deal then why don’t you want to say what it is,” she countered, sick of backing down to this overbearing man.
“Do you ever just accept someone telling you no?” he asked in exasperation, his arms spread wide in question.
“You’re the one who practically kidnapped me. I’m just trying to make polite conversation. ” Ari wanted only to get away from him. He was back to being the man of steel, all traces of worry wiped clear from his face.