Free Tinseltown by Stephanie Taylor Page B

the stairs and asked Marie for some cold medicine. There was no way Deb could rest tonight without any. When he got a cold, he drugged himself up so he could get a good night’s rest.
    Once the medication was in his hand, Marie squeezed his arm and told him how hard it was to get medicine down Deb. “She won’t take it,” she warned. “Deb has been stubborn about medicine, since the day she was born. She says she doesn’t want to put anything in her body unless it’s necessary.”
    Zach grinned. “I’m pretty stubborn too, and she needs it. We’ll see who wins.”
    And Zach intended to. When he entered, he extended the pills in front of him, palm up. “Take ’em.”
    “You got me cold medicine?” There was the watery eye business again. Man, either he was doing something really right or really wrong. Now if could just figure out which.
    “Yeah. You’re miserable so… down the hatch.”
    Deb looked at the pills as if she was terrified of them. “I don’t usually take medicine when I’m sick unless I have to.”
    “I consider this a ‘have to’ situation. Here.” He took a step closer and held them under her nose.
    “I don’t know…” She frowned.
    “Look, I don’t want to be lying in my cold, lonely bed tonight, thinking of how you’re tossing and turning because you can’t sleep. Believe me, it won’t be good.”
    Deb slowly took the pills and looked up at him. “Why?”
    “Because.” He perched on the side of the bed near her knees. “I might be tempted to come in and see how you’re doing and if there’s anything you need.”
    Her eyes darted to his and she quickly popped the pills in her mouth, swallowing them down. “I get it, I get it. But just for the record, it’s not even mid-afternoon. I don’t think this is going to help me tonight.”
    “Yes it will, because you’re taking another dose in six hours.”
    Deb shook her head. “I feel too bad to argue.”
    Zach smiled triumphantly. “There’s my girl.”
    Walking over to where he’d laid the movies down when he’d entered, he grabbed them and held them up. “Are you up for a movie or two?”
    Considering the pills he had just given her, she’d be out like a light in an hour tops, but it didn’t mean they couldn’t spend some time together beforehand.
    “Sounds great. What did you bring?”
    After he named them, she asked, “Did my mother tell you about my obsession with Jim?”
    He nodded. “Absolutely, and don’t think I’m not going to give you a hard time about him. He’s a friend of mine, you know.”
    Deb looked momentarily stunned. “Great,” she finally mumbled. “I’m going to kill my mother.”
    “Don’t worry about it. He’s a good guy. But he’s seeing someone, so I guess you’re still stuck with me.” He grinned and winked at her playfully, and she rolled her eyes in response.
    “Yippee,” she said flatly, causing him to laugh.
    “So which is it?” he asked.
    “I have to pick Jim.” She smiled. “It’s not even a competition.”
    Zach smiled. “Good. I haven’t seen this one yet, so I’m curious to see my buddy in action.”
    “Don’t keep reminding me.” Deb laughed and covered her face. Then, she looked up as if something had just dawned on her. “Are you staying?”
    “Absolutely. If you don’t mind.”
    Deb hesitated for a heartbeat, but she smiled. “I’d love it. It’s been a boring day. I could use a little company.”
    But she clearly didn’t expect him, after putting the movie in, to walk over to the bed and plop down on top of it. Her eyes rounded and her mouth fell slightly open, giving away her surprise. She also tensed when he pulled her into his arms.
    Zach was pleased when she relaxed against him.
    One of her perfectly manicured hands came to rest on his chest. He felt like he’d just won the lottery.

 
    Chapter 7
     
    Deb didn’t remember much after the movie began. One minute she was watching her favorite actor on screen, the next she woke after