The Firefighter Returns as a Quintillionaire King novel Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

He stepped into the shower area, careful on the wet tiles, and reached down to help Mia to her

feet.

His hands found her arms, and he tried very hard not to notice how soft her skin was, how her body felt pressed against him as he helped her stand.

“Easy,” he murmured as Mia gasped in pain. “Lean on me.”

With his support, Mia managed to wrap the bathrobe around herself, though it clung to her wet skin in ways that made Alex’s mouth go dry. Her face was bright red, matching his own.

“I’m so sorry,” Mia whispered as Alex helped her hobble out of the bathroom. “This is so embarrassing.”

“Don’t be sorry. Accidents happen.” Alex kept his tone professional, clinical. “Let’s get you to the couch so I can take a look at that ankle.”

He helped her to the living room and carefully lowered her onto the sofa. Mia adjusted her robe, making sure everything was covered, though the sight of her bare legs made Alex’s heart

race.

“I’m a firefighter,” Alex said, kneeling beside the couch. “I’ve had training in basic first aid. May I examine your ankle?”

Mia nodded, biting her lip. “Please.”

Alex gently took her foot in his hands, his touch as professional as he could make it. He carefully rotated the ankle, checking for signs of a fracture. Mia winced but didn’t cry out.

“Does this hurt?” he asked, pressing gently on different areas.

“Yes,” Mia breathed, her face flushing again-though whether from pain or something else, Alex couldn’t tell.

His fingers moved carefully along her foot and ankle, checking for swelling, testing the range of motion. Each touch made Mia’s breath catch, and Alex tried very hard to ignore the way her body was responding to his examination.

“Good news,” he said finally, forcing himself to maintain eye contact instead of looking at the way her robe had shifted slightly. “I don’t think anything’s broken. It’s a mild sprain. You’ll need to keep weight off it for a day or two, ice it, keep it elevated.”

“That’s a relief,” Mia said softly, her eyes locked on his face. There was something in her expression-gratitude, yes, but also something warmer, deeper. “Thank you, Alex.”

“Let me get some ice,” Alex said quickly, standing up. He needed some distance, some space to get his racing thoughts under control.

He went to the kitchen and wrapped ice in a dish towel, then returned to find Mia watching

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him with those same soft eyes. He gently placed the ice pack on her ankle, adjusting it carefully,

“I’ll finish making dinner,” he said, “You just rest here, keep that ankle elected”

“Alex,” Mia called as he started to turn away, “I mean it. Thank you. Not just for this, but for everything today. You’ve been…”

“You’ve done more for me than I could ever repay,” Alex interrupted gently. “This is nothing,”

He returned to the kitchen, his hands slightly unsteady as he resumed cooking

The image of Mia in that bathroom vulnerable, naked, beautiful-kept flashing through his mind, and he had to shake his head to clear it.

She’s your roommate, he told himself firmly. She’s being kind. Don’t make this weird. You just left your wife. The last thing you need is to complicate things with Mia,

Twenty minutes later, dinner was ready. Alex plated the food-chicken piccata with pasta and roasted vegetables and brought everything to the coffee table.

“I can’t believe you cooked all this,” Mia said, her eyes lighting up. “It smells amazing.”

“Wait here,” Alex said. Before Mia could protest, be bent down and scooped her up in his arms, carrying her the few feet to the dining table.

“Alex!” Mia gasped, her arms automatically wrapping around his neck. “You don’t have to-”

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