"Brendan?"

Deirdre's daze was gradually replaced with clarity after sensing Brendan's lack of movements. "What's going on?"

Brendan burrowed his head into the woman's chest. "Just wait for a little while more."

"Wait for what?"

Brendan caressed her hair. "Just wait until you've recovered."

Deirdre came to realize that Brendan was refusing to touch her.

She sat upright. "Why?"

Brendan was afraid that she would misunderstand, so he softly explained, "Emily said that your body's condition i