Just as her lips were about to meet his, a loud thud shattered the momentLayla had fallen from her wheelchair.

"Wait for me at home tonight. Be good," Joseph murmured against her ear, his breath warm. Then, without hesitation, he pushed her away and rushed to Layla, lifting her carefully. "Does it hurt? Did you injure anything?"

"My ankle... it hurts," Layla whimpered, her voice trembling with fragility, tears pooling in her eyes.

Joseph carried her ...