Chapter 11
Danica
M y life settled into a routine over the next few days.
Smoke spent the first couple days acting like my shadow more than anything.
We were gingerly dancing around each other.
I wasn’t sure how long it was going to take before we were comfortable enough to ask each other more than surface level questions.
I sat up in bed, mentally preparing myself for the day ahead.
I had a full day of classes and I was glad to be getting back to school because that routine was sure to calm my nerves.
Everyone was being great and including me in everything.
I was so thankful, but it was also overwhelming.
There were so many people in and out of this place all the time.
I would get used to it, but my introverted little heart wanted nothing more than to curl up with a good book and not have to see anyone all day.
That was what weekends were all about. Or they used to be.
This last weekend had been nothing but a parade of people and me trying to win everyone over so that I didn’t embarrass Smokehouse.
Eli had often been out of town on ‘business’ during weekends before my life had been flipped upside down. That was probably when he’d been shacking up with his, apparently, multiple mistresses. I shook off the thoughts of the man who now made my skin crawl.
Goosebumps rose on my arms and I frowned down at my skin. My stomach rumbled and I swallowed hard as my mouth began to water. My eyes widened as I tossed back the blankets and bolted for the bathroom.
I made it to the toilet just in time to throw up. My stomach was so busy trying to escape out of my mouth I didn’t hear the knock on the door.
“Dani?”
Ugh. I didn’t want him to see me like this. A bead of sweat slid down my face. “Go away,” I called out. It sounded a bit weak, even to me.
It wasn’t any wonder that Smokehouse opened the door, ignoring my demand. Blessedly cool hands smoothed my hair away from my face, holding it out of the way while my stomach cramped again.
“Go away,” I whispered, humiliated that he was seeing me like this.
“Not happening. I’ve seen plenty of people puke. Butcher threw up last night outside in the gravel. Not a big deal.”
I groaned as what had to be what was left of my stomach lining evacuated my body. Huffing out a breath once it was over, I relaxed and sank down a little. I’d cleaned the bathroom just yesterday, so I rested my face on the seat. It felt so good against my heated skin.
Smoke’s hand covered my forehead. “You’re burning up,” he said, sounding alarmed.
“I always get really hot when I throw up. It’s happened since I was a kid. It’ll go down.”
“I assumed it was morning sickness,” his voice faded as he walked away, “but maybe it’s not.”
Not bothering to look up, I closed my eyes so the world would stop spinning. “Probably is. Nothing to worry about.” My eyes opened again as he squatted beside me.
He was back to wearing those sexy sweats and nothing else. If I wasn’t feeling so crummy that would have had my temperature shooting up all on its own. How was a girl supposed to resist the man when he ran around half naked most of the time?
A cold wash cloth covered my forehead and then swiped down over my exposed cheek. It continued on over the skin of my neck and I groaned at how good it felt.
“I don’t like it. I’ll take you to the doctor.”
“No. I’m fine.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re not fine.”
“Am to. Just need to rest for a few minutes.” I was half asleep with my face resting on the toilet. It wasn’t the sexiest look, but there wasn’t much I could do.
My head spun when I was lifted up into his arms. I didn’t have the energy to argue, so I let him carry me back to bed. He was tucking the blankets in around me when my eyes opened again. “School.”
“You can stay home sick today,” he said with a grin. “I’ll get you some seven-up, soup, and you can watch cartoons.”
My lips lifted in an attempt to smile. “I have to call in.”
“Is it in your phone?”
I gave him the name of the superintendent and let my eyes close again. There was no way for me to tell how much time had passed when I woke up next, but the mattress had shifted under me.
Muscular arms circled me as Smoke spooned up behind me. “The girls got me everything you’ll need to feel better. Are you hungry?” he asked, his breath whispering over my cheek.
“No,” I moaned piteously. Even the thought of food had my abused belly churning.
“Later then. Go back to sleep.”
It was easy to obey his command, especially being wrapped up in his arms. I knew I was safe, so I let go of consciousness. Despite my temperature and the heat of his body, it still felt amazing to be wrapped up in him.
The clock on the nightstand read one fifteen the next time I opened my eyes. I’d slept the morning away. It was rare that I was sick and I didn’t like staying in bed all day. There were always too many things to do. Not to mention, I’d just missed an entire day of school.
Struggling to sit up, I looked around. Smoke was gone, but he’d left a can of ginger ale and some Saltines on the nightstand.
My stomach gurgled angrily, so I opened the crackers and stuffed one in my mouth.
I was hesitant to put anything back in my belly after what’d happened this morning, but it was like it was fusing to my spine. I was so hungry now.
“Easy. Not too many at once.”
Jerking in surprise, I looked over as Smoke came through my bedroom door. I shoved another cracker in my mouth before he could object, then opened the can and took a sip of the lukewarm liquid.
He was dressed in his usual jeans, t-shirt, leather vest that I’d been told was called a cut, and dirty work boots.
It seemed to be these guys’ unofficial uniform.
It looked good on him so I wasn’t complaining.
My hand twitched, wanting to smooth my hair down.
I was sure I looked like hell, but what could I do about it?
He’d just seen me in a pretty vulnerable position earlier and it hadn’t sent him running for the hills.
No. He’d taken care of me. In fact, his care-taking outweighed my husband’s to the point where it was no contest. A man I barely knew had cared more about my well-being than the one I’d been married to for six years. And Smoke had accomplished the task in just a few days.
My eyes fell to the bags he had in his arms. The left was holding two paper bags, and the right a third. “What’s that?” This time I nibbled at a cracker, my stomach mollified for the moment. I didn’t want to over do it and end up hugging the toilet again.
Smoke looked down at the bags in his hands, a sheepish look on his face. “Thought you might like something to read when you woke up. Didn’t know what you’ve already read, so I…” He set the bags down on the bed next to me and trailed off with a shrug of his shoulders.
My eyes widened as I realized the bags were full of books. Romances, to be exact. Tears made the books waver in front of me. “Thank you.”
He raked a hand through his hair, looking a little embarrassed. No wonder it was always standing up in spikes. I’d seen him do that move countless times in the last few days.
“This is so sweet. I really appreciate it.” I laughed and started pawing through the bags. “How many did you get?”
“Don’t know. I just went to Bookman’s and bought what they had.”
“I love that place,” I told him, giving him a huge smile. It was the best. It was a second hand store that catered to everything from instruments, to books, to video games, and anything you could want in between. I could spend hours inside there and never want to leave.
“Your boss said not to worry about coming in tomorrow if you’re still not feeling well,” he said, changing the subject.
His hand covered my forehead again and relief washed over his face when he realized I wasn’t feverish anymore.
“Okay. I’ll have to see how I’m feeling. I didn’t think morning sickness would hit so quickly. That’s not a good sign,” I said with a grimace.
“Want me to make you something to eat? Soup? A grilled cheese sandwich? Those are about your only options. I’m not much of a cook.” He gave me a sheepish grin.
Any other time I would have laughed. My stomach rolled at the mention of food and I shook my head. “No, thank you. I think the crackers will do for now.” A thought suddenly occurred and made me gasp. “You’re here.”
His brows rose and he looked like he wanted to check my temperature again. He sat down on the bed next to me and the bags of books. “I’ll be here all day.”
“You missed work, too,” I explained. “I’m so sorry.”
He grinned at me. “It’s not a problem. My buddy is the foreman. Besides, no one would expect me to go to work with you throwing up and possibly running a fever. I wanted to be here in case you needed to go to the emergency room.”
“I told you I didn’t.”
“Don’t care. If your temp hadn’t come down, I was taking you anyway.”
I shook my head, but my heart did a little dance inside my chest. It was nice to hear someone cared enough to take care of me, even if it was over the top.
“I’ll let you get some more rest. Later, I can bring the TV in here if you get bored.”
“Or maybe we can watch something out on the couch?” I was sort of hoping to get some more cuddles since I was still feeling gross.
I got sort of needy when I was sick and liked to be held.
Eli had always gotten angry when I’d asked and told me he didn’t want to catch whatever I had.
If he ever did honor my request to be held, it was always with a stiff posture that let me know in no uncertain terms that he didn’t want to be there.
“I’d rather you stay in bed. I’ll hook the TV up in here, and we can watch something. Lock sprang for cable and all the streaming platforms so we can watch whatever you want.”
I gave him a wicked look. “Even a rom com?”
“Even a chick flick,” he agreed. His face held the same dedication as that of a soldier about to rush an enemy with a machine gun.
But he was undeterred. It was sweet, and hot.
Just the fact that he was willing to do these things for me, even volunteering, made me realize how much I’d missed them in my marriage.
Never again. No one will ever treat me the way Eli did again.
I was older now. Wiser. If a man tried to pull that crap on me, I wouldn’t put up with it.
Looking through the books while he hefted the entertainment center and the TV into my room, I couldn't help but smile. He’d managed to grab a few of my favorite books, but so many were new to me and I couldn’t wait to read them.
Before long, he was toeing off his boots and climbing up onto the bed with me.
I expected him to sit next to me, but instead, he shuffled me around until I was leaning back against his chest while he leaned against the headboard.
His arms wrapped around me, holding me close as the movie I’d chosen started to play.
My heart had a seizure and flopped down into my stomach right then and there.
That was the moment I suspected I could fall in love with this man if I wasn’t careful.
If he returned the feelings, that was one thing, but I couldn’t hand over the tender organ on a silver platter only to have it swatted out of my hands.
Not again. Especially not by him. Something told me he had the ability to destroy me in a way Eli never could.