Chapter 5 #2
He grunted a word that sounded a little like thanks, then shifted to lean against the bath. He took a tentative sip and then another. Beads of sweat had formed on his brow, but he was shivering.
“Have you got a fever?” She didn’t expect a reply.
His teeth were chattering too now, and his skin had taken on an unnatural hue.
“You’re not looking so great, dude. If you feel like you’re done here, let me help you back to bed.
” She wrapped her hands around his wide bicep, though how the hell she’d get this hulk of a man to his feet was anyone’s guess. “Can you crawl?”
He shifted slowly onto his hands and knees, but after a few steps, he fell flat on his face.
“I’ll get some help,” she said.
“No, I’ll do it!” His voice was hoarse and desperate. “I don’t need any help.”
“But you—”
“No one holds my hand.”
Jeez, whatever. Libby stood back and watched him drag his body to the bed, like he’d done last night after falling through the door.
“Do you feel more alpha now, big man?” she drawled. Oblivious to her sarcasm, he curled into a ball and continued to shiver. “You’re a mess. If you’re still like this in an hour, I’m calling someone.”
She’d tell Serita and Mr. Hehu or call Tupapa Outpatients.
Careful not to wake Karim, Libby searched under the stroller for the rehydration powder she’d bought from the drugstore and then tipped one into a fresh glass of water. “Drink this.”
Cranky sat up, downed the entire contents of the glass in one go, then flopped back onto the bed.
“That better now?”
He mumbled some random words, his teeth chattering.
“What’s that you’re saying?” Libby leaned in, but Cranky had shut his eyes, trembling.
“If you’re feeling cold in this heat, you must have a fever.
” She reached for the shiny silver honeymoon blanket and placed it over him, then searched in her bag for the thermometer she kept in her first aid kit. “I’ll take your temperature.”
“I’ve got to go,” he was saying. “I’m gonna go.”
“Go where?” She stuck the thermometer into his armpit.
“You’re leaving, so I’ll leave too.”
What was he talking about?
“Hey,” Libby said, “do you even know where you are?” When he didn’t answer, she pressed her hand against his forehead.
It was hot and clammy. She pulled the thermometer out from under his arm.
His temperature was high, but not dangerously so.
She studied his features. His brow was puckered—like always—but his eyeballs flickered beneath his eyelids. “Can you tell me your name?”
He grunted, slurring words she couldn’t make out. His trembling turned into jerky movements, as if he was trying to dodge something.
“Okay, I’m calling someone,” she said.
Libby opened the front door. Two backpackers stood talking by the main house.
She asked them to call Serita. When she returned to the bed, beads of sweat were running down Dan’s cheeks.
Libby ducked into the bathroom to soak a wash cloth in water.
As she dabbed Cranky’s face with it, Serita walked in.
“You wanted something, hon? Is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure. Mr. Jones is sick and has a fever. He’s all shivery and hot, and he’s confused. I think he’s caught my son’s bug, only my son wasn’t this bad when he had it. Maybe he’s got it worse because he’s on meds? He was involved in an accident a few months ago.”
“I’ll call my sister,” Serita said. “She’s a nurse.”
“That would be amazing if she could check it’s nothing more serious.”
Serita left, and Libby dabbed Daniel’s forehead again.
As she pulled her hand away, he wrapped his fingers around her wrist.
“Is…?” he murmured.
“Is what?”
“Is…”
“Shhh. Save your energy. A nurse will be here soon.”
He pulled her hand against his chest. His heart beat against her fingers. “Why’d you do it, Is?”
Oh. Libby stilled. “I’m not Isa—”
“You said you loved me. I believed you, so why?” He gripped Libby’s hand tighter. “Why did you have to screw Xav fucking Hunter.”
Whaaaaaaat?
Xavier Hunter?
Isabella had slept with Xavier Hunter?
But, but, but—
Xav Hunter was a film superstar! He was married. With children. What about all those cute images she’d seen of him being the perfect father, the perfect husband? And Alicia Hunter was Isabella’s new BFF!
Where were all the headlines about this? Surely a story like this would’ve hit celebrity news by now. Every gossip columnist in Hollywood would be all over it!
Unless…
Unless no one knew.
Holy freaking shit!
Juliana Cortez would be on her freaking knees for a story like this!
No—more than that. All the gossip sites would be on their knees. With this kind of insider knowledge and access to Daniel Jones, Libby could reach much higher than Hot Gossip! A scoop like this would see her and Karim comfortable for the next few months at least!
“Why did you screw him, Issy?”
Libby leaned closer, holding her breath.
“How could you do it? Didn’t I mean anything to you?” More beads of sweat rolled down the side of his face.
Libby went to dab them away, but then her hand paused in mid-air.
Not sweat, but tears.
Daniel Jones was crying, his bottom lip quivering like Karim’s did when he hurt himself.
“I loved you, Issy.” He squeezed his eyes shut, sucked in a jagged breath. “I’ll always love you.”
More tears fell. Libby’s heart twisted.
I’ll always love you…
They were the same words she’d spoken to Elliot when she’d pleaded with him to let her stay.
Stupid, stupid fool that she’d been back then.
And now someone else was crying, just like she’d done, looking so lost and alone—so broken.
Like she’d been.
She wiped Dan’s tears away. He caught her hand and kissed it.
“Thanks, Issy. I always knew you’d come back.”
What? No!
“I’m not Isabella.” Libby snatched her hand back. “You’re in the Cook Islands, dude, waiting for your mom, remember? You’ve caught my son’s bug. Someone is coming to check you over, but you’d better rest.”
She pushed away from the bed and stalked outside, inhaling some much-needed fresh air. Karim was still sleeping. She dropped onto the grass next to his stroller.
Damn! Libby might not like Daniel Jones all that much, but she knew how it felt to have her heart broken. How could she repeat his pain to anyone, let alone the cut-throat world of celebrity gossip?
With a poof, her exclusive, lucrative story disappeared, and Juliana got off her begging knees, sneering. I knew you didn’t have the guts.