Chapter Twelve
Emily’s coughing woke them both an hour later. Cole helped her sit up until the coughing subsided. After he laid her back down, he reached over her to snatch the glass of juice off the nightstand.
“Here, honey, drink this.”
Emily’s eyes stayed on him as she gripped the glass and sipped until the juice was gone.
“Good girl.” He slid the glass from her fingers and set it back down. He relaxed back and pulled her against him. “How are you feeling?” he asked while using the palm of his hand to feel her forehead to check her fever. “I think you feel a little cooler.”
Emily couldn’t tear her eyes from him. His presence in her bed and with no shirt was overwhelming her.
She could feel his muscles shift beneath her as he moved and the heat from his body penetrated through to her fever.
Instead of making her feel uncomfortable, it relaxed her and made her feel safe.
Something she hadn’t felt in as long as she could remember.
She did know it had never happened with Winston.
“Do you feel any better?” he asked, concerned when she didn’t answer.
She tore her eyes from his chest and slid them up until she caught his eyes.
“Um, yes, I think so. What are you doing in my bed half naked?” she asked just above a whisper.
His mouth quirked up on the side. “Because I wanted to hold you,” he said in a rough, heated tone.
“Oh.” Her body felt overheated, and she knew it wasn’t all because of the flu right then. How could she feel this heightened level of desire when the flu still thundered through her body?
The door to the cabin opened as he moved to lower his mouth to hers.
“How’s she feeling?” Daisy said as she came through the bedroom door. She pulled things out of a basket and set them on the nightstand.
Emily felt a blush creep across her face when she realized she was half lying across Cole’s naked chest, and his niece walked in.
He pulled her tighter against him when she tried to move off.
Her hand landed on his chest and froze at the smooth, hard skin.
Her eyes lowered to where her hand sat. His chest was massive.
The muscles were prominent and solid. The skin was dark, especially against her pale hand, telling her he spent a lot of time outside without a shirt on.
There was a small scattering of hair on the middle of his chest with a silky line that descended down his hard stomach, and she guessed disappeared into his jeans.
It took all her limited strength not to follow it.
Emily noticed the young woman’s blush and tried to move off Cole again only to have him tighten his grip on her.
“Um, okay. Let’s get her temperature and get some more Tylenol and juice down her.”
Cole constricted his arms when Emily tried again to lever herself up. “You’re fine where you are.”
Emily felt her own flush cross her face as she looked at Cole and then Daisy through her eyelashes.
“I just drank a glass of juice, Daisy,” Emily said.
“Well, that’s good, but the more fluid we can get into you, the better. Right? I know we have to consider how cold the juice was after we take your temperature, so do you think it will work?”
Emily nodded. “Yes. I think it’s been long enough.”
Emily opened her mouth for the thermometer. Her teeth started to chatter, and so she concentrated on keeping the thermometer in her mouth.
Daisy pulled it from Emily’s mouth.
“Okay, let’s see.” A frown pulled at Daisy’s brows. “It’s still over one hundred and one, and that’s with Advil in you.”
Emily dutifully swallowed both pills and drank another half glass of juice before settling back against Cole with a sigh.
“I’ll leave you to rest, but I’ll be back before suppertime and bring you some food. In the meantime, there are some saltine crackers and applesauce cups on the nightstand if you’re hungry.”
“Daisy, thank you so much, but I want you to stay away. You are working and raising two children. You don’t have the time to take care of me when I know I’m getting better already.
But most importantly, I don’t want you taking this to the children.
It would break my heart if they got sick because of me. ”
Cole held up a hand when Daisy opened her mouth to argue.
“I can take it from here. If I have any questions, I’ll call you. Go take care of those kids of yours.”
Daisy looked undecided, but nodded. “Okay, fine. As long as you’re here with her, I won’t worry. I’ll have one of the hands bring dinner for you both. Hopefully, she’ll be able to eat something. Call if you need me.” Emily raised her hand.
“Thank you again for everything.” She relaxed back and closed her eyes.
Neither said anything for a long moment.
“I think you should go, too. I feel bad having you stay with me. I’m going to be fine. You’ve got a ranch to run.”
Cole used the side of his hand to raise her face. “I’m not going anywhere, so you might as well shush and get some rest. Unless there is some unforeseen crisis, I will be here until your temperature is gone and you’re up.” He pressed his finger to her mouth. “Not another word. Now rest.”
She stared for another moment before tucking her head down and against his chest. She felt her heart race.
Had anyone ever cared this much about her, ever?
Her breathing slowed as she felt the fatigue of sickness pull her back into sleep.
Her last thought was she could get used to sleeping next to him every night.