Lone Star Twins by Cathy Gillen Thacker

Author:Cathy Gillen Thacker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“Well, that was some welcome home,” Poppy said miserably several minutes later when she finally lifted her head from the toilet bowl.

Trace hunkered beside her, cool, damp cloth in hand.

She pressed it against her mouth.

“Do you want to get up?”

Her stomach roiled at the thought. She took a shaky breath. “I hope you don’t come down with this, too.”

He touched her arm gently. “You think it’s the stomach flu?”

“Probably. We were at the elementary school. And as Will and his sick pilot can attest, it is making the rounds.”

Trace sat beside her on the floor. Once comfortable, he touched her forehead with the back of his hand.

This time, Poppy didn’t mind. In fact, she was ridiculously glad to see him. “I don’t think I have a fever.”

He dropped his hand and pressed a light, reassuring kiss to the top of her head. “I don’t, either.”

Another moment passed.

Then another.

“Think you’re going to be sick again?” he asked softly.

Poppy softly sighed. The nausea that had been plaguing her for the past hour or so seemed to have gone away. “I think that was it.”

He gave her a hand up. She stood on shaky legs, paused to rinse her mouth in the sink and then brush her teeth.

Trace walked with her back to the bed. Once he’d helped her settle beneath the covers, he started to climb in, as well. “I don’t think you should sleep with me tonight,” Poppy said, aware it was inching toward dawn.

He smiled. Unafraid. “I’ve seen someone get sick before...”

“And you handled it like a pro,” she praised him, just as kindly. “But I don’t want to give you my germs.” She patted the pillow beside her, motioning for him to get cozy, and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “So why don’t you stay here and I’ll go downstairs to the sofa.”

He caught her wrist before she could go anywhere and tugged her back down to the mattress. “In sickness and in health, remember?”

Except that they hadn’t really meant their vows. Not like that, anyway. Had they?

“I’m not going anywhere,” he repeated sternly. “Not when you’re sick.”

“But I’ve already had nearly a full night’s sleep.”

He leaned closer and gave her a tender glance. “We were exposed to the same germs at the school, remember? So if I’m going to get it, I’m going to get it. Lay down. Close your eyes.” He brought her into the curve of his body and spooned with her. Kissed her ear. “And go to sleep.”

Poppy didn’t think she would be able to do that, but figuring she could slip away once he was asleep, and spare him that way, she reluctantly closed her eyes. The next thing she knew sunlight was streaming in through the windows. It was late morning. And Trace was still asleep.

She eased from the bed and went downstairs.

And there, on the blinking phone, all kinds of messages awaited.

* * *

TRACE HEARD POPPY get out of bed and slip out of the room.

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