The Daddy Wish by Brenda Harlen

Author:Brenda Harlen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

She sat up, clutching the covers to her chest. “What are you doing here?”

“You texted me.”

“I did not.”

“You said that you wanted chicken soup.” He held up the plastic container in his hand. “Chicken soup.”

She closed her eyes on a moan. “I thought I was texting Chelsea.”

“I figured.” He put the soup on her bedside table, beside the thermometer and empty ginger ale can. “When was the last time you took your temperature?”

She pushed her hair away from her face. “Sometime last night.”

“What was it?”

“One-oh-two.”

He touched the back of his hand to her forehead. “You still feel warm.”

She pulled away from his touch. “And sweaty. I think I should have a shower before I have that soup.”

“Can you manage on your own?”

“You’re not really offering to help me?”

He chuckled softly. “I could ask Mrs. Hanson to come over and give you a hand.”

“Did she let you into the building again?”

“Yeah, I buzzed her because I didn’t want to disturb you if you were sleeping. She said she suspected you might be sick when you came home from work early yesterday.”

Allison sighed. “Who needs a security system when there’s Mrs. Hanson across the hall?”

“So do you want some help with that shower?”

“I think I can manage.”

“Leave the door unlocked,” he suggested. “I don’t want to have to break it down if you fall over in the tub.”

“I’m not going to fall over,” she said, but she appreciated his consideration. If he truly was being considerate and didn’t think he could use an unlocked door as an opportunity to peek at her while she was in the shower.

An idea that didn’t seem completely out of the realm of possibility until she got a look at herself in the mirror and actually let out a shriek. The startled sound was still hanging in the air when Nate pushed through the door.

“What is it? What happened?”

She shook her head, and reached for the counter when the ground tilted beneath her feet. “Nothing.”

He took a step closer, obviously concerned. “Then why did you scream?”

She felt ridiculous admitting the truth to him—and ridiculously vain. But she took it as a positive sign that she actually cared about her appearance today. Twenty-four hours earlier, she’d just wanted to curl up in a ball and pull the blankets over her head.

“Alli?” he prompted.

“I looked in the mirror,” she finally confessed.

Somehow, he managed a smile. “It’s not one of your best days,” he acknowledged, “but you really don’t look that bad.”

“Am I dying?”

“What?”

“It’s the only reason I can think of to explain why you’re being so nice to me.”

“Maybe I’m a nice guy.”

“Maybe you are,” she allowed.

“Are you still planning to take a shower?”

“I think we’ll both feel better if I do.”

“Just give a shout if you want me to wash your back.”

She shoved him toward the door.

* * *

Upon receipt of Alli’s text message asking for chicken soup, Nate had immediately realized that she’d sent it to him in error.

He could have called Chelsea and told her about the message.

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