Page 62 of Tangled

Kane: I don’t give a shit about catching your cold. I just want to make sure you’re okay.

Awww. This man is seriously dangerous to my heart.

Me: I’m fine. Thank you though. I’ll see you Monday, hopefully.

Today is Friday, so hopefully by the end of the weekend, I’ll be normal enough to return to work. Let’s face it, being gone is more work than being there for a teacher.

I don’t get a reply from Kane, which makes me think he had work to do or something. I shrug it off and vacate my bed, taking a shower to clean off the stench and smell of Vic’s, then stumble into the kitchen to make myself some hot tea and something to eat, even though nothing sounds good. I take residence on the couch and resume my Netflix marathon from last night. That Tom Ellis sure makes one handsome devil.

Before I know it, it’s four o’clock and I haven’t left the couch for anything except to go to the bathroom. The oatmeal I made myself for breakfast is barely touched and my stomach rumbles for sustenance.

Just as I stand, I hear a knock at my door. I remove the tissues from my nose, adding them to the growing pile on the coffee table, pat my hair down in the mirror by the door, adjust my glasses on my nose, and tie my robe around my waist before answering the door. It’s probably Perry coming to check up on me. So you can imagine my surprise when I see Kane standing there, dressed in his Emerson Falls staff polo and jeans, dark brown boots and a matching jacket.

“Kane, what are you doing here?”

“I know you said you were fine, but I couldn’t stop wondering if you were okay. So I brought everything I could think of to help you feel better,” he says with a weak smile while holding up two bags from Target.

“Kane…”

“Olivia, just… let me do this, okay?” The look on his face is pained, and for whatever reason, I’m not sure. But he seems hard pressed to make sure I’m alright, and he obviously went to all this trouble to buy me things. It’s seriously the sweetest thing any man has ever done for me.

“Okay, but I apologize for the mess—both my apartment and me,” I say while gesturing down my body with my hand.

Kane chuckles and then kisses my forehead. “You look beautiful as always.”

My heart thumps uncontrollably while I follow him into my kitchen where he proceeds to unpack the two bags full of goodies. Sudafed, Therma-flu, cough syrup and drops, Vic’s Vapor Rub, ginger ale, tissues with lotion, and a carton of homemade chicken noodle soup from Penny’s Diner, a local restaurant known for their home-style cooking. Kane must have cleared out the cold aisle at Target.

“Oh, my gosh, Kane. This is too much,” I croak out, clearing the phlegm from my throat. “Sorry, I told you I wasn’t in good shape.”

Kane comes around the counter and grabs my face in his hands. “I know you’re not used to someone wanting to take care of you. But this is something I really want to do. So stop apologizing and go sit down. I’ll be right there,” he demands with a kiss on my cheek, and that glimpse of his controlling side reminds me of his same demanding ways while we had sex. I know sex is the last thing I should be thinking about right now, but I can’t help the fact that the man turns me on.

I nod and then he releases me as I amble over to the couch, picking up my snotty tissues from the coffee table and putting them in the trash before finally taking a seat. Kane comes in with one of my TV trays full of a bowl of soup, a stack of pills, and a can of ginger ale.

“Thank you, Kane,” I say softly, peering up at him as he stands before me.

“You’re welcome, Olivia. Now eat and hydrate. Take your pills. I’m gonna use the restroom really quick. I’ll be right back.”

Kane saunters down the hallway and I can’t help but admire the view of his ass in those jeans as he walks away from me. If I was healthy right now, I’d be jumping his bones, no questions asked.

When he returns, he sits down next to me, putting his arm behind me on the couch. “So, what are you watching?”

“Lucifer. Have you heard of it?”

“Yeah, but I haven’t watched it.”

“We can watch something else if you’d like?” I offer as I take a sip from my soup. “Oh, God, that’s good.”

Kane glances over at me and grins. “How about a movie?”

“Sure, you pick.”

Kane searches and then I know he found what he wants when his face lights up with the cheesiest smile.

“The Proposal?” I tease, knowing exactly why he picked this movie.

“It’s one of Ryan Reynolds’ best rom-coms, in my opinion.”

I chuckle while finishing up my soup. “I agree. I love this movie. Press play.”

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