Page 48 of Stick Play

“You’re not using no damn rectal thermometer on me. Just give me some of those meds you gave me last night and I’m sure I’ll be right as rain.”

“Oh, no that wouldn’t be responsible of me.”

“I didn’t have a fever last night and you gave me meds.”

“I gave you something for your nausea.”

“Oh, right, well I have that again.”

I hold the thermometer up. “First, we check your temperature.”

Grant’s horrified gaze goes back and forth between the two of us, and when I can no longer hold in a chuckle as he tries to get out of this, his shoulders sag.

“You two…” He shakes his head. “I should have known.”

“Yeah, well I was pretty sure I knew what you were up to all along.”

He grins like a child who’d gotten their own way. “Well, it’s too late for Gina to go home now. The kids are asleep.”

I fold my arms and cock my head in challenge. “I can wake them.”

He frowns. “The roads are bad.”

I glance out the window. “It’s clear out there. No snow, no ice.”

Grumbles come from the depths of his throat, and then he puts his hand on his stomach. “I don’t feel great.”

I burst out laughing. “Really, Grant?”

“Okay fine. Is it so wrong that I think you two are perfect for each other?”

“Dad,” Ash begins. “You can’t fake being sick and you can’t be interfering in my life like this. I’m a grown man. Who I see or don’t see is up to me. We’ve had this discussion. You know where I stand on relationships.”

Grant grumbles something under his breath. “Dad,” Ash warns again and casts me a fast glance. From his deep frown, whatever it was his father said, Ash did not like.

“If you would have listened to me, things would have been different. You wouldn’t be so…so…blind to what’s right in front of you.” Grant crosses his arms. “Get the light on the way out, will you.” I don’t miss the small smile he gives me, and I can’t help but smile back.

I pat his arm. “Get some sleep and if you do feel ill and need me, just give a shout.”

“You’re one of the good ones, Gina,” he tells me, and Ash just shakes his head.

“I like you too, Grant. Now get some rest. The kids will be up early and making noise.”

I pull his blankets up as I fight a yawn. “Looks like you should be turning in too,” Grant murmurs. “The room beside me is closer. You’ll be able to hear me better from there.”

“Are you still…” Ash shakes his head and putting an end to Grant’s antics, he says, “Goodnight.”

We leave his room, and out in the hall, I make my way toward the stairs. Perhaps a glass of wine will help me wind down, but Ash seems to have a different idea.

“Come with me.”

He takes my hand, his fingers warm as they engulf mine, and guides me to his bedroom. I arch a brow when I take in his bed. “In there.” He points to the ensuite.

“You want me to go to the bathroom?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t have?—”

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