Page 111 of Forbidden Harmony

Does it matter? If you don’t learn enoughfrom him, you can find another guy and get more lessons.

The thought of sleeping with someone elsemade her already-aching stomach roll with nausea. She shoved the thought ofsleeping with someone else - ofPreachersleeping with someone else –out of her head. She rubbed her stomach then wiped her nose for a third time.The hot bath had cleared her sinuses somewhat, but she could feel the headachelurking behind her eyes. As soon as the cold meds wore off, she’d be rightback to feeling like death.

She searched through the bag even thoughshe could see everything that was in it. Oddly enough, Preacher hadn’t broughther any actual clothes, just underwear.

She hesitated and then opened the seconddrawer of Preacher’s dresser. His t-shirts were folded in neat layers in thedrawer and she picked up one from the top. It was dark blue with a Crimson DoorTattoo logo on the chest.

She dropped her towel and slipped into herpanties before pulling his shirt over her head. It was much too big, but she likedwearing his shirt. Liked it a little too much, she supposed. She briefly consideredputting her other clothes back on, cringed at the thought of wearing the dirtypants and t-shirt, and instead grabbed her comb from the bag. She combed her wethair, gently pulling out the snarls and then braided it.

God, she felt so much better after herbath. She grabbed some orange juice from the fridge and took a swig as theapartment door opened and Preacher entered.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hey.” He placed the bag on the counter. “Howdo you feel?”

“Better,” she said. “The bath reallyhelped. In fact, I’ll head home after dinner. The cold meds and the -”

She clapped her hand over her mouth beforeerupting into a coughing fit that bent her over with the force of it. Shecoughed and coughed, trying to catch her breath as Preacher pressed his hand onher upper back.

He rubbed slowly as her coughing fit easedand then pushed the bottle of juice into her hand. “Drink.”

She drank a few swallows, the acidic juiceburning her throat. “Better, thanks.”

He nodded and headed to the bathroom. Hereyes widened. She had left a bunch of her toiletries in the bathroom rightnext to his, like she had moved in for God’s sake. He would be pissed. Sheset the juice down and hurried forward, squeezing past him just as he got tothe bathroom.

“I’m so sorry,” she said as she scooped upher toiletries. He frowned at her as, juggling her toothbrush, toothpaste, andantiperspirant in one hand, she snatched up her shampoo, conditioner, and bodywash from the edge of the tub.

“Sorry,” she repeated as she scurried outof the bathroom. The box of tampons was still in his bathroom, but she wouldneed them again before she left. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be too bothered by thebox sitting on the sink.

He watched silently as she dumped hertoiletries into the bag. “Thank you again for picking those up for me. It wasnice to have a bath.”

He just nodded and disappeared into thebathroom. She wandered over to the window and peeked through the blinds, peoplewatching until Preacher returned. He opened the bag and pulled out a fewcontainers. “Go sit on the couch.”

She sat on the couch as he brought the foodover and set it on the coffee table in front of them.

“Here.” He handed her one container.

She took the lid off and smiled a little.It was chicken noodle soup. “You brought me soup.”

“You’re sick,” he said. “It’s from Nan’s.”

“Thank you.” She spooned a few mouthfulsinto her mouth. She was so stuffed up that she couldn’t taste a thing, but sheate the entire container of soup as he ate a steak sandwich and salad.

“You want some of mine?” he asked when shewas finished.

“No, I’m full. It was good.”

“You’re so stuffed up you probably can’ttaste anything.” He studied her face and hating that he was seeing her look soawful, she looked down and picked away some non-existent lint from the front ofhis shirt.

“I borrowed one of your shirts. I hopethat’s okay.”

“It’s fine.” He gave no explanation forwhy he hadn’t brought her any clothes but underwear.

He handed her a bottle of water. “Youshould drink some water. You’re dehydrated.”

“Thanks.”

She drank half the bottle of water beforesetting it on the coffee table. Her stomach was cramping from her period andshe was shivering from a combination of cold and exhaustion. She closed hereyes and rubbed at her forehead as Preacher finished his meal. Her headachehad returned, just as she predicted. She didn’t look up when Preacher stoodfrom the couch. He returned a few minutes later.

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