Page 52 of A Twist of Faith
“Let’s say she was. What do you think about that sort of thing?”
She folded her arms and gave him a direct look. “I think people need to mind their own business.”
Reese’s grin stretched wide and he closed his eyes again.
“Why are you grinning like that?”
“Like what?” It felt good to close his eyes.
“Like … like you know something I don’t.”
Reese yawned and rested his head against the back of the couch. “I know a whole lot of things you don’t.”
“That’s not what I mean.” Her voice held a fighting edge, and fighting with her was a whole lot more fun than fixing his speech. “Stop grinning like that right now.”
Darkness hovered on the edges of his periphery. Sweet, warm darkness, scented with apples. A chill trembled up through his chest. “Dee, I’m a might bit cold.”
“That’s normal with a fever,” came her clipped reply.
He forced his words out on a whisper. “Will you do something for me?”
A shift in the weight of the sofa let him know she’d moved closer. She sighed and the blankets readjusted around his shoulders. “What do you need?”
He peeked through his lashes to get a glimpse of her reaction. “I need you to light my fire.”
Her eyes widened and then narrowed, even as her lips tilted ever so slightly to hide a laugh. With one fluid movement, she jerked the pillow off the couch beside him and hit him upside the head with it. “Not on your life, cowboy.”
He fell asleep?She’d hit him with the pillow and next his deep roaring snore responded. Incredible. Dee looked down at Lou who just shrugged.
“He’s been doin’ that all day long. Just fallin’ dead asleep right in the middle of talking.”
“And you two here with him?”
Lou smiled. “Oh, he’d wake up in a flash if Brandon started fussin’ or something. He just keeps dozing on and off. Grandpapa used to do that too, but his snore was a whole lot bigger than Daddy’s.”
“Your dad doesn’t need to be alone without someone to help him.”
“But he ain’t alone, Ms. Doc.” Lou’s dark brows scrunched together. “You’re here.”
Dee stared at Reese Mitchell’s sleeping face, tenderness tugging at her smile. Shewashere. And, to her surprise, even with a snoring grizzly on the couch and two needy children,herewas exactly where she wanted to be. She touched Reese’s hair, dampened and curled from sweat.
Light his fire, indeed? She snickered and studied his peaceful countenance. Even with the bear-like snore and the general discomfort of being sick, gentleness remained. It blended as much a part of him as his smile. She nestled up a little closer.
“Why are you smilin’ at my sick daddy, Ms. Doc?”
Dee pulled her body to attention and fought the flush of warmth in her cheeks. “Happy thoughts always cause me to smile. Don’t they do the same for you, sweetie?”
“You’re smiling because he’s sick?”
“No.” Dee chuckled, face growing warm at the direct attention. “Because it’s nice to be here with you.”
Lou’s grin spread and she released a large, contented sigh. “It sure does make me happy to think about being a princess.”
Dee knelt forward and stared into Lou’s cherubic face. Ah, the sweetness of a little girl. “A very happy thought.”
“I’m going to be a princess that fights dragons. Ain’t no good to sit up in your tower and watch the prince have all the fun.”
“Smart thinking, Lou. Who’s to know when the prince may catch a bad cold and you’ll have to savehimfrom the dragon.”
