Page 73 of Sassy Love
Rolling over, she presses into my side, hunting for warmth. I slide my arm around her and lean my head back on the headboard. It’s been a long few weeks. I could just close my eyes...
“...t
ouch me, please.”
I blink against the darkness, remembering where I am. Carlie is still up against my side. My arm is numb from her lying on it for hours.
“More,” she whimpers.
Fever dreams?
I check her temperature with the back of my hand. The devil’s lair has nothing on the heat of her forehead. Shit, how long were we asleep?
I try to retract my arm, and she mumbles, rolling over, burying her face into my chest. Blonde waves fall over my arm and shoulder.
Even in the darkened room, the elegant features that make up Carlie Lamont take me aback. Maybe more so.
I run a hand over her hair and brush my hands over her neck. She’s too hot.
“Carlie, wake up.”
“Mmmmm, no.”
“We need to get some more medicine down, you’re burning up again.”
Her head rises, so slowly she looks out of it. Hell, she probably is, going by the mutterings that woke me up. “Lawson?”
“Yeah, right here.”
“I love your drawl.”
I chuckle.
She jerks, blinking. “Did I say that out loud?”
Running a hand over her forehead, I double-check her temperature. “Come on, you need some painkillers.”
“Did you know Millie has a boyfriend... his name is Henry.” She’s gazing nowhere in particular as she continues in a whispering tone, “Met him at book club.”
“Did she? Good for her.”
She tilts her head back. “You think so?”
“I do. Everyone deserves love.”
“You are such a sap.” Her eyes are half closed again.
I lift her from my body and sit her up. She sways on her seat. I pop the pills from the pack, and she opens her mouth. I drop them onto her tongue and press the drink into her hands. She swallows the pills, and I lie her back on her pillow.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” I say, leaving the bed. I pad into the kitchen, where the lights are all still on. Millie sits in an old armchair, watching television. She looks up at me. “Oh, how is she?”
“The fever’s pretty bad, but I gave her some more painkillers. You needing anything?”
I come to stand by her chair, and she takes my hand in both of hers. “No, sweet boy, I’m fine.”
It’s been a long time since anyone called me that.
“You holler if that changes, okay?”
