Page 64 of Heart Strings & Hotlines
She blinks a few times, then stares at me, but I’m not sure she’s actually focused on anything. “Thane?”
“Shh. It’s okay. I need you to take your medicine, and then you can go back to sleep. Can you do that for me?”
She nods and opens her mouth. Just as four hours prior, I drop the pills into her mouth, then guide the straw to her lips. She sucks but she still isn’t drinking enough for my liking. I’ll have to google that after I deal with Kara and Boone.
“Did you swallow them?”
She nods and drops her jaw so I can check. Even her tongue is sexy as hell.
“Good girl.” I lower her to the mattress, and I think she mumbles a thank you, but she’s also been muttering a bunch of nonsense I can’t figure out.
Once again, I mummify her in the blankets, then head down to put out my tenth fire of the day.
* * *
“Brad!All my stuff is over there,” Kara wails while I ruminate on Boone’s words.
He’s a giant of a man, my height, about six-four, I would guess, but his broad shoulders and full beard make him more intimidating. At least until he speaks. He’s the epitome of a gentle giant, according to Kara, but I can barely hear the guy half the time.
“I have the family room enclosed in plastic. You’ll be able to get in to grab your stuff, but this is going to push our deadline back by at least a month. But the last thing you want to do is take shortcuts with mold and asbestos.”
“No. I’ll not put Kara’s health at risk.”
“Where will we stay?” My little sister is probably hoping that this is her ticket back to New York, but that’s not in our immediate future.
Charlotte’s front door opens, and I curse my visitors for not locking it behind them.
Mr. and Mrs. Carver enter with another shopping basket. I might understand the satisfaction Kara receives from eye rolls now.
“How’s the patient? We’ve brought her soup…” Mrs. Carver’s gaze lands on Boone. “Didn’t know you were here, Boone. How are you?”
“I’m good, Mrs. Carver, thank you. Thane’s got an issue over at his house though.”
A growl rumbles in my chest. Why does everyone insist on sharing personal information all the time?
“What kind of issue?” Mr. Carver asks.
Before I can cut in, Boone ushers them to Charlotte’s sofa as if he lives here, and my volcano begins to spit in my chest.
“Mold and asbestos. They’ll have to move out for a while. We were just discussing where they’d stay.”
“I won’t leave Charlotte.” I glance around as my voice echoes in the small space.
“Tone, Thane.” Mrs. Carver clucks, and it makes Kara snicker.
“This is a tough one,” Mr. Carver says, fiddling with the decorative jars Lottie has on her coffee table. Why must he touch everything? “The bed and breakfast is closed for renovations, and the closest hotel would be over by Dollywood, about forty minutes from here.”
“That’s not acceptable. Charlotte’s ill and needs me.” Heat races through my body at the thought. She’ll never willingly be dependent on another person—she’s too strong for that—but I do like taking care of her. More than like, actually… It feels right on a molecular level.
This is where I’m supposed to be.
“I just rented out my last property yesterday,” Boone says. “I don’t have any other availability for a few weeks.” He scratches his head as he talks. It’s like he has fleas, and it makes my own head itch.
Fucking Boone.
“Well, Lottie’s got the guest room above her office. There’s also a twin bed in the storage room she never got rid of.” Mrs. Carver taps her thigh while she thinks.
“Done. Rafe will stay in the guest room, and Kara will take the twin bed for now.”
