Page 49 of Desiring an Angel

I might not be exactly what Rhett had envisioned—he’d made that crystal clear without a single word—but I would find a way to bring sunshine into his life or I would find myself jobless and homeless.

18

Ashton

The whole flight then car ride home from the airport, I’d dealt with lingering nausea from the wine the night before. Or perhaps underlying anxiety had continued to sneak its way through my excitement to see Skylar again.

God knew I was exhausted from all the traveling in such a short time.

I had felt pale, and Rhett had even questioned if I was all right, but I’d waved off his concern, assuring him I was fine.

A tummy bug, probably.

Or indigestion since slight abdominal pain had come with that latest upset stomach after eating a quick breakfast.

The sight of Skylar, having her in my arms had made me forget my discomfort, but the second Rhett and I left her in the kitchen to finish preparing dinner, my insides heaved.

I hugged our toilet, retching and coughing even though I hadn’t eaten much all day.

“Ash.”

“I’m fine.” I spit bile into the toilet bowl and flushed. Pushing to my feet left me a little weak.

Rhett lay his hand on the back of my neck and squeezed, but I turned away to brush my teeth.

“It’s just an upset stomach. I haven’t been right since drinking that second glass of wine last night.”

“Are you feverish? Need a couple Tylenol or something?”

“No.”

“Sure you’re okay, baby?”

“Yep.” I brushed my teeth, and Rhett retreated to our bedroom, leaving me alone.

I peered at myself in the mirror above the sink, noting my paler than usual skin and smudges beneath my eyes. The violent heaves felt like they’d pulled a muscle in my sternum too—similar to what I’d experienced before but definite muscle soreness.

I probably just needed to curl up in our bed and sleep to set myself straight.

Emptied, my stomach seemed better, and that sense of hunger for the dinner Skylar had prepared for us returned.

Rhett pulled me into his arms before I crossed our room for the open door. “Sorry for how I reacted to her, but she’s young and immature…she’s…a lot.”

I grinned. “Refreshing, I think you mean.”

Rhett grunted, but it wasn’t an agreement sound. “She messed up my hair.”

“Gave you my favorite look—like you’d been thoroughly fucked,” I joked, hoping to keep things light.

“She untied my tie like she had the right to touch me.”

“Don’t tell me you weren’t dying to rip it off on your own. Why the hell you wear those damn things while flying, I’ll never understand.”

“It makes me feel put together.”

Because his insides weren’t, he didn’t tack on, but I knew his tics.

“Loosen up a bit, Rhett. That’s all she was impulsively hoping to help you do. It’s been a rough couple of days, but we’re home now. This is a safe place for you to relax.”

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