Page 27 of Take Me Home

“I’d love to.”

“You…what?”

“You need comfort. I’m an expert snuggler. As long as you don’t mind a stinky farm boy in your bed, I’m all for it.”

“Oh. Wow. Okay. Guess I’ll just…scoot over, then?”

“Let me go call Becca and get you a fresh washcloth. I’ll be right back. Hang tight.”

Jake left and I shifted over to make a Jake-sized space in the bed. This was really going to happen. This was such a terrible idea. What the fuck was I thinking asking an employee to cuddle me like some kind of child? But then Jake had proven himself more of a friend than just an employee. A friend with lots of lingering glances and attention to my emotional state.

By the time he came back, my heart pounded even more than it had been from being sick.

“Hey, you really don’t have to, Jake. Ooooh.” I reacted to the fresh cold washcloth he put on my neck.

“Rossetti, shush. I’m coming in. You want me under the sheets with you or on top of them?”

“Oh. Um, whatever’s more comfortable for you.”

“Since I’m wearing jeans and I’m kinda hot, I’ll go on top. Here, drink,” he said, holding out the Gatorade bottle to me.

“Cool. Yeah. Thanks,” I said, trying to be cool myself. “If you could just stay until I go to sleep, maybe? I don’t want to keep you.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“How’s Becca?”

“She got pretty hot yesterday, too. Said she feels a little crummy, so I told her to stay home today. Hope that’s alright with you,” Jake said.

“Yeah, of course. Thanks for doing that.”

Jake took off his hat and hung it on the bedpost. He laid down next to me, facing me on his side. I turned my head to smile at him.

“Hey. Thanks. I know this is…not usual.”

“I don’t care what’s usual. It’s what you need and I’m happy to help. Relax. Take off that Farm Boss hat. I have no problem with this. You shouldn’t either.”

“Okay. You’re right.” I clapped a hand over my mouth. “Oh God, I haven’t even brushed my teeth and I puked and everything.”

“Eh, who cares? I smell like the barn. You want me to spoon you, or just lay here with you? You tell me what you’re comfortable with,” he said, leaving plenty of room between us.

“I wantyouto be comfortable.”

“I am. I’m getting to lie down in the middle of the workday. Worry about you,” he said. “If you don’t make a choice, I’m just going to spoon the shit out of you here in a second. We all know it’s the superior snuggle.” He gave me a boyishly confident, dimpled smile. A real heart melter.

“Fine. Spoon me,” I laughed, turning on my side and shifting the washcloth around my neck.

“Alright. Close your eyes. I’m in charge now. You just relax. And if you don’t like something, please say so. Not trying to be a creep over here,” he said, cautiously scooting closer to me, his weight pressing down the bed behind me.

“Same. This is all a little ridiculous.”

“No, it’s not. Shut up. Relax,” Jake demanded, no heat in his tone. I could hear the smile in his voice.

I took a deep breath. Jake pulled up behind me and propped up on his bottom elbow, surrounding my shape in the bed. He stroked my hair, alternating between rubbing his fingertips against my scalp and petting over the sloppy curls. I melted into his touch. I love having my hair played with. It was still in that messy ponytail he’d styled while I was puking.

“Sorry you’re sick, Darcy. I don’t think I’ve said that yet. Being sick sucks,” he said.

“It really does. I don’t like feeling like a drain. I’m more of a doer, ya know?”

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