It was nice to have people to worry about you, she supposed.“You needn’t worry,” she tried to say, but her voice wavered through the words.
“May I come in?”he asked quietly, cracking the door open and speaking through it.
“It sounds like you already are,” she said wearily.
Nat pushed the door open, and his eyes widened at the sight of her.
Thea glanced down.She’d forgotten she was wearing her nightgown.Normally, she would have been dressed for the day long before now.
“I’m sorry to intrude,” he said, “but I wanted to make sure you were well.”He glanced at her with skepticism.“It doesn’t look as if you are.”
“I will be fine,” she said, waving her hand at him, even though the motion took effort.“I was just getting up.”
“I don’t think you are,” he said, shaking his head and walking toward her.“You need to lie down.”
“I do not need to lie down,” she said, her voice frosty.“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine,” he said sternly, reaching out to put his hand on her shoulder.It took everything in her not to lean into his touch the way she once had.
“You’re burning with fever,” he said, frowning at her.“I can feel it through your nightgown.Lie down.I will take care of you.”
“But the café—” she began, and he shook his head.
“I’ll put a sign on the door.People will understand.You’re allowed to be sick occasionally.”
“I’m not sick,” she tried to protest, but he gently pushed her shoulder until she had no choice but to lean back and lie down again.Her pillow felt cool on her cheek.
“Rest, Thea.”There was a warmth in his voice that echoed the love in his eyes.She closed her eyes so she didn’t have to see it.
“It is nice to lie down,” she admitted.“You’re sure the café will be all right?”
“If anyone has a problem with it, they can take it up with me,” he said sternly.“You need to rest, and I won’t hear another word.”
Thea sighed and opened her eyes to grimace at him.“If you say so.”
“I do,” he said cheerfully.“And you have no choice but to listen to me.Stay here.I’ll bring you some tea.”
“I don’t need—” she began, but he cut her off with a stern glance.
“What you need is to let somebody take care of you,” he said.“I don’t want to hear any more arguments.”
Thea sighed and closed her eyes.It didn’t seem worth it to argue with him.There was nothing that Nathaniel was better at than taking care of someone.She knew that all too well, and it was nice to be reminded of it, even if it rankled that she had to experience it once again when she’d had no intention of letting him get any closer.
Knowing him, he was probably excited to get to make her tea again.
He was the only one other than her parents who had ever taken the time to learn how she liked it and regularly bring it to her.
She’d missed that.
“I will be right back,” he promised, hurrying out the door.
With the door now open, Ginger left, too, and Thea closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.This was not how she’d planned on spending her day.
The next thing she knew, Ginger was snuggled on top of her legs, and there was a glass of water beside her bed.She hadn’t even noticed that he’d brought it.Her cheeks heated at the thought of him being in her bedroom without her noticing.But if there was anyone she would trust in that position, it was Nathaniel.He, of all people, knew how to take care of her.She reached out and took a sip of the water, then closed her eyes again.
There was a knock at the door, and Thea opened her eyes to see Nathaniel opening the door quietly and poking his head in.
“You’re awake,” he said brightly when he saw her eyes open.“I was wondering if you would be.You’ve had quite a long nap.”
