Giselle and Eve packed a variety of clothes.What should I choose, though?It had been warm out—before I'd gotten sick.I wasn't sure about the weather today.It wasn't like I could check the weather app on my phone.Because my phone was thousands of miles away at the moment.
Oh, well.If I had to walk the mile back up here to change, that wouldn't exactly be the worst thing in the world.
I picked a cute summery dress and slipped it on.It wasn't formal or anything.Just breezy and light.I twirled around, making the skirt swish.I giggled and did it again.After that, I found a pair of cute, short-heeled white sandals and put those on.
Then I noticed the suitcase that Giselle and Eve had packed for me.It looked like Stefan had hung up most of the clothes, but I wondered if they'd packed me any makeup?My face could definitely use some color.
Sure enough, when I opened it up, I found makeup.No hair ties, though.And no girly soap.
I took the makeup and headed back to the bathroom.Makeup always worked wonders.But this makeup was magical.Giselle and Eve bought the best of the best brands—which wasn't surprising.
I finished up and stowed everything in a drawer.Then I went in search of Stefan.
I wandered down the long staircase but didn't see any sign of him.
I turned and walked through the living room and into the kitchen.A loud whirring noise greeted me.But I couldn’t look away from the view.
Gosh.
Imagine waking up every morning and walking into—this.
The blue sky and blue water played peacefully together out there.I just—stared at the beauty of it all.
The whirring noise stopped, and I turned my head to see Stefan at the stove.He was pulling a silver immersion blender out of a large pot.
“What are you making?”I asked as I walked toward him.“It smells wonderful.”To my nose, it smelled like chicken soup.
Stefan's eyes landed on me.He looked like I'd surprised him.
“You're up,” he said and set the handheld blender on the counter beside the stove.A few steps later, he pulled me into his arms.“You look beautiful.But how do you feel?”
I hugged him back and inhaled his cedary, manly scent.“Hungry.What are you making?”I pushed back and tried to look around his shoulder—but he wouldn't let me.
Instead, he held me tighter and kissed my lips.He tasted like coffee and maybe a hint of chicken soup.But mostly coffee.
And since I missed coffee—and Stefan—I kissed him back with enthusiasm.
He smiled against my lips.“Fuck.”He kissed me again.“You can kiss.”Then a sudden look of concern crossed his face.“Where's your IV poll?”He moved back and carefully grasped my arm.“And where's the needle they put in your hand?”Stefan frowned as he glared at me.
“I took it out before I showered.”I shrugged, wiggled my fingers.
His handsome jaw tightened.“I'll call the nurse.She can come back and put another one in.”
I had to laugh at how he was so obviously reining in his anger.“I don't need it anymore.I'm fine.”
His eyes scanned my face for a moment.“You were very sick, Francesca.You should follow their orders.”
Oh.
My.
Heart.
The concern in this man's voice was breaking my heart.
“They gave me an IV to replace the fluids I lost.I'm not losing fluids anymore.So, I'm fine,” I explained.He didn't seem easily convinced, though.“See?Look at my fingers.They're all puffy from the extra fluids.”I held up my hand to show him my semi-swollen fingers.“I'm full.And it'll take me a day or two until I get rid of what they gave me.My stomach is fine.”
Still—the man didn't seem to believe me.Not one bit.
