Page 64
Chapter 34
Addison had never been one to stay in bed, but no matter how many times she told herself it was mind over matter—just sit up, swing your legs over—she couldn’t manage to stand. Every wasted minute made losing Netta more likely, and yet even the short trips to the adjoining bathroom left her dizzy and sweating.
The next day, she was raring to go even though her annoying fever still came more often than it went. Oliver threatened to tie her to the bed if she didn’t rest for another twenty-four hours.
“Netta’s future depends on my finding Kyle as soon as possible. She needs me.”
Sinking to the bed next to her, Oliver swept a lock of hair from her forehead. “She needs her aunt alive and well more. I’ve never seen someone hit by the flu this hard. Give it one more day. Tomorrow, we’ll go to Galway. Today, I need you to rest. I saw you walk to the bathroom this morning. You were bent over like you were ninety and recovering from hip surgery.”
“That’s how I walk to not get dizzy.”
His crooked smile reached his eyes. “My point exactly.” Cupping her cheek with his cool hand, he leaned closer. “You’re not going anywhere until you can make it to the bathroom upright. Deal?”
She fell back into the pillows. Ouch. Even that hurt. “I never get sick.”
“That’s probably why it hit you so hard. You’ve been in full-on fight mode for months.”
Wasn’t that the truth. “I hate Kyle for disappearing like this. For not leaving us a way to contact him.”
Threading their fingers together, he waited until she met his gaze. “It’s who your brother is. You have to accept that.”
“Wise words from someone who can’t stand him.”
“I don’t need to accept him.” He pulled back the duvet. “He’s not my sibling.”
No, he wasn’t. “What are you doing?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Getting under the covers with you. It’s the only way I can keep you bedbound.”
Well, maybe she could close her eyes just for a few minutes. Slipping into his arms, she rested her cheek on his chest.
Okay, one more day wouldn’t hurt. Tomorrow, she’d probably make it across the room without nearly passing out.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow, they’d talk to Kyle’s wife. Maybe she held the missing puzzle piece that would lead them to him. Then again, maybe speaking to her would be a waste of time. Lulled by the steady beat of Oliver’s heart beneath her ear and the soft tap of rain against the windows, she slept.
Addison woke to a dark, empty bed and the sound of the shower running. Oliver had been leaving the curtains open since the thunderstorm, but dawn had yet to break the horizon.
The water stopped, and Oliver stepped into the bedroom.
Sitting up, she flipped on the lamp on the nightstand next to her. Water beads slid down his chest as he wrapped a towel around his naked hips.
Whoa. Sometime between her falling asleep last night and now, the man had cut his hair and trimmed back his beard.
Before, when he’d been all wild and shaggy, he’d looked dangerous and sexy. But now, all cleaned up? He was almost unreasonably handsome.
The problem was, he wouldn’t look at her—focusing on the corner where wall met floor, keeping his good side to her.
Unable to help herself, she whistled.
He met her gaze carefully, hesitantly. Her heart broke at the vulnerability he no longer attempted to hide.
She rolled her tongue back up in her mouth and smiled brightly. “You clean up well, Icefall.”
When his attention dropped to her breasts, she felt the flush spread from her belly all the way up her neck. What was with this effect he had on her? Ridiculous. But at least she was feeling better.
Before she could think of something else to say, he pounced on the bed, water-beaded body and all, slanting his mouth over hers. She let the kiss last five seconds—okay, fifteen—before pulling back, remembering.
“It’s your birthday today,” she said against his mouth, gently shoving him into the pillows and straddling him.
