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I rubbed my hands over Cam’s shoulders and tuned out the others. “I think you need to rest, little pet. If you’re getting sick, I don’t want you near any drastic temperature changes.” Such as right here. The water was somewhat warm, but the glass walls had high humidity on one side and March cold on the other.
Cam glanced up at me with a dopey smile. “I love it when you get fussy, Owner—just don’t forget to give me tasks too.”
It was possible I could use the reminder, but we had time. “You’ve been home for less than twelve hours. Speech restrictions and chores will be back in full force soon enough. But if you’re getting sick, you know we play by different rules until you feel better.”
He grew pensive for a beat, then nodded once. “Fair enough. I guess I’m just a little worried you’re going to hold back. Maybe go too easy on me. But you know chores make me happy, right?”
Christ, he did know me awfully well. I hugged him to me and pressed my lips to his wet hair. “Full disclosure…? It’s a valid concern. So how’s this—in the next day or so, we’ll know if one of Master Greer’s kids has made you sick. And when you feel better, we’ll sit down and discuss what we’re ready for.”
He peered up at me again, and the smile was back. “That sounds good. But it doesn’t have to be one of his children, you know.”
“I’m almost certain,” I stated. “This is what children do. But fear not. I will shoot them down with squirt guns and water balloons to protect your honor.”
He snickered and pressed a kiss to my neck. “My hero.”
That was the goal.
“For now, make yourself some tea and rest,” I murmured. “When Penelope leaves, I want to find you in our bed, buried under the covers, watching a movie. Or sleeping.”
“Yes, Master.”
* * *
I owed Macklin a big favor. When Penelope and I returned to the den, she told me I could relax. She wasn’t going to grill me too hard.
“I understand your speech comes from a place of love,” I said and sat down.
“And fear,” she replied. “Fear of not getting to experience you as a curmudgeon in your eighties.”
I chuckled softly and rubbed at my chest. Every now and then, I felt those annoying twinges that ramped up my worry. Reminding me that quitting my job was far from enough. It was going to be a long road to recovery. Plus, I had that inflammation or whatever the doctor had said. KC had looked up something called costochondritis.
We’d see what my doctor said tomorrow.
“Does it hurt?” Penelope’s green gaze flashed with concern.
“Not too much. Just enough to remind me and make me fret.” It was easier to play it off as a lighthearted situation, when it was anything but.
“Don’t lie to me, Lucian.”
“I’m not—” Fuck. I blew out a breath. “I’m not lying. I’m merely downplaying it a tad. Believe me, I’m brutally honest with KC and the boys.”
“Oh, so friends don’t get the brutal honesty.” She cocked a brow.
“Exactly.” I nodded.
She sighed heavily and pulled something from the front pocket of her hoodie. “Anyway. Here. Knowing you, you’re a day or two away from climbing the walls, so I thought I’d introduce you to a hobby.”
She tossed a flat pouch of some sort next to my coffee, and I furrowed my brow and picked it up. Tomatoes? Tomato seeds?
“Wasn’t this how the Godfather died, picking tomatoes?”
She smirked. “Something or the other. When he was old. Try to get there, will you? It pains me to say this, but you’re important to me.”
Aw, damn it all. If she was going to get sentimental, I couldn’t pretend to be dismissive about her worry—or her…gift. And hey, perhaps she was right. I would certainly need something to do around here when everyone else went off to work. Growing tomatoes—that could be my thing.
“Come here, please.” I patted the spot next to me. “I appreciate you, darling. And now it’s time for me to play big brother.”
“Oh, spare me.” She said it in a teasing tone but came over, nonetheless, and that meant something. She could protest all she wanted, but this was her coming out of hiding. I hadn’t been bullshitting about the cry for help. If she’d wanted to handle things on her own, she would’ve shown up in her skinny jeans, high heels, and red lipstick that completed the look.
