“I might stay with her until Blake comes home.”
I wave a hand, snuggling down onto the pillow beneath my head. “I’m fine; you guys go. Blake said to call him if I feel worse, so don’t worry.”
Barbara and Kayla exchange a look, but they leave after fussing around me and calling Blake to let him know I’m not doing too well.
I fall asleep, waking when a cool hand rests against my forehead, the sound of Blake cursing needling me awake.
“Danielle, you’re burning up.”
“I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not.” Blake lifts me into his arms, and I can barely open my mouth to argue with him.
I just want to sleep.
Everything aches.
“I’m calling a doctor.”
An hour later, a doctor arrives and insists on giving me a full check-up, including bedside blood tests which I didn’t even realize they do.
All part of being rich, I suppose.
“She’s dehydrated, and she’s fighting an infection. She needs to drink or be admitted to the hospital to go on an IV.”
“I’ll drink,” I whisper, my fingers lacing with Blake’s. “I want to stay here.”
Blake nods and kisses me on my damp forehead. “I’ll just see the doctor out, and I’ll be right back with plenty of water, I promise.”
BLAKE
Danielle is the color of stone, and she’s scorching to touch. She’s trembling beneath the thick duvet I’ve tucked around her—and the doctor thinks she’ll be okay to stay home?!
He raises his thick bushy brows at me. “Are you questioning my diagnosis?”
“No, not at all, no.” I run a hand through my hair, rubbing my mouth as I turn back to him. “I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
The doctor taps the blood vial in his hand. “I’ll get these to the lab as soon as possible, but I wouldn’t be concerned. It’s another nasty virus. Plenty of fluids. Keep her warm.”
The doctor nods at me and leaves, the door closing softly behind him.
The house is silent without Danielle’s laughter, so I head up to lie beside her.
“Drink, sweetheart.”
Danielle does her best with the water, but she’s too wiped out to sit up for long, even with my support. Maybe she should’ve gone to the hospital.
I pull her into my arms, soothing her as she shivers, great body-wracking shivers that make my heart flip.
She better be okay.
Soon, she settles into a deeper sleep, and despite being hotter than the sun, I remain entangled with her, kissing her head throughout the night.
“Hey.” I smile down at her as she sits up for a drink. “How are you feeling today?”
“Like I’ve been hit by a truck.”
I wince as she sighs, gulping down the water.
