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“That explains the sound of glass breaking,” I said as I searched for the broom. After quickly cleaning that up, I filled two cups with ice and added water to one. I also filled a bowl with ice water before making my way to the only bathroom across the hall from Maverick’s bedroom.
I paused. Had Maverick redone the bathroom? I didn’t remember the large soaker tub or the walk-in shower with a huge showerhead.
An image of a naked Maverick popped into my mind, and I nearly dropped the two cups and bowl. I shook away the visual. “The man is sick, for goodness sake, Lily Shaw. Get it together!”
I set one cup on the counter and opened the medicine cabinet. It felt wrong to be looking through his stuff, but hardly anything was in it. Some Tylenol, Motrin, first-aid items, and a prescription for something. I wasn’t about to look and see what it was. I grabbed the two bottles of pain medicine, then a washcloth, and I rushed back to the bedroom.
Maverick had kicked off the sheet and had his arm thrown up, covering his eyes. I took the moment to study him again. I’d never seen a man so beautifully built. Not even Ben looked as good as Maverick. Probably the age difference and the hard labor of Maverick’s job, I told myself.
Something caught my eye, and I moved closer to see a scar on Maverick’s side. It appeared to run around to his back. I set the two cups down and leaned in closer. Had he been cut? It was a pretty big scar, and I had the urge to roll him over to see how far it went.
When Maverick suddenly moved, I nearly screamed and jumped back.
With a hand over my heart, I pulled the sheet back up to his waist. First, I wet the washcloth in the ice water and placed it over his forehead. Maybe I was supposed to put it on his wrists? I remembered being overheated one time, and my mother putting an ice-cold bottle of water against my wrist.
“She also put a washcloth over your head when you had a fever,” I muttered to myself.
Next, I sat on the bed and took a piece of ice in my hand. “Maverick?” I whispered as I placed a hand on his chest. My fingers itched to feel every inch of him, and I silently berated myself for having such thoughts when he was unconscious. And anyway, Maverick was like a brother to me.
Chewing on my lip, I looked down at his abs.
“Okay, maybe not a brother,” I softly whispered. I’d never truly thought of him that way; he was just too damn good-looking. I was just trying to rein in my thoughts.
“Maverick?” I said again as I tapped my hand lightly on his chest.
His eyes flew open, and his hand covered mine, causing me to jump.
“Jesus! You scared me.”
He frowned. “What’re you doing here, Lily?”
I swallowed and forced myself to speak slow and clear. My heart pounded in my ears, and I wasn’t sure why. When I looked down at his hand over mine, I realized his heart was racing as well.
From the fever, you idiot, not your touch.
“You have a fever, Maverick. A veryhighfever. Have you taken anything like Tylenol or Motrin?”
He shook his head.
I put the ice back into the cup and slid my hand out from under his and reached for the water. “Can you lean up and drink some water for me while I give you some Tylenol?”
Maverick’s gaze searched my face. “Why’re you here?” he asked again.
“I was worried about you when Clay said you were sick, so I rode over to check on you.”
Something in his eyes changed, and his stare became sharper. “You came here for me?”
Smiling, I nodded. “Of course, I did. When you answered the door, it was clear you weren’t feeling well. I helped you to bed, and when I suggested a bath, you said no.”
His brows drew in some. “A bath?”
“To help lower your fever. Here, put these in your mouth, then take a drink of water. Let me help you.”
Putting my hand behind his neck, I helped lift his head slightly so that he could take a drink of water. When he finished, I slowly put his head back on the pillow. He sighed and closed his eyes. The simple act of leaning up and drinking seemed to wear him out.
“How long have you been feeling sick?” I asked as I took an ice cube out of the cup.
He shrugged. “Don’t know. Hit me when I got home last night and just got worse from there.”
