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“The paint probably,” Grey said. His stormy gaze was dark with purpose. “I should’ve figured out a way to keep it more ventilated in there.”
“All the windows were open.”
Grey watched her with concern. Even though it killed her that he might get the wrong idea, she was glad that Porter hadn’t told him that she was pregnant. She just wasn’t ready for that to get around, yet. It would happen soon enough.
“It’s not your fault,” Cadence said. “I… uh, locked my knees. You should’ve seen me at band camp.”
“Band camp?” Porter asked.
“I played the trombone,” she admitted.
He laughed at that. “That is so sexy.”
“It is not!” she cried out, though she was aware that somehow he’d given her more strength with the accusation. It seemed like his teasing only had the power to save her from death’s door.
“Do you need a sandwich?” Sky asked.
Ugh! The thought of food made her want to puke right now. No, not again. She sniffed and felt faint again. It was the paint that was getting to her. “Maybe a shower,” she said weakly. “I’ve got to get this off of me.” What if this was bad for the baby? She hadn’t even done her homework! Her panic overwhelmed her. “These fumes-these fumes are not… good.”
“A cold dip,” Grey said, glancing over at Porter. “Take her to the lagoon to the side of those hot streams, the ones that run off from the glaciers. It might be just the thing she needs.”
“Is this the waterfall?” she asked, remembering how Porter had lured her here in the first place with talk of summer fun.
“Yes.” His eyes warmed on hers. “You haven’t experienced Harvest Ranch without a good dip in the water.”
Cadence grimaced. She’d ruined the day with her new fragility. Despite all of her reservations about coming out here with Porter, the reality of what was happening was not at all how she’d expected this Saturday to go. She might as well be puking in the nearest potted plant again.
“I hear they put aphrodisiac in our water,” Grey said. He glanced over at his wife and she bumped him with her shoulder.
“Stop it! Don’t listen to him.”
She didn’t have to worry. Cadence could barely concentrate through her roiling stomach. Grey backed away, and when he came back with a four wheeler, she began to worry again. “How far are these falls?” she asked.
“Close,” Porter reassured her. He should be reassuring himself. He was most in danger of bearing the brunt of her rebelling stomach.
“Take these water bottles.” Sky pushed them into their hands. “I promise, Angel, you’ll feel better soon.”
“Porter’s good at that,” Grey said. She could swear that there was a grin dancing over his friend’s lips before he bit it down. She was dimly aware that they were teasing Porter about something that she couldn’t quite grasp in her dizziness.
Grumbling something back at his friend that sounded suspiciously close to “shut up,” Porter helped Cadence into the seat, before getting onto the four-wheeler behind her. She stared at his muscular arms as they slid around her to get to the handlebars. He gripped them hard.
“Hold her tight,” Grey warned.
Of course he would, whether she was in danger of falling off or not. That was the one thing she could trust about Porter—he was strong and he wanted her close.
She felt the same, even if she shouldn’t.
Chapter Fifteen
“I’m not used to trusting anyone.”
Her words echoed through him like a mad tune that was caught in his head.
Was it really true?
Angel seemed so fragile in his arms while he drove her up to the waterfall. The dirt road jostled them around, though he tried to take it easy. He hadn’t missed how pale her face had become. She groaned out, leaning into his chest. He tucked his chin over her head, trying to reassure her with his murmured words that she’d never hear over the loud engine.
She’d feel better soon.
