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“You stay here today and rest.” I sit on the edge of the bed and give Lincoln a kiss. “Lots of water. No driving and absolutely no chili.”
His eyes sparkle with laughter at my chili joke. He knows I’m never going to let it go. He finally says, “I’m fine.”
“You are not fine. You were dizzy when you stood up earlier and you have a headache. Nurse West says, stay in bed today.”
“I would feel so much better if you had a PVC nurse’s outfit on, Nurse West.” He dramatically pouts.
“Oh yeah. Let me just pull one out of my magician's hat for you.”
“Fantastic. I'll lie here while you get changed into it.” He lets out a sigh. He is still teasing today but he is not his usual quick, smart-ass self I’ve come to know and adore.
“If you are well in a few days, you can come to the gym with me, but today I am giving you strict orders to watch a series on television. I have made your lunch. I put it in the fridge and you need to rest. No strenuous tasks for you today and Pom-pom doesn’t need a walk; he’s done several laps of my swimming pool-sized bed today already.” I laugh when Lincoln sits Pom-pom on top of his head.
“He can heal my head today.”
“Good plan. He’s a good therapy dog.”
With his giant hand, Lincoln removes his little white fluffy body from his dark locks and places him on his lap on top of the bedcovers.
“Are you okay with me staying in your house all day by myself? You barely know me.” He leisurely strokes Pom-pom.
“Oh, I know you, Lincoln. I’ve spent more time with you in these past few days and found out things about you I never even came close to with my last boyfriend. I trust you. However, I hid my great-great-great Aunt Brenda’s sapphire engagement ring just in case.”
“Wise decision.” He props himself up against the bed pillows. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Looking after me last night. I know you got little sleep because of worrying about me and that you have a busy today ahead, but I’m very grateful.”
I run my fingers down his cheek and stare into his big brown eyes.
He’s worth it.
“Just promise me you will rest today.”
“Okay, mom.”
Not knowing if this is the right time or not, I figure there is never a right time for this type of conversation, so I say, “Speaking of moms. Last night when I couldn’t sleep, I did a bit of research online and discovered a UK agency who can find long-lost family members.”
He pulls his head back slightly. “You did that for me?”
I nod my head. “I’m not saying you should go searching, but I wanted you to know that you can if you want to, that’s all. It’s a possibility.” I dip my gaze and play with my pastel-colored abstract floral bedding. “I just thought maybe you would like to find that missing part of you that’s out there somewhere when you are ready.”
He tips my chin up. “I think I might have already found it.”
“You’re clearly concussed.”
“I’m not. You look beautiful today.” His lips curl slowly into a smile.
“Definitely delirious,” I whisper.
He leans forward and kisses me with such heartfelt emotion. It’s a soft ghost of a kiss, barely a kiss at all, but it sets off a tornado of sparks swirling in my lower belly. Not ideal before heading into a full day of work, but the things this man does to me.
“Can you send me the details so I can at least have a look?” He kisses my cheek. “I kind of made my decision in my head yesterday that I wouldn’t go searching.” He kisses my forehead. “Because I think I’m starting to see the full picture.” He kisses my temple before he leans back. “Right there.” He closes one eye, then makes a picture frame with his fingers, framing my face as if he’s a photographer. “Perfect.”
A feeling I can’t describe hits my chest and whatever he asks of me, I’m in. All in.
