Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 81930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Oh no.
She slid onto the ground by the tree and ended up lying on her back, staring up at the sky.
This wasn’t good.
“Oh, sweetheart!” someone called out.
She shied back with a whimper.
“It’s all right. I’m Rett. I work here as a teacher. Are you all right? Did you hurt yourself?”
Tears streamed down her face. She felt miserable.
“I don’t feel so good.”
A cool palm landed over her forehead. “You’re burning up. We need to get you back to the resort and call the doctor.”
“I want… I want my Marcus,” she cried.
“Marcus? We can find him.”
“And I want… my Daddy!”
“Your Daddy? Who is your Daddy?”
“E-Eliot.”
“Would I be able to pick you up and carry you to him?” he asked.
“I guess so.”
He was being very kind, but she didn’t know him, and she wanted Marcus and Eliot.
“Good girl. You’re being so brave. I’m just going to call Master Derek and let him know what’s going on.” He spoke briefly into his phone, but she tuned him out. She was trying to be brave, but it was really, really hard.
“Isla!”
She glanced over to see Marcus racing toward her. He threw his basket to one side as he kneeled beside her.
“What happened? What hurts? What can I do?” he asked.
“I don’t feel so good.” She sobbed. It was so embarrassing, but she couldn’t stop herself. He drew her onto his lap, talking to her quietly.
“My poor La-la. Shh. It’s okay. Everything is going to be all right.”
“Right. I’ve talked to Derek, and he’s going to call the doctor and find your Daddy.”
“We don’t have a Daddy,” Marcus said.
“Don’t you? It’s Isla, right? Is it okay if I pick you up?”
“I can do it,” Marcus protested.
“How about you walk with us and talk to her to keep her calm? She doesn’t feel very well, and she’s being so brave.”
Rett picked her up and it felt wrong to be in his arms. But that could be because she was so miserable. She just wanted Eliot and Marcus.
And to sleep for a zillion years.
Worry flooded through Eliot as he spotted them coming toward him. As soon as Derek told him that Isla wasn’t feeling well, he’d run off to find her.
She was being carried by Rett while Marcus was walking beside them.
How sick was she?
Was he… was he going to lose her?
Stop it. This isn’t the same as Anna. She’s likely got a cold or something.
He shook off his ridiculous thoughts and ran toward them.
“Baby? Are you all right? What happened?” he asked, reaching out to touch her cheek.
Shit. She was so hot.
“Found her lying on the ground,” Rett explained. “She’s running a fever. If you get her to the infirmary, the doc should be here soon.”
“Yeah-yeah, I will. Thanks, man.” He took her slight form in his arms, cradling her against his chest.
“Of course. Feel better soon, Isla.”
“Isla? Can you hear me?” Eliot asked as he headed to the infirmary. Marcus walked silently beside him, looking worried. He needed to reassure him.
But what did he say?
Come on, man. This is your job.
“Daddy?” she whispered. “I don’t feel so good.”
Eliot froze at the word Daddy. It wasn’t that he’d told them not to call him Daddy. But he hadn’t known how he’d feel about it.
And it felt weird. He didn’t know what to think.
When Anna was feeling poorly, he’d cuddle her close like this and rock her gently.
Now wasn’t the time for thinking about this. He had to get Isla back to the infirmary.
“Poor baby. Come on. Doctor Carter is coming to check you.” He was certain she didn’t see him hesitate. But as he looked over, his gaze met Marcus’ knowing one.
Maybe Isla hadn’t seen his indecision and worry. But it seemed Marcus had. And his face was closed off.
Shit.
The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt them.
Then why did you enter into this arrangement? You knew it had the potential to hurt them or you.
Are you so lonely, so selfish that you are willing to hurt them just to feel close to someone for a brief time?
Fuck. He had no idea.
As soon as they entered the infirmary, Nurse McIntosh had them lay her down on a table. Doctor Carter arrived, glancing briefly over to him.
“Maybe the two of you could wait out in the other room while I check the patient?”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Marcus said.
The doctor didn’t seem surprised. He started checking her over.
“Come, sit down,” Nurse McIntosh said with a soft smile. “Doctor Carter is the best. I’m sure Isla will be just fine.”
What if she wasn’t all right, though?
Shit.
Stop it.
He sat. But Marcus remained standing, watching over her.
“Marcus, you all right?”
Eliot glanced up as Nurse McIntosh asked that. Shit. He was fucking this all up.
“Isla’s sick,” Marcus said in a low, rough voice.
“But she’ll be all right,” the nurse reassured him.
“Marcus, come here.” He realized that his voice might have been a bit harsh as the nurse shot him a look. “Little boy, come here.”