Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
His tongue slid between her lips, teasing. Tasting.
More. She wanted more. She slid her hand behind his head, her fingers tangling in his hair.
An alarm sounded from outside the room, making her jolt, and she suddenly realized what they were doing.
Making out while her uncle slept beside them.
This was not her greatest moment.
“I’m sorry,” she said at the same time as Ian started apologizing.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said.
Great. That was what every girl wanted to hear. A man regretting kissing her.
And, of course, it just had to be the best kiss she’d ever experienced.
Why couldn’t a nice guy who wanted to be with her, to worship her, kiss her like that?
Sometimes, the world just wasn’t fair.
“I, um, it was my fault.”
“No. It wasn’t. I took advantage of you when you were vulnerable. That’s not acceptable.”
Right. Cool. Good talk.
“I can’t . . . let’s just . . . I can’t . . .”
Apparently what she couldn’t do was spit out an entire sentence.
“Let’s just forget about that for the moment. We need to concentrate on looking after you.”
Right. Okay. Forget. She could do that.
Maybe.
“Forget about it. It never happened. Got it.”
“I never said to pretend it never happened,” he told her in a low, growly voice. “I don’t want to forget it happened forever. Just that this isn’t the right time.”
What?
What did that mean? That he’d liked the kiss? Oh God. Now she was even more confused.
“Just let it go for now. You need taking care of and I’m falling down on that.”
She really didn’t agree.
“You need to eat,” he insisted.
“I’m really not hungry.”
“You have to be. You haven’t eaten all day.”
“I feel kind of sick,” she admitted.
“That’s from the lack of sleep and stress. Now, either you eat or I feed you.”
She sighed but nodded. Ian moved the table around so it rested over her lap. There was a chicken salad sandwich. Some cut up fruit with yogurt and a glass of orange juice.
“What about you?” she asked.
“I ate before.”
“That’s good.” She just continued to stare at the food. She was too tired to even pick the spoon up for the fruit.
Ian let out a small grunt before he opened the sandwich packaging. He held one half up to her mouth. “Open. Bite. Chew.”
She rolled her eyes at him but did as ordered. To her surprise, she quickly found herself taking another bite.
Turns out, she was hungry. She ate most of the sandwich and some of the fruit before shaking her head.
“Very good.”
A flush filled her cheeks and he gave her a knowing look.
“Thanks for staying with me. I know it’s your job to watch out for us, but I . . . I appreciate it.”
“It might be my job, Little Misft. But it’s also my privilege. And I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
She gaped up at him in surprise. He said that like he really meant it.
“I’m just so worried.” Her lower lip trembled.
“Hey. Everything is going to be all right.” He moved the table away and drew her up so he could sit down. Then settled her in his lap. She turned so she could press her face into his chest. His arms surrounded her, filling her with a sense of safety.
“You spoke to him,” Ian told her. “He seemed good. And you heard the nurse, he’s doing well. Everything is going to be okay.”
Would it, though?
Because eventually, this horrible disease would take him from her. A sob escaped. She tried to hold it in, but she couldn’t.
“What is it? What’s wrong? Are you in pain?” Alarm filled his voice as he tried to draw her back away from him.
But she clung to him like a barnacle to a ship’s hull. No doubt he could have removed her with some force. But she knew Ian would never risk hurting her.
The sound of the door opening barely registered.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong with Maggie?” Jack asked quietly. “I thought you said William was doing better.”
“As far as I’m aware, he is,” Jameson said.
Great. Jameson was here too.
“Ian? Did you say something to her?” Jack snapped.
She’d never heard him sound so angry. Maggie wiped at her cheeks, turning her face away from Ian’s chest.
“It’s nothing Ian did. I’m just . . . I’m relieved that Uncle Willy is okay. He’s . . . I’m much closer to him than anyone else in my family. He’s always been there for me, always understood me. When I desperately needed a job, he gave me one. I know it was because I’m his niece, but I’ve worked hard to help him. I hope I do.”
“Of course you do,” Jameson said. “And Kate said that he woke up and was conversing. So far, everything is looking really good. So you don’t need to worry.”
“I . . . yes. Thank you.”
“Jack said he went home and got you all some clothes, but I think you should go home and get some rest,” Jameson told her. “You look exhausted. I’ve finished my shift, but everyone here will take good care of him.”