by Christi Snow
“Sleeping Beauty? Not hardly,” he scoffed. “I think you have our roles reversed on this one.”
The bruise high up on her temple had darkened and spread beyond the edges of the bandage, looking vicious and painful. He gently brushed his fingers beside it, marveling that her skin was still as soft as it had been twenty years ago. “That looks like it hurts. How are you feeling?”
“I have a headache, but other than that, I’ve decided I’m just going to lay here and look at you all day. Then I won’t have to move and find out how much everything else hurts.”
He grinned as warmth spread through his chest. He liked that she still liked to look at him. That had to be a good sign, right?
“Well, as much as I’d like to lie here and serve as your eye candy,” he said very seriously, “I’m thinking that we might need something more to sustain us than that.”
Her stomach growled, the loud noise almost echoing through the quiet room. She giggled, and his heart surged.
He trailed his fingers down the side of her face and down the gentle slope of her neck. “That’s a good sound—the laugh, not the growl from your impending starvation—and this is a good look for you. I like how you look in my bed.”
Her eyes darkened. “I’m sorry how I reacted during our hike. It was over the top and you didn’t deserve that.”
He shook his head and placed his fingers over her mouth. “No. It was too fast. I know and respect that. I say we take this slow. Slower than we might normally with the depth of what we had between us before. Right now, I’m just happy that you’re still here with me—alive. I’ll take what I can get. In the meantime, I’ll do everything I can to prove to you that I’m not a risk.”
She started to say something, but her stomach growled again. An expression of mortification swept over her.
Gage laughed as she clutched at her stomach. “But if I let you die of malnutrition in my bed, none of this will work. Why don’t I go see if London’s soup is still edible?” He had no idea how long they’d been asleep, and he felt a stab of guilt that his daughter’s generous actions had been virtually ignored when they had gotten home.
He sure hadn’t planned on falling asleep with Felicia. But he hadn’t gotten much sleep last night after the scene between the two of them at the zoo. He’d thought he’d blown it, and now she was in his bed.
“Do you want to stay here, and I’ll bring it to you?” he asked her.
“No.” She levered herself to sitting with a wince of pain.
He settled a hand behind her back to give her some support.
“Thanks. I have to move eventually, so I might as well get it over with.”
He watched her, ready to give aid as she slowly stood.
He hated to see her hurting and wanted to do whatever he could to ease it. “After we eat, I’m thinking a hot bath might be a good idea to help those sore muscles relax.”
She closed her eyes. “That sounds heavenly. I’ll take you up on that.”
“I forgot to ask earlier, how are you not working today?” It was Saturday, and he knew her clinic was open on Saturdays.
“Once a month, I have a vet who normally works in a mobile unit come in and cover for me. It gives me a Saturday off and gives him a stationary location to practice if his patients want to come to him. It’s a great trade-off, and today was my day.”
She shuffled across the floor, obviously still in pain.
“Well, I’m not sure if that’s lucky or not,” he said. “While I’ve loved spending today with you, I’m thinking the tradeoff with your health wasn’t worth it. I almost wish you’d been safely ensconced in your clinic all day.”
She stilled and gazed at him with wide eyes. A shudder rolled over her. “With my nap, I forgot,” she whispered. “That person hit me on purpose, didn’t he? And you had told the police that he’d been in the forest with us.”
He nodded. He hadn’t been sure how much she’d been able to follow his statement to the police in the ER when she’d been in so much pain.
“Someone’s really trying to kill me. Do you think he saw us?” The horror in her voice made him want to wrap her up and take her far, far away from here. Someplace where she’d be safe.
Instead, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “I don’t know, Doc, but I’m not going to let him get close to you again. To get to you he’s going to have to go through me.” He didn’t know how he would work it out, but he didn’t plan on letting her out of his sight again...not until this maniac was caught.
“Come on,” Gage said. “Let’s go find some food. Everything will feel more manageable after your basic needs are met.”
She nodded. “Speaking of basic needs...do you mind if I use your restroom first?”
“No, of course not. You can use mine in here.” He pointed to the en suite bathroom door. “I’ll just go check on the soup.”
“Thanks, Gage.”
When he entered the living room, London looked up from her book that she’d been reading. “Hey, you,” she said. “Did you have a good nap?”
“Hi. Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep with Felicia.”
London raised her eyebrows like he’d seen her do with Austin when she felt like there was something they needed to talk about that she found highly interesting.
Gage shook his head and tried to take on a stern countenance. “No, it’s nothing like that. She’s just been through a lot.”
“Sure, Dad,” London said slowly, making sure he knew she didn’t believe a word he said. “How’s she doing?”
“Fine, but she’s hungry. Do you think the soup you made earlier is still edible?”
London sprang off the couch. “Sure is. I put it in the refrigerator when I realized you weren’t coming back out.”
He winced. “Sorry.”
She groaned. “It’s fine, Dad. Stop apologizing. I can go heat up the soup. I also made some crusty grain rolls to go with it.”
He followed her into the kitchen where she pulled the big pot out of the fridge.
Felicia came in right behind them. “Did you say homemade rolls?” she asked with a groan.
London smiled. “Yeah. I made up the recipe, so hopefully you’ll like them. How are you feeling?”
Felicia gingerly rolled her shoulders with just a slight wince. “Better than I expected to.”
“How’s the headache? Do you want to take some more medicine?” He glanced at the clock. It had been almost four hours since her last dose, so she probably could use some.
“No, actually I’m okay. London, it was really sweet of you to make us some food. What can I do to help?”
Before London could answer, Gage grabbed Felicia by the shoulders, guiding her to sit in one of the barstools where she could watch them in the kitchen. “Nope, you’re our guest. You can sit there. I’ll help London if she’ll let me.”
His daughter was notoriously bossy and controlling when it came to the kitchen. She didn’t like anyone interfering with her process.
London put a kibosh on that real quick with a finger pointed at him and a raised, challenging eyebrow. “No, sir. My kitchen. You know the rules. Sit your butt down right beside Dr. Parks.”
“Call me Felicia,” Felicia said as she tried to bite her lip to keep her laugh contained.
“Your daughter is bossy,” she whispered to him as he sat his ass down as instructed.
“Tell me about it,” he whispered back to her. “But her cooking is much better than mine, so I’m not going to argue with her on this one.”
London turned around with her hands on her hips, looking more like a mother than his child. What a sobering thought.
She raised her eyebrow again. “You two know I can hear you, right?” she scolded.
“Sorry,” they both muttered then snickered.
London just shook her head as she dished the soup into the individual bowls. The aromas were making his mouth water.
A few minutes later, the two of them dug into the steaming
hot soup, and Gage was trying to distract himself from the pornographic sounds of pleasure Felicia was making as she ate both it and the bread.
After London had served them their food, she’d gone back to her book in the living room, but that didn’t make him feel any better about the fact that he was sporting a hard erection with his daughter in the next room.
He cleared his throat. “I was thinking. Why don’t we go by your place and pack you an overnight bag? I’d guess you probably need to check on your cat, too.”
She stilled in the motion of lifting the spoon to her mouth and looked over at him with a frown. “I think I should go home. I really am feeling much better now.”
He shook his head. “Nope. Not negotiable. You heard what the doctor said.”
“But—”
“Besides, there is no way in hell I’m leaving you alone and unprotected until they catch the guy who is out to hurt you.”
Her mouth slammed shut and he could see the fear flit through her eyes. She didn’t really want to be alone either.
“I can’t intrude on you like that,” she said softly.
“It’s not an intrusion, Doc. This house is a four bedroom, so we have a spare bed...two of them since they’re the twins’ old bunk beds that I haven’t gotten rid of. We have plenty of space. And I’m serious when I say that I won’t be able to sleep at night without knowing that you’re safe. Please, Doc, stay with us.”
She stared down at her soup, her back ramrod stiff. He thought for sure that he’d lost this round, but her shoulders dropped and she blew out a sigh. “Okay.” She looked up at him again, and the affection, gratefulness, and vulnerability in her eyes almost killed him.
He didn’t think she’d ever expose that depth of emotion to him again.
“Thank you.” He laid his spoon down and hooked the pinkie of his right hand with her left hand. It was something they used to do all the time when they were dating, and he hadn’t thought about it since. Not until this moment. That tiny connection...it stole his breath. Felicia exposing her emotions for him to see was so miniscule and fragile in essence, but it was everything.
She was everything.
Chapter Nineteen
Felicia breathed a quiet breath of peace. This was good.
They’d just gotten back from checking on her clinic, her cat, and picking up an overnight bag at her place when Austin flew into the house at a dead run.
“Hey, where’s the fire?” Gage asked from his place beside her on the couch where they’d been watching a movie.
“I gotta take a shower before Briggs gets here,” he yelled back without slowing down.
“Oh, damn.” Gage groaned, and his head fell to the couch cushion behind him.
Felicia turned to him with a smirk. “Forget something?” Briggs had been on cloud nine since Gage had seemingly given them a cautious green light on dating, even though Austin was still grounded for a couple of weeks, only allowed to work right now.
“I am so sorry,” Gage said as he rose from the couch.
She followed him up.
“I did forget. Dammit. Austin would never forgive me if he knew. Briggs is coming over for dinner, so I can get to know him. We can cancel it...”
“No,” Felicia said. “Don’t be ridiculous. I know and like Briggs. Why would you cancel it on my behalf? In fact, this might be good. Briggs and I work really well together. It might be easier for him to have an ally here.”
Gage scowled at her. “If you’re the ally, that makes me the enemy.”
She shrugged, thankful that the prescription-strength ibuprofen seemed to be helping to ease her sore muscles. “Well, if the overprotective father persona fits...”
Gage made a sound of displeasure but didn’t deny the overprotective father part as he went into the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a humongous package of steaks.
“Wow, is the whole high school football team coming over?”
Gage chuckled low. “You obviously have never taken Briggs out to eat. Guys of that age can bankrupt a parent...believe me.” He studied the half dozen, one-and-a–half-inch thick steaks. “In fact, I probably should order pizza now, because this will only last them an hour or so before they’ll be hungry again, and we’re planning on a movie marathon afterward.”
Felicia laughed as Gage shook his head. The more she saw him in parent-mode, the more her heart warmed to him.
“What can I do to help?” she asked.
He glanced around the kitchen, looking overwhelmed. “I’d planned on having baked potatoes, but there isn’t time now.”
“Yes, there is. Are you grilling?”
He nodded.
“Okay, direct me to the potatoes, and you go start the grill so it will get hot.”
Gage pulled the potatoes out of the pantry, and she began piercing them with a knife.
When he came back inside from starting the grill, she asked, “What time are we eating?”
Gage glanced at the clock again. “Briggs is supposed to be here in about twenty minutes.” He looked at the potatoes worriedly.
Felicia nodded. “That should be perfect. Trust me. Are we eating in your dining room?”
Gage shook his head. “No, my table won’t fit all of us. What do you think about the patio? My furniture is bigger out there, and it’s a nice night.”
“That sounds like a good plan.”
Austin flew into the kitchen, his hair dripping, his eyes wide with panic as he looked at the steaks sitting on the counter. “Dad, what about dinner? Briggs is going to be here in just a little bit.”
London walked in behind Austin, eyeing him like he was a bomb about to go off. “Chill, dude, or you’re going to drop dead from a heart attack before he even has a chance to blow your mind.”
Austin turned and scowled at his sister, but then he turned back to his dad with a pleading look that said this night meant more to him than anything else in his life right now. Nervous energy thrummed off him.
Felicia felt badly for him. Being a teenager was hard on the best of days. A new relationship was guaranteed to send Austin through amazing highs...and lows.
London shook her head in pity as she skirted her twin to come into the kitchen, examining their prep. “Do y’all need some help?” London asked.
“Yes!” Austin looked relieved at the suggestion. He obviously didn’t trust his dad in the kitchen, either.
“No, I think we have it handled,” Gage said.
London shrugged. “Okay...your funeral. I’m going to head out tonight. I don’t want to play fifth wheel to this little love-fest, double-date thing you guys appear to have going on.”
Gage froze. “Where are you going to go?”
“I don’t know. I’ll find something to do.”
Gage shook his head. “No, I think you should stay here tonight. You don’t know anyone in town yet, and I don’t want you just wandering around where someone could take advantage of you.”
London rolled her eyes and blew out a frustrated groan that was filled with pure teenage angst. “Dad, that’s ridiculous. I won’t meet anyone if I don’t go out. Besides I thought I might hook up with Colton later tonight...you know, Dr. Rogers’s son from across the street?”
Gage’s gaze sharpened at the teenage boy’s name. “Um...No! You aren’t hooking up with anyone. You can stay here tonight and help out in entertaining our guests.”
London crossed her arms over her chest. “No, I’m not. I’m almost eighteen. You think you have a say over my life, but you haven’t been there most of it, so I’m thinking that’s a no on having any say.”
Gage stiffened and straightened to his full height. “As long as you live in my house and I’m paying your bills, including your cell phone, clothes, food, and car, you will listen to my edicts. And for that bit of lip, you can enjoy being grounded right alongside your brother. My house. My rules.”
With every word, London’s eyes widened. Felicia wondered if this was the first time she’d pushed
her dad into getting this angry with her. Based on London’s “oh, shit” reaction, Felicia thought so.
Gage took a deep breath, making a discernable effort to get his temper under control. Then he nodded at Austin, who’d also frozen during Gage’s diatribe. “We’re going to eat outside. London, why don’t you take Austin and make sure the patio is ready for guests.”
She nodded, turned, and carefully swept past Austin to grab paper towels, wetting a few of them. “Come on, Austin, let’s wipe down furniture.” She practically dragged her brother out of the house.
Felicia wasn’t sure how to react. She could feel the waves of discomfort coming off Gage. Neither Austin nor Briggs would make it through the night if Gage didn’t relax. So instead of commenting on the confrontation with London, she laughed. “Your son is so much like you.”
Gage looked at her cautiously. “What do you mean?”
“He’s so nervous.”
Gage shook his head. “No way. There’s not a single time in my life that I was a hot mess like that.” He waved his hand toward the backyard.
“Um, yeah you were. Two words...second date. Ours, to be exact.” At the time, having to take him to the emergency room hadn’t been funny, but looking back on it now, she could see those same nerves he’d had that night evident in his son tonight.
Gage groaned. “You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?”
She shook her head with a laugh. “No way, especially when it looks like your son is just like you. Just remember that with how you treat Briggs tonight,” she said softly, knowing this might be overstepping. “He’s nervous because Briggs matters to him. Don’t be too hard on either one of them. Give Briggs a chance, and your son will relax, and maybe you can stop an accident before it happens. No one wants an emergency room visit tonight.”
“Duly noted.” He kissed her forehead in a quick brush of his lips that was over before she even realized what he was doing. But just that tiny touch stole her breath, much like he had when he interlocked their pinkies earlier. She needed to be really careful or he’d steal her heart...again.
No matter how many fluttery feelings took flight low in her stomach when she was around him, she just wasn’t ready to give him her heart. Not yet. Maybe not ever. She needed to take this roller coaster ride really slow...or else she would be the one paying the price.