Page 56 of Axe Backwards
“You’re not a demon,” he said, with a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re a little hero.” He tossed the wipe into a nearby trashcan, then headed toward our building. “We’re going home to get you cleaned up. Then Daddy’s giving you extra treats for being such a super baby and defeating the bad guy.”
Chapter 18
Victoria
Ithrew open Noah’s door. We were past knocking at this point, and I could hear Tess screaming from downstairs. Tossing my bag onto the table, I shuffled into the living room. Noah was rocking her softly back and forth, but her little face was beet red and sweaty.
“Poor baby.” I caressed her cheek, and when the heat radiating from her registered, I pulled back.
“Ear Infection,” Noah said, over her wails. “Willa checked her out a couple of hours ago. We got antibiotics, but it will take a day for them to kick in. She woke up this morning with a fever of 102.”
Tess pushed her face into her dad’s chest and sobbed.
The painful sound broke my heart. I wanted to scoop her up and tickle her and make silly faces until she laughed. All the thoughts of the confusing day and a half I’d had disappeared when I looked at the two of them. They needed me.
“Okay.” I pulled my sleeves up and tied my hair back into a ponytail. “What can I do?”
“She needs fluids. I’ve got a bottle with Pedialyte over there.” He nodded to the counter where the bright orange liquid sat.
I snagged it off the Formica and frowned. “This is room temp?”
He raised one eyebrow.
“I drank this stuff in college.”
His face scrunched up in disgust. “Why?”
“Prevents hangovers.” I shrugged. “It’s so much better cold. Hold on.”
Rounding the counter, I headed for the fridge. I deposited the warm bottle and picked up a cold one.
“Here.” I twisted the cap and held it out. “Try this.”
Tess took a few tentative sips before pushing it away and squirming again.
“I’ve been alternating Tylenol and Motrin. It’s helped lower her temperature, but she’s still miserable.”
His eyes were blue pools of panic, and the muscles in his arms were clenched. On top of that, he looked so damn weary. I wanted to hug him as desperately as I wanted to hug Tess. This big bear of a man was in pain because his daughter was sick.
I never grew tired of seeing his devotion to her. If I knew him, he’d been so busy taking care of Tess that he’d forgotten to take care of himself.
“Have you eaten?”
Head lowered and attention fixed on his baby girl, he shook his head.
“I can fix that.” I hustled downstairs and threw together a sandwich.
When I returned, I set it on the table and took the fussing baby from him. “Sit down, eat, drink a glass of water.”
Nodding dazedly, he dropped into a chair.
I kissed Tess’s forehead and smoothed down her unruly hair. “Sweet girl, I’m so sorry you’re sick.”
“Ick,” she said, her cheeks red and little face forlorn.
“I’m happy to see you too.” Tears welled in my eyes. I would do anything to help her feel better, especially after what she’d done for me yesterday. I loved this kid, and no matter what Graham said, I was devoted to her.
Noah watched me intently with those icy blue eyes. “Thank you.”
