Page 46 of Flirting With Forever
She opened the door a small crack but blocked the entry.
“Gage, I really do have a bad headache. What do you want?”
He shoved the items he carried at her, forcing her to let go of the door. Taking advantage, he gently but firmly pushed his way inside and scooped her up against his chest, princess-style.
She released a huffing groan.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking care of you.” He pressed a kiss against her forehead and carried her toward the bed, conscious of the fact she’d gotten more work done on the room since he’d seen it last. But when? Was she so worried about her family, she wound up working on the room instead of sleeping? He did not like that idea at all. But given how busy they’d been after the hurricane and how much she’d worked at the rentals building, that had to be the case.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not, and after you take a couple of those and lie down, we’re going to talk while I give you a back rub.”
“I don’t need?—”
He lowered her to the bed and ignored her obvious frustration, plucking the bottle of ibuprofen from her to open and distribute the medication before opening the water bottle for her next.
“You’re ridiculous.”
He pressed the back of his hand to her forehead just in case. “No fever.”
“It’s just a headache. People get headaches, you know.”
She took the meds but glared at him all the while, earning a small smile from him because she was adorable when she was angry. Kind of like a wild-haired bunny with freckles. “Roll onto your side or stomach. Whatever’s comfortable.”
“Gage.”
He opened his mouth to demand but instead said, “Please.”
The softly uttered word seemed to do the trick. She gave him one last long stare before she did as requested and rolled toward the middle, away from him. He got the feeling that it was to avoid looking at him more than anything else, though.
He sat on the edge of the mattress and trailed his hand lightly up her arm from elbow to shoulder and back down, to get her used to the pressure and feel of his touch.
After a few squeezing rubs on her arm and shoulder, he moved to her neck, and he felt her tense before she released a low moan as he rubbed the cement-like muscles. “Talk to me, Merida. Why are you stressing over Thanksgiving dinner?”
The muscles beneath his hand tightened again, but he kept at them until they loosened once more. He shifted both hands to her shoulders, which effectively rolled her onto her stomach, and heard her suck in a breath before releasing another soft sound. “Feel good?”
“No.”
He laughed softly. “Liar.”
“Your ego is big enough already. I don’t need to tell you you’re right and feed it.”
Her words were muffled by the blanket beneath her.
“Yeah, well, maybe if you trust me enough to help you with your headache, you’ll trust me when I say you will be welcomed at dinner with open arms.”
Silence followed his words for several long seconds.
“They’re going to think we’re more than we are.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because Cole’s already looking at me differently. What did you tell him?”
She tried to rise up in her indignation, but he gently pushed her back down. He wouldn’t lie to her. “I might’ve told him we’ve kissed, but don’t worry. He won’t tell anyone else.”
