“How can you look so healthy and fresh?” she complained as she plucked out another couple of tissue and blew her nose noisily, feeling as if her head was drifting away from her body. He'd been right! She shouldn't have suggested that they go out last night and now she was the one suffering for it. What was worse, she was afraid to take anything in case it affected the baby she was carrying. “Why didn’t you demand that I stay put last night and not leave the house to go riding? What kind of stupid idea was that? And why did you allow it?” she complained as she blew her nose again.
“You have a cold.”
“Give the man a prize!” She threw one hand up in exasperation, dislodging the blanket that had been wrapped around her shoulders. “I'm dying, and I want you to help me to write a will.”
“You're not dying,’” he told her mildly as he came into the room. “Have you eaten?”
“You heard the part about me dying, right?”
“I did, and you need to eat. How about some soup?”
“I'm too sick to eat,” she said miserably. “I'm too sick to get out of bed, too sick to go to the bathroom, I might just pee right here.”
“I'll help you out of bed if you want to go to the bathroom.”
She shook her head. “I just need to lie here and suffer for a little bit. I don’t usually get sick.”
“You poor thing.” He came over and placed the back of his hand on her forehead. “You don’t have a fever so that's a good thing. I'm going to make you some soup. Stay put,” he added with a grin.
“Very funny,” she said darkly.
He kissed her on the forehead. “I'll be back shortly.”
Amy snuggled into the pillows and smiled as she watched him leave the room. It really felt good to have someone take care of her for a change.
*****
“Are you planning on feeding me?”
“Do you want me to?” he asked as he handed her the spoon.
“No.” She dipped the spoon into the soup and took a sip. Her eyes widened as she looked at him. “You made this?”
“Don’t look so surprised.” He sat on the edge of the bed and watched her; his green eyes amused. “I was taught to cook by my dad and Giles, who has been with the family for years. There were times when we were on the range and had to fend for ourselves with no chefs to serve us culinary delights. We would build a fire and cook up some beef or chicken that someone had brought and when we had to get up at two in the morning to go out and round up cattle and didn't get the chance to have breakfast. Sometimes we're outdoors from early in the morning until late at night. So, we cook and eat our meals outside.”
“You're quite a surprise Mr. Billings.”
“Thank you, Ms. Grayson,” he said with a mock bow. “Now, I called my friend who is a doctor and he told me what to give you. I searched your father’s medicine cabinet. I'm making ginger tea and I've brought some Benadryl. The combination should make you sleep well tonight and help to get rid of the congestion. He said I should listen to your breathing and make sure your lungs are clear.”
“So, you are a doctor now?”
“I've been around animals enough to know certain signs.” He placed his hand on her forehead again, relieved to realize that it was at a normal temperature. “And I'm staying here tonight to make sure that you're okay.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” she grumbled, hiding the fact that she was incredibly happy that he was staying with her.
“I think you do. Left by yourself, who knows what you'll do next? Maybe go outside naked in the cold.”
“You're right.” She grinned. “It’s a lucky thing you are staying here with me.”
Chapter 9
“This is amazing!” Amy whispered to Lance as she stepped out of the car and looked around the brightly lit yard. Thousands of pepper lights were strung on trees and shrubs as well as the roof of the house and along the windows as well. A huge Christmas wreath hung on the double doors with lights blinking ‘Merry Christmas’ in red, white and blue colors. Snowmen, reindeer and several jolly Santas with hefty bags thrown over their shoulders went in a semicircle along the driveway. “There are actual presents in the bags for the children who will be coming here this afternoon.”
“How long have I been away from the ranch?” Amy allowed him to take her hand and led her inside, out of the cold.
“Three days,” he said lightly, not showing her that for those three days he'd suffered without her being in his bed. She'd told him that she needed time and space to finish editing a piece that was harder than she thought, but had promised to spend Christmas Day and the rest of the holidays at the ranch.
“Oh my gosh!” She clapped her hands over her mouth as she stepped into the foyer. Lights were everywhere as well as hollies decorating the walls. He led her into the living room where what looked like an eight-foot tree towered towards the ceiling, beautifully decorated. A dazzling star was poised on the top and blinked three different lights. The mantel had stockings hung from it and a fire blazed cozily inside the fireplace. “How?”
“Every year we have people come in to decorate the place.” He guided her towards one of the comfortable sofas. “This afternoon there will be a barn party with every food imaginable and the exchange of gifts, or rather the giving of gifts to children. It’s a tradition that my grandfather started and has continued over the years. There's a portion of the business that does this, and someone placed in charge of making sure this happens every year. How about some eggnog without the alcohol?”
“Sounds good.” She pulled off her gloves and shoved them into the pocket of her jeans. He pressed the buzzer and a maid materialized with a tray.
“Thank you.” She took the glass off the tray and waited until the woman had left. “You knew I would want eggnog? I didn't hear you say anything, you just pressed the buzzer and she appeared with the eggnogs.”
“I might have mentioned it when I knew you were coming over,” he told her with a grin as he stretched his booted feet out in front of him. “How have you been?”
“I'm doing okay. The nausea is at a manageable level.” She eyed him for a moment as she sipped the eggnog. It was quiet, a lovely serene morning and she'd spent the morning not sure what she should wear. She hadn't seen him in three days, and he hadn't called because she'd told him she needed the time to sort through her work but at night she'd found herself missing him, missing the feel of his body on hers and it had surprised her. “You didn't call.”
“You told me you needed to get some work done and I've been extremely busy. During this time of the year, we're at our busiest.” He got up to go to the corner of the room where he touched a knob and a cabinet slid out. Taking a bottle of brandy, he poured a generous amount of brandy into the eggnog.
“Is there any reason for the day drinking?”
He shrugged and came back to take his seat. “I hate crowds. Within the next hour or so, this place will be crowded with families from all over town and I'm expected to play host. It doesn't matter that I have work to do.”