Page 71 of Yours To Hold
My head feels like it’s going to explode. I woke up feeling not great. As the day has gone on, it’s gotten even worse.
“You’re going to get everyone sick if you stay here.”
“Are you going to make sure this gets fixed?”
A coughing fit takes over as it racks my body.
Fuck. That hurt.
“Go home.” Peter’s standing in front of my desk now, an angry look on his face. “We can manage without you.”
“You sure?”
He nods. “Yes. Get better and don’t come back until you’re one hundred percent.”
"Fine,” I growl out.
I hate missing work. Especially with a project as important as the canning of The Clara. It’s not something I want to get messed up. I know how much this place and his products mean to Peter.
I don’t want to let another one of my siblings down.
I shake the unwelcome thoughts from my head and walk out the back of the bar. For being so hot today, chills run through my body as I jump into my truck.
Fuck.
I really am sick.
The drive home feels like it takes forever today. With the summer season in full swing, tourists have taken over Dixon.
I shouldn’t complain, because I know it means the ranch and town are doing well. Today? Today, I am not in the mood for the traffic to be moving slower than a snail’s pace as people take in the Tetons.
Pulling closer to the house, I see Ivy and Willow out front, running through the sprinklers with Daisy.
Fuck.
Water droplets cling to every bit of Ivy’s skin. A happy smile is on her face as she chases Willow through the spinning water.
Seeing the two of them together like this eases my worry about not being there for Willow this summer. It’s been a trying year, what with everything going on with Logan and with Willow's mom so far away. Every night I lay my head on my pillow, I worry if I’m doing enough for my daughter.
If she’s happy. If I’m giving her everything I can as a single dad.
It erases my worry seeing them like this. Both of them are happy when they notice me sitting in my truck.
“Daddy! You’re home early!" Willow launches herself at me once I close my door. Daisy is happily lying in the wet grass.
“Hey Pipsqueak. I missed you.” I set Willow down—not wanting to pass my sickness onto her—and let her go back to playing in the water.
“What are you doing home so early?” Ivy’s hands rest on her hips. The black one-piece she’s wearing does nothing to hide all those curves I love of hers.
“I was banished. I’m not feeling so great.”
Ivy walks over, putting her hand on my forehead. I lean in to the soft touch, loving how her cool skin feels against my own, overheated skin.
Ivy’s eyes widen. “You’re burning up.”
"I feel like shit.” Another coughing fit takes over my body. “Sorry.”
Ivy takes a few steps back. “Why don’t we go inside and I can make you some soup?”
