“Kidnap?”
“Don’t worry, Elise. It was just a suggestion I made to Jake for getting you on your own.”
“I think I’d like to be kidnapped by Jake.” Elise pinches Jake’s leg.
“That can be arranged.” Jake nods toward me. “I knew there was a reason I like you.”
“You mean because of my beauty, charm and wit? Or did you mean for making your father happy or for interfering between you and Elise?”
I catch the cushion Jake throws at me. He laughs. “All the above.”
“Good answer son.” Cade nuzzles the back of my neck.
Settling back into him, I let the conversation carry on around me, because my head is starting to throb. I reach up and rub my temples.
“Are you okay?” Cade asks me, replacing my fingers with his over my forehead.
“Not really. I have a headache that’s crept up on me out of the blue. I’m going to have to excuse myself and go and lie down. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll feel better after lying down for a while,” Elise says.
Cade stands too. “I’ll go up with you and get you some painkillers.”
“Thanks.” I gesture to Elise and Jake. “I’ll see you guys later?”
“You will. Elise is staying here,” Jake takes Elise’s hand and kisses the back of it.
“Good.”
By the time I arrive in the bedroom, my head is throbbing and I start to feel sick. Pulling the sheets back, I climb into bed just as Cade arrives with my prescribed migraine tablets.
“Here, sweetheart.” He helps me to sit up so I can take the tablets.
“You don’t need to stay with me. I’m just going to sleep it off.”
He joins me on the bed. “I want to stay with you. Just shut your eyes and rest. I’ll be right here.”
“Okay, honey.” I take hold of Cade’s hand and close my eyes.
Cade
Lying here beside Rona, holding her hand, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so content in my life. She’s been asleep about three hours and I guess I’d drifted off not long after she did.
I curl on my side to gaze at her and realize she’s turned during her sleep and is now facing me. She’s breathtaking.
Pushing the hair away from her face, I caress lightly over her cheek as she starts to wake up.
“Hi, honey, you stayed with me,” she states, rather sleepily.
“Always. How are you feeling?”
“The headache is gone. I just feel as though my head is full of cotton wool.”
“Do you think you could eat something?”
“Not right now, but a glass of cold water would be good.”
I roll from the bed. “Coming right up. Give me a couple of minutes.”