This Love (Cowboys & Angels 6)

“Shite!” I shouted as I jumped into me car. Before I started to drive I tried Melanie. It went straight to voicemail. I had no luck with Paxton either. Finally, Amelia answered.

“Amelia!” I shouted in a pure state of panic.

“Oh my God, Maebh, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing! I’m…I’m okay. How’s Cord?”

“He’s pretty sick. Mom was on her way there, but Marge said she’d stay with him until Mom could swing by later.”

I nodded, thankful that Cord had the best housekeeper in Oak Springs. She loved Cord like a son, and I knew she would take care of him. “Has he been to the doctor yet?”

Her silence nearly killed me. “Amelia!”

“Don’t freak out, okay?”

Me heart stopped. “What do you mean don’t freak out?”

“Well, he sort of got worse during the night and was too weak to go see the doctor this morning, so Dr. Peterson had to come to him. He tested positive for the flu.”

Closing me eyes, I mumbled, “Shite.”

“Darn it, Maebh, my agent is calling and I have to take it. It’s a conference call. I’ll call you back when I get off.”

Before I could tell her I was back in town, the line went dead. I sent Cord a text message.

Me: I flew back a day early. Leaving the airport and will be there in an hour and forty me GPS says. I love you.

I waited for a moment in case he replied. Then I headed out of the car park and tried not to get a ticket driving over the speed limit to Oak Springs.

When I pulled into me parking spot at Aisling, I grabbed me phone and tried Cord again. It went straight to voicemail after one ring.

“What in the hell?” Was Cord sending me calls to voicemail? If his phone was dead, I would have thought it would go straight to voicemail, not ring and then go to voicemail.

Jumping out of me car, I rushed up to me place to change while typing out a text.

Me: I’m home and changing. I’m going to come over. I don’t have Marge’s number to let her know. I’ll try your mom again.

When the phone buzzed in me hand almost immediately, I nearly screamed, then sagged in relief to see his name.

Cord: I’ll call in a bit.

Was Cord not home? Maybe he went to the doctor. Frowning, I stared at the message, then called Melanie.

“Maebh, darling, how are you?”

“I’m in town.”

“What?”

“I came back early after I talked to Cord yesterday. He sounded terrible. I sent him a message and told him I was back, and he said he would call me later.”

“Oh, he’s pretty out of it. I’m sure he didn’t realize what he was typing, probably couldn’t even focus on the words.”

I remembered the last time I got the flu. I was in and out of sleep for a few days feeling like utter shite. And when I did wake up it felt like a bad dream. I was confused, and everything hurt. Me eyes, head, throat, even me brain felt like it was suffering.

“I’m going to head on over there.”

“Okay, Marge should be there. Let her know I’m on my way and should be there in about an hour. I had a meeting in Uvalde today that I couldn’t get out of.”

“I’ll let her know,” I said, slipping on a pair of Converse sneakers.

Rushing out the door, I sent Cord a text when my phone was once again sent to voicemail. Why was Marge not answering it? Maybe they had it on silent, so it didn’t wake Cord up.

Me: I’m coming over now. Where is Marge?

I nearly ran the entire block to the back entrance of Cord’s apartment. I took the steps two at a time, me heart pounding in me ears. Poor Cord. He was so sick they had to have the doctors come to him.

Using the key Cord had given me, I opened the door and stepped inside only to freeze at the sight before me.

She was walking down the steps that led from Cord’s bedroom. One of his T-shirts hanging off of her. Her hair a mess, like she had just had sex.

I stumbled back when she flashed me a smirk. “You’re not supposed to be home until tomorrow,” Kylie deadpanned.

Tears filled me eyes, and I glanced around. “Marge!” I called out while the sound of her evil laugh filled the air.

“Marge got sent home. I’m here, and I’m taking care of Cord. You can run along now.”

Me throat went dry and tears spilled down me face. I wanted to scream for her to get out. That Cord wasn’t hers. He was mine.

He’s mine.

But was he? Because she was the one standing there practically naked, with only his shirt covering her. None of this made any sense. Why would Kylie be here when Melanie was on her way? Where was Marge?