Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Fuck. That shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did.
“Right. Fine. Then maybe the two of you could stop texting me every time she stubs her damn toe.”
He turned toward the door but came to a stop as Maggie walked through the door. She was wearing an oversized dark blue T-shirt with a white diamond on the front and some black yoga pants. She squinted as she peered up at him.
As though she had a headache.
Actually, she looked terrible. There were dark marks under her eyes and she was pale.
Bloody hell. Maybe she really wasn’t well.
Fuck. Thank God she hadn’t walked in thirty seconds earlier and heard what he’d said.
And why would you care if she had?
“Oh, hi, Jameson.” She rubbed her eyes like a little girl. Fuck. So adorable.
“Hey, sweetheart. I heard you’re not feeling so great.”
“What are you doing out of bed?” Ian demanded.
She jolted, looking over at the big guy with a frown. “Because it’s four in the afternoon and I wanted to talk to my uncle about tomorrow. Is that okay with you?”
“No. You need to rest. I was about to bring you up some food.”
She glanced over at the tray of food he had set on the counter. There was enough on it to feed three people. But instead of looking at Ian like he was a crazy person, she gave him a soft smile.
“Thank you. That’s so kind.”
He and Jack shared a look.
Kind? Ian?
The guy could be a jackass. Demanding and cold. But there was a softness to him as he guided Maggie over to the island and drew items off the tray, watching over her as she reached for a piece of fruit.
Jameson frowned at the way her hand shook slightly. He walked closer to her. She got off the stool, swaying slightly.
“Whoa. Careful.” He reached out to place his hand on the small of her back. “Are you feeling dizzy? Have you got a headache?”
“I’m fine. It’s just a small headache. There was really no need for you to come over. Ian tends to overreact.”
“I do not. Now, sit down or you’re going back to bed.”
She frowned. “I’m fine.”
“Actually, I’d rather you sat,” Jameson told her firmly. “I want to check your vitals.”
“I really am okay.”
“Please. For me?”
She gaped up at him, swallowing heavily.
“Gosh, you’re beautiful.”
He tried to hide his grin, but he couldn’t manage it. Relief filled him.
There she was.
He didn’t know what it said about him that he was relieved she was looking at him like he was chocolate cake and she was starving.
Probably nothing good.
But she sat back on the stool and he took her pulse and checked her blood pressure.
“You guys were out in the desert today?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Ian said. “We noticed she was unsteady and looked like she had a headache. She seemed dehydrated, so we got her under the shade and gave her water and electrolytes.”
“How long were you out there?”
“Just a couple of hours.”
“Hmm. What did you have for breakfast, sweetheart?” he asked.
He ran his thumb over her cheek, before snatching his hand back. He had no right to touch her that way.
“I didn’t have breakfast.”
Jameson gave her a disapproving look. “That wasn’t smart. I assume you were doing quite a bit of walking.”
“And she insisted on carrying a lot of the equipment herself,” Ian told him.
“Really? Not smart when you have two strapping lads here. You should use them to do the heavy lifting, sweetheart.”
“Ian is a donkey,” she muttered. “So I guess you’re right.”
“A donkey, huh?” Jameson grinned over at Ian. “You’re correct. He is a donkey.”
Ian groaned as Jack laughed.
“You’re going to regret telling them that, Little Misfit,” Ian murmured into her ear.
Do not shiver. Do not.
Besides, if he wasn’t being a giant tattletale, then she wouldn’t have said a word.
“You need to eat breakfast every morning. And drink plenty of water. Especially as you’re not used to this heat and you’ll be outside doing a lot of walking. Understand me?” Jameson said to her sternly.
“I just wasn’t in the mood to eat.”
“Is there something else going on? Do you feel nauseous? Does your stomach hurt?”
“I was a jerk,” Ian said bluntly. “She was upset with me. Understandably.”
Whoa. She hadn’t expected him to just own up to that.
“And then I upset her as well,” Jack added.
“Wow. You guys are two for two, aren’t you?” Jameson said. “And you didn’t make sure she ate and drank? Especially before going on a hike in the desert? She’s sunburned. Did you make sure she put sunscreen on?”
Ian looked ashamed. Jack just looked like Jack.
“Hey! I had sunscreen on, even though it feels thick and gross and smells funny. I can take care of myself. It’s not their job to look after me.”
Ian made a low, grumbling noise while Jack just shook his head.
“Sweetheart, that is precisely their job.”