Authors: Lorelei James
Tags: #Romance, #Contemporary, #Adult, #Western, #Red Hots!, #Western Romance
Raising Kane (23 page)
She made a sobbing laugh sound. “Really?”
“Yep. Probably was a good thing he let you sleep because you must’ve needed it. But don’t you dare rat me out.”
“I won’t.” She tipped her head back and looked at him. “Thank you for coming over.”
“Anytime.” He smoothed the tiny wild curls springing up from her hairline. “You hungry? I can fix you something while I’m makin’ Hayden a snack.”
“No, thanks.”
Ginger gave him such a somber look his heart sank. Was she throwing him out, now that she was awake?
“What?” he said, a little testily.
“Are you tired of coming to my rescue?”
Never.
Kane smooched both her cheeks. “Nope. I like playin’ the part of the brave knight who saves the beautiful damsel in distress. Besides, lookin’ after you and Hayden ain’t exactly a chore, Ginger. I like doin’ it. A lot.”
“Why?”
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“Honestly? My whole life Kade’s been seen as the responsible one. The stand-up guy. And I’ve been seen as the good-time guy. No responsibilities beyond ranch work. People around here assume I prefer bein’ a bachelor and tryin’ to score with every hot chick…rather than look harder to see the real truth.”
“What’s the real truth, Kane?”
“I want the life everyone thinks I’m tryin’ so hard to avoid. It don’t matter how much I’ve changed…
they see me as they want.” Kane traced the indent in her chin. “It means a lot that you see me differently. I know you want my help even when it nearly kills you to ask for it when you don’t think you need it. I like that you let me take care of you. Even when it’s hard as the dickens to admit you
like
me takin’ care of you.
You trust me with your son. You trust me on a level no one ever has, Red.”
“You’ve never given me a reason not to trust you.”
“Good. I hope that don’t ever change.” He resettled her on the pillow. “Need anything before I continue my knightly duties?”
She shook her head and closed her eyes.
Would Ginger remember that he’d basically poured his heart out? He sure hoped so.
In the kitchen, Hayden sat at the counter eating a bowl of Oreos cereal. Kane frowned. “I thought I was fixin’ you something to eat.”
Hayden shrugged. “I like cereal.”
“What have you eaten today?”
“Cereal.”
Kane rolled his eyes. “Fine. But tomorrow, you’re eatin’ real food. No cereal.”
“Not even for breakfast?”
“Nope.”
“Aw, man.” Hayden looked up at him and shoved his glasses back in place on his nose. “Are you staying over?”
“I think it’d probably be best, don’t you? In case you or your mama needs something during the night?”
Hayden nodded. “Where are you sleeping? Cause I’ve got Lego junk on the bottom bunk.”
“I’ll crash on the couch.”
“Or you could stay in my mom’s room. I bet she wouldn’t mind. I wouldn’t mind either.”
Nice, the other male in Ginger’s life gave him permission to share her bed. He fought a smile. “We’ll see.”
When Hayden started to yawn, Kane let him check on his mother before he started his bedtime rituals.
Then Kane tucked him in the upper bunk.
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Kane cleaned up Hayden’s mess in the living room and the kitchen. He locked the doors and debated on switching on the TV, but the chance to watch Ginger while she slept had a stronger pull than mindlessly flipping through channels.
In her bedroom he stripped down to his T-shirt and boxers. She didn’t move when he crawled onto her bed. He straightened out the quilt and sheet that’d twisted into a ball because Ginger had kicked them off in her feverish state. He left her half of the covers in the middle of the bed and tucked the other half around himself.
As many times as Kane imagined spending the night—the whole night—in her bed, he hated she was sick and hurting. He reached for her hand, wanting to offer her comfort, wanting to assure her that he was right beside her if she needed him. He strummed his thumb across her knuckles, content just to touch her.
She emitted a satisfied-sounding sigh, threading her fingers though his.
A few hours later, the bed started to shake, instantly putting Kane on alert. He touched her arm to wake her. “Ginger? You all right?”
“No. I’m c-cold. Like I have ice in my veins c-cold.”
“Your fever must’ve broken.”
“Great.” Her body shook.
“C’mere. I’ll warm you.”
She scooted beneath the pile of covers, pressing her cheek into his chest, curling into him—nearly on top of him. Her skin had gone from fiery to clammy. He pulled her more tightly against his body, trying to stop the worst of the tremors.
“You’re as toasty as a furnace,” she murmured.
“Just hot-blooded, I guess.”
“In many ways.”
He smiled, stroking her back.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
“I’m really glad you don’t mind taking care of me, Kane. I’m glad you don’t think that makes me weak, or clingy or needy.”
“Red, you are the strongest woman I know.”
Kane thought she’d fallen asleep, but she spoke again very softly. “Do you know I haven’t slept in the same bed, all night, with a man…since I was about twenty-four?”
“Can’t say as I’m unhappy to hear that.”
She rubbed her face on his pec. “You’ve pretty much ruined me for any other man.”
“How’s that?”
No response.
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“Ginger?”
She’d fallen asleep.
When Ginger woke up alone, she assumed she’d dreamt of Kane cuddled up to her all night. He’d been so warm and solid. Sweet. Comforting. Saying such loving things. Showing his vulnerable side while offering reassurance he didn’t see her as weak.
Had to’ve been a dream.
She’d scooted up to rest against the headboard when Hayden tiptoed in. “Mom! I came to see if you were still sleeping.”
“I’m awake now. Has Grandpa fixed you breakfast?”
Hayden frowned at her. “Mom. What are you talking about? Grandpa’s in Deadwood, remember?”
But…if that was the case, who’d been watching Hayden?
Kane sauntered in and set his hands on Hayden’s shoulders. “Mornin’, Red. How’re you feelin’?”
Like a total idiot. Like I lost an entire day in a fever-fueled daze.
“So it wasn’t a dream,” she muttered.
Kane frowned. “Excuse me?”
“Never mind. I feel like I’ve got cement in my sinuses. My body aches. And I need a shower.”
“Anything I can do?” A tiny gleam shone in Kane’s eye. He was probably recalling how thoroughly he’d washed her back, her front and everything in between the last time he’d “helped” her shower.
“No. Thanks. I can handle it.”
“When you’re all scrubbed clean, we’ll be in the living room.”
She stayed in the shower until the water ran cold. The steam helped her sinuses. With her hair combed, her teeth brushed and a layer of her favorite scented lotion applied, Ginger almost felt human. She debated on wearing jeans, but chose comfy, fuzzy sweats instead.
Maybe she’d expected Hayden and Kane to be playing Xbox, but Kane’s dark head was bent close to Hayden’s blond head as they worked on a jigsaw puzzle spread out on the portable card table.
Kane sensed her immediately, leaving Ginger no time to dissect the warm feeling of rightness as she watched the two of them together. He smiled the charming, sexy grin that made her heart skip with joy.
“You look better.”
“Thanks.” She crossed the room to look over their shoulders. “How goes the puzzle project?”
“Slow.” Hayden sighed. “I don’t ever wanna put another one of these together.”
“Why not?”
“It’s fun for a while, but then it’s boring. I’d rather play with my Legos or do something else.”
Hayden wormed his way out of the chair. “You wanna work on it?”
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She opened her mouth to decline, but Kane rather chivalrously pulled the chair back. “Have a seat.”
After she sat, she watched her son open the closet door and start dragging out his winter clothes. “You going someplace?”
“Out to shovel.”
Her mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Buck said I’m old enough to do chores because you shouldn’t have to do everything around here.”
Ginger faced Kane. “Is that so?”
He shrugged, but wariness entered his eyes. “You already do plenty. All kids need chores so they learn how to do basic stuff. Shoveling was Hayden’s idea of how to pull his weight.”
“And then I’m gonna have big muscles just like Buck.”
The door slammed behind Hayden. About three seconds later Ginger slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle. It didn’t work. She kept giggling, quietly.
Kane got the strangest look on his face.
“Sorry. It’s just…”
“I love to hear you laugh, Red.” He angled closer and smothered her next giggle with his mouth. The kiss wasn’t a tonsil scratcher, but decisive—as if Kane had made his mind up about something and this kiss sealed the deal.
Ginger smiled at him and set her hand on his cheek. “Thank you for everything.”
“Aw, shucks, ma’am, I’s just bein’ neighborly.” He turned his head until his mouth connected with the corner of her palm. “Now let’s see if we can’t make some progress on this puzzle.”
When Hayden returned inside, his cheeks red, his eyes shining, nearly busting his buttons with pride, Ginger realized Kane understood the things Hayden needed that she didn’t, not because she was a bad mother but because she was female.
How much different would her son be if Kane hadn’t come into his life via the Little Buddies program?
Maybe you should ask yourself how great it would be if Kane was a permanent part of your life as
well as your son’s. Not as his Big Buddy but as his father.
“That’d be totally cool, huh Mom?”
Ginger’s focus snapped to Hayden. “Excuse me?”
“If Buck and I went out on the ATVs in the snow.”
“That would be very cool.” She didn’t add,
If you wore a helmet and the proper safety gear, and
carried a GPS tracker
, knowing he’d accuse her of treating him like a baby, especially in front of his hero.
“You guys ready to eat?” Kane asked.
“I’m starved,” Hayden said. “Chores really make you hungry, huh?”
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Kane fixed grilled soy cheese sandwiches and sliced up carrots and apples. Ginger stuck with hot tea and soda crackers. The antibiotics upset her stomach and half the time she felt like barfing—not that she’d mention that to either of them. She stayed at the table with them while they ate.
“Surprised me that Dash is off to Deadwood,” Kane said.
“The Sundance Senior Group goes twice a year. Deadwood caters to an older crowd so there are plenty of handicapped-accessible rooms. He has a blast. Plus, the coordinators look after him so I don’t worry.”
“No wonder he whupped my butt at blackjack if he’s been playin’ the tables in Deadwood,” Kane grumbled.
“Last time he was the big winner at the Silverado. He took the entire group out for steak and crab legs.”
“Grandpa says that’s why they tolerate an old wheelchair cripple like him on those trips, and at the senior center.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because he has money.”
Ginger frowned. She knew her father donated to the Sundance Senior Group and to the senior center, but surely he didn’t believe that was the only reason they kept him around?
“I think your Grandpa was pullin’ your leg, sport. I bet they’d let him go along on those trips for free.” Kane mock-whispered, “I’ve heard redheads are really wild. Ol’ Dash is probably the crazy man of the bunch and the life of the party, even when now he looks like a mild-mannered white haired old man.”
Hayden’s eyes widened. “You think so?”
“I know so, but it’s probably best if we don’t let on we know his secret,” Kane said.
Her son grinned.
After lunch, her sinus headache returned. She tried to hide it and act normal, but Kane was very attuned to any change in her.
“Ginger, you’re lookin’ a little peaked again.”
Lie and tell him you’re fine.
No. Give him a reason to stay.
“I’m back to feeling like my head wants to explode.”
Kane was by her side in an instant, his hand on her forehead. “You feel hot. You need to take some Tylenol and get back in bed right now.”
“Should I salute too, Mr. Bossy?”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t care if you flip me off as long as you do it while you’re layin’ down.”
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Once she’d taken her pills and crawled in bed, Kane checked on her. Retucking the sheet, setting a glass of water on the nightstand, restocking her Kleenex supply. Touching her. She loved the way he touched her, as if he couldn’t get enough of her.
“I’m thinkin’ I’ll need to stay another night, since you still ain’t your chipper, contrary self yet.”
“I’d like that.”
He feathered his lips across her forehead. “Good. Get some rest, counselor.”
Ginger was faking it.
Not orgasms. God knew she didn’t ever have to fake those with Kane. She was faking being sick.
Although she still didn’t feel one hundred percent, she could’ve sent Kane on his merry way.
But she didn’t want him to go. She liked having him here.
After Kane tucked Hayden in, she heard him rattling around in the kitchen. Then the house became quiet. Thirty minutes passed.
What was the man doing?
Don’t you mean: what’s he doing that’s keeping him out of your bed?
Ginger donned a robe and tracked him down. He wasn’t watching TV; he was working on the puzzle.
His forehead wrinkled in concentration, his fingers sifting through the piles of pieces.
“You determined to finish that tonight?”
Those indigo eyes locked onto hers. “No. Actually, the more I work on this the more I agree with Hayden. It
is
boring.”
