After the Storm (KGI #8)(65)

Cammie smiled. “’Kay.”

He pushed the tray toward her and Eve reached for the fork, cutting into the wedge and cutting small bites. Cammie looked eagerly at the cheesy noodles and meat sauce and opened her mouth when Eve forked a bite and lifted it to her lips.

Cammie chewed, her expression thoughtful, and then she gifted Donovan with a broad smile.

“Good?” he asked.

“Yummy,” Cammie replied, eager for the next bite.

Eve fed her, Cammie eating as fast as she could get the fork to Cammie’s mouth. She ate more than Eve had herself, and Eve smiled as Cammie smacked her lips appreciatively when the last was gone.

“That was good, Mr. Donovan.”

Donovan ruffled her hair affectionately. “How about you call me Van? That’s what my family and friends call me, and I’d very much like you to consider me family.”

Cammie looked delighted, and then she sobered and lowered her gaze.

“Hey, little bit. What’s that look for?” Donovan asked.

“I wish you were my daddy,” she said wistfully.

Eve’s heart lurched, and a knot formed in her throat. Tears clogged her eyes and she looked away so no one would see.

Donovan leaned in and brushed a tender kiss over Cammie’s brow. “I’d like that very much. Who knows? Maybe one day it’ll happen.”

Eve’s jaw dropped, and she turned a disapproving frown on Donovan, not even trying to hide her displeasure over his statement. The last thing she wanted was to give Cammie false hope. But Donovan returned Eve’s gaze evenly. Almost challengingly. As if to say he meant it and that it was up to Eve whether it came to pass.

Crazy. She was absolutely losing her mind. People didn’t forge connections this quickly and certainly not under the circumstances that had shoved Donovan and Eve together. She needed to remain objective and not set herself—or Cammie and Travis—up for inevitable heartbreak. They’d been through enough without adding more sorrow.

“I’m full, Van,” Cammie said, her mouth stretched into a huge yawn.

Donovan smiled and then glanced up at her IV bags. “I need to switch out your piggyback. It’s almost empty. And then I’m going to give your sister an injection for pain. Why don’t you snuggle up to her and hold her in case the shot hurts? You can make her feel better. Then I’ll leave you both to sleep. I’ll make you a good breakfast in the morning and if you’re a really good girl, I’ll serve it up in bed.”

Cammie grinned her delight. “Can I have pancakes? I love pancakes,” she said wistfully. “With lots of butter and syrup.”

“Is there any other way to eat them?” Donovan asked in mock horror. He kissed her brow again and ruffled her hair and then left the room only to return a moment later with another bag of IV fluid.

After setting it up and reconnecting the line to the bag, he pulled out a syringe and uncapped it.

“Climb in and get comfortable with Cammie,” Donovan directed. “I’ll give it on your right hip this time.”

Eve climbed underneath the covers and Cammie promptly snuggled into her arms, warm and so precious against Eve’s chest. She squeezed a little harder than necessary, but it felt so good to have Cammie next to her. In a safe place with no fear of discovery.

She let Donovan pull up her shirt. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t already seen her legs or her ass. But he was careful only to pull down the band of her panties enough to bare the injection site. She closed her eyes and Cammie reached up to pat Eve on the face.

“It’ll be okay, Evie,” Cammie said in a solemn voice. “Van will make it all better.”

At that Eve opened her eyes and smiled. “I know he will, darling.”

The needle slid into her flesh and Eve only grimaced a little as the medicine was injected. By the time Donovan adjusted her clothing and tucked the covers around her and Cammie, she was already feeling the effects of the drug. Her eyes fluttered drowsily and the pleasant hum of the medication replaced the vicious ache in her head.

Donovan leaned down, and to her surprise he kissed her softly on the lips. Nothing prolonged. But it was intimate all the same. A quick brush. He didn’t leave his lips on hers for long, but she felt them there long after he’d withdrawn with a husky “Good night.”

“Sleep well, my girls,” he said, a note of possession in his voice. And how good it sounded when he said “my girls.” It made Eve wistful. Made her think what it would be like if they were his girls. Belonging to him.

“I’ll have breakfast for you in the morning, and Maren will be out to check on all of you before lunch.”

“G’night, Van,” Cammie said sleepily. “Love you.”

Eve’s eyes widened in shock, and she glanced hurriedly at Donovan to gauge his reaction. Would he be put off by the declaration? It had come out of the blue. Never would Eve have imagined those words coming from Cammie’s lips. Oh, she was an affectionate, adorable little girl, but she’d been taught reserve at far too young an age. While she was openly loving with Eve and Travis, she never warmed to strangers the way she had with Donovan. And she hoped it didn’t break Cammie’s heart when it was time for them to move on.

But Donovan didn’t seem to mind in the least. His entire face softened and a gentle smile curved his mouth upward. He ran his hand through Cammie’s hair and then pressed a kiss to her forehead.