Consolation (Consolation Duet #1)(18)

Shit.

“I wasn’t staring. I was trying to figure out if you were dead since you weren’t moving,” I lie and turn so he doesn’t see my cheeks redden.

“Sure you were . . .” He gives a low chuckle.

“Whatever, you’re old and fat.” I wave my hand at him.

Liam’s large frame rises and casts a shadow over me. He takes a step toward me with a smirk on his face. My eyes stay locked with his. He’s out of his mind if he thinks I’m going to back down.

With a measured step he comes closer. Neither of us breaks our gaze.

I read the hesitation behind his eyes. He’s as unsure as I am, but we’re both too stubborn to give in.

“Aaaaaa,” Aarabelle cries out, and I break and look at her.

“Hi, baby girl,” I say softly and lift her carefully so I don’t disconnect anything. She still feels warm and begins to fuss. Why isn’t the fever breaking?

Liam’s firm hand squeezes my shoulder as if he can read my distress. “I’ll call the nurse,” he declares and goes to press the button.

Before he can, Dr. Hewat walks in, lifting papers in the chart. “Okay, we got the results back from the scan and her blood screen.” She looks at us both with empathy swimming in her eyes. “She has a urinary tract infection that spread to her kidneys, which is what caused the fever. We need to treat her with antibiotics and make sure her kidneys are functioning properly. Also, I want to watch the fever since she did have the convulsions. But she should be fine. I’m going to order the medicine now.”

I release a breath with relief. She’s going to be okay. Thank God.

“Will the fever come down?” I question.

“It should. Can you place her on the bed for me?”

I lay her down and the doctor comes around the other side. She begins to listen to her heart and abdomen. “She’s doing well, and I think once we get the antibiotics working, the fever will break and she’ll be back to normal,” Dr. Hewat explains and pats my hand. “In the meantime, we need to keep her hydrated and watch her closely.”

“Okay,” I nod and Aarabelle lifts her arms for me to pick her up.

Scooping my baby in my arms, I pull her close and say a silent prayer of thanks that this was not anything serious. She’s my world and I don’t think I could survive burying my husband and my child in the same year. I can’t even allow my mind to drift there.

Liam’s eyes gleam as he rubs the side of her face with adoration in his eyes. He’s a good man and he cares about Aarabelle and me. He could’ve been at a bar or doing whatever else he wants, but he came to us. I’m grateful that he’s here. I place my hand over his and a charge runs from my fingers to my shoulder. We both look at each other and my body locks. I see the catch in his breath as he feels it too.

Moving my hand away quickly, I take a few seconds to calm my racing heart and walk to the other side of Aarabelle’s crib. Distance . . . I need to keep my distance. I don’t understand what’s happening. Liam is my friend, he’s Aaron’s friend . . . it’s wrong to even think about him.

“Lee?” Liam breaks me out of my thoughts. He begins to step around, but I put my hand up to stop him.

“I’m fine. I think I’m overwhelmed, but I’ll be fine.”

“Back to ‘fine’ again. Got it.”

Screw him. I am fine. “What does that mean?”

“I’m tired. You’re tired. Tomorrow if you’re feeling up to a sparring match, I’m game.” Liam yawns and flops in the chair behind him. He pulls his beanie over his eyes and smirks.

Bastard.





“Okay, Miss Aarabelle, ready to head home?” the nurse coos as I buckle Aarabelle into her seat. The IV of antibiotics finally got the infection under control, which brought her fever down. After two sleepless days and nights, I’m more than excited to be heading home.

“I’d say we are, right, baby girl?” I ask rhetorically as I nestle the blanket around her. I can’t wait for the day when she’ll talk. Then I won’t feel so silly having full-blown one-sided conversations.

“Well, good thing that hunk of a man came here, huh?” she asks me, looking around the corner.

I try to hide my amusement and giggle silently. “Yeah, he’s a good friend.”

“Oh, you’re not dating?” her eyes grow and she bites her lip.

“No,” I say slowly and I realize she’s fishing. A pang of jealousy stirs in my chest. He’s not mine by any stretch, but he sure as hell isn’t hers. “Well, not officially,” I add on and mentally slap myself for it.

There’s no reason I should be cockblocking him, but something inside of me doesn’t want her to have him. Or have a chance at him. I’m going to hell.

“Hang on tight to that one, because that beanie and that smile . . .” She slaps her hand over her mouth, clearly embarrassed at what she’s said. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me.”

Placing my hand on her arm, I giggle. “It’s okay. He’s easy on the eyes.”

She gives a short laugh. “Yeah, you could say that.”

Before I can respond, Liam walks in and gives a knowing look. He heard us. Great, this should be fun.