Raising Kane (Rough Riders #9)(58)

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.


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?”


He sank his teeth into her earlobe. “You must be feelin’ better if you’re bein’ contrary first thing.” His warm breath drifted across her cheek. “Say yes, Ginger.”


“Yes, Ginger,” she teased.


“There’s that smart mouth I’ve been missin’ something fierce.” He kissed her, sealing their lips together.


Clothes disappeared. Kane pushed inside her on a long, smooth glide and her body was ready for him.


He made love to her sweetly, passionately. The intimacy of being cocooned in their own little world in the predawn hours amazed her. Body to body, heart to heart, face to face.


When his pace increased, it sent them spiraling into the abyss of pleasure together.


More dreamy kisses. More feather-light caresses. He whispered, “Go back to sleep, sugar. No reason for us both to be up.” He headed for the shower as she snuggled into the sheets that smelled like him.


Ginger awoke an hour later. She saw Kane’s wristwatch on the nightstand and knew she hadn’t been dreaming.


“And then Buck came over. We took care of Mom and we worked on the puzzle and we played some games. And he made me do chores! So when Mom napped we went to Buck’s house to check on his dog and other ranch stuff,” Hayden added.


Ginger sipped her tea and watched her father’s reaction to the news Kane McKay had spent both nights here while he’d been out of town.


Her dad smiled. “Sounds like you had a great time while I was gone.”


Hayden nodded but Ginger saw the hint of sadness in her dad’s eyes. “For some of us, it wasn’t a great time. I still don’t feel back to normal.”