“Yeah, that’s what I figured.”
The light turned green, and they took off. Sabrina wasn’t interested in seeing how fast she could go. Trent matched her pace for a few laps, but finally gave in to Mason’s pleas to go faster and proved he could handle go-karts as well as he did everything else.
They didn’t leave the park until almost closing. Mason was asleep in the backseat before they reached the interstate. It wasn’t long before Sabrina was also having trouble keeping her eyes open.
“You don’t have to stay awake,” Trent’s voice reached her in the darkness. “Put your seat back and go to sleep.”
“Are you sure? I hate to leave you with no one to talk to.”
He laughed softly. “I’m used to driving alone.”
“If you get sleepy, just wake me up.”
He sent her a quick sideways glance. “If you let me hold your hand, I know I won’t get sleepy.”
“I don’t see how that will help.”
Again he laughed. “Do I really have to explain it to you?”
“Nope. I’m going to sleep. Feel free to hold my hand.”
He reached across the console and clasped her hand where it rested on her leg. Sabrina leaned her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes. Every few seconds, Trent moved his thumb across the top of her knuckles. Every time he did it, a pleasant tingle ran up her arm. Just when she managed to get used it, he started drawing lazy circles on the back of her hand.
That was something he used to do when he was tired of studying and wanted to make sure she didn’t want to study, either. A small smile touched her lips. It was just as effective now at keeping her thoughts on him and away from anything else – like sleeping.
Chapter Eight
Trent watched the little white ball disappear into the murky water. That was the third one he’d lost today. His mind was definitely not on golf. He picked up his tee and walked back to the cart path.
“I thought you said your game had improved,” Bradley said from behind the wheel of the cart. “You need to get back together with that golf instructor.”
Trent slid his 5-iron into the bag. “Kiley’s not an instructor; she played golf in college. And I can’t get back with her. She left me for someone else.”
“That means I can look forward to beating you for the foreseeable future.”
Or at least until Trent could stop thinking about Sabrina. “It looks like it. Are we going to sit here all day, or are you going to drive us to the next hole?”
Bradley slapped him on the back. “Relax, man, you can’t be great at everything.”
“At least I don’t throw my clubs when I miss a shot.”
“No, but you’ve tossed a few bats and helmets in your time.”
Bradley was being diplomatic. It had been more than a few. All of that ended on the day Sabrina made him watch a video of himself doing it with the added threat of sending the clip to his parents. “Are you doing the Christmas party again this year?”
“Wouldn’t be Christmas without it. It’s the second Saturday in December. Consider yourself invited. Don’t come alone unless you’re prepared to spend the evening enjoying the attentions of Janine’s three man-crazy sisters. She showed them your picture so you won’t be able to hide or pretend to be someone else.”
Trent knew who he’d like to bring to the party. But would she go? “Thanks for the warning.”
“Are you still working an insane amount of hours?”
“Not since I brought Jared on board.”
“You look wiped out. I thought it might be work.”
It wasn’t work that was keeping him awake at night. It wasn’t his dog, either. Trent had always thought everyone was making up all that stuff about not being able to eat or sleep when you’re in love. Now he knew different. And there was worse to come: those sappy lines of poetry that Landris was always quoting were actually starting to make sense to him.
He had no intention of telling Bradley any of this, so he told him something that had certainly played a role in his fatigue and weight loss. “I just had a scare with my grandmother. I’ve been a little stressed from that.”
“Sorry to hear that, man. Is she the one who made the gooey butter cake you brought back to college every time you went home?
Trent smiled. “Same one.”
“How’s she doing now?”
“She’s doing much better.”
Bradley pointed to the fairway adjacent to where he’d stopped the cart. “What do you think for this one? Driver or 3-wood?”
“You’re asking me? My last five shots have either hit the water or a sand trap.”
As Trent waited for Bradley to decide which club to use, he realized that acknowledging his feelings for Sabrina was the easy part. Telling her was where his courage failed him. Why would she believe him this time when he hadn’t told her the truth before?
* * * * *
The headache that kept Sabrina awake half the night didn’t lessen even after a shower and two cups of coffee. When the nausea started, she knew she was in trouble. She also knew she couldn’t call in sick on this of all days. Jared and Trent were hosting a seminar with over two hundred attendees. It was her job to register each participant and ensure they received the correct packet of materials. She also had to oversee the caterers responsible for serving breakfast and lunch.
Sheer force of will got her through the morning activities. She thought she’d managed to hide her discomfort until she ran into Trent. He took one look at her face and motioned her to follow him into one of the alcoves located along the hallway.
“Are you feeling okay? You don’t look so good.”
“It’s just a headache,” she told him.
“Did you take something for it?”
Sabrina latched onto this. “I’m about to.”
“Good. I hope you feel better soon. If not, let me know.”
“I’ll be fine,” she assured him, hoping more than believing it would be true.
In the break between the afternoon sessions, he found her again. This time he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He overrode her objections and sent her home. The walk from the driveway to her front door seemed endless. She was swaying on her feet and shaking with chills by the time she reached the living room. Dropping her purse on the floor, she collapsed on the couch only to wake hours later drenched in sweat.
Her head felt as if a hundred miniature coal miners were hammering against the sides of her skull. Another group of them were pounding away in her stomach. The distance from the living room to her bedroom wasn’t far, but it seemed to take her a long time to get there. She fumbled her way out of her work clothes and into the bathroom. After taking some Tylenol, she climbed into bed where she spent a frustrating hour tossing and turning before she finally managed to fall asleep.
A loud thump on the front door penetrated the fog in her brain. Whoever it was would have to come back. She couldn’t deal with anyone right now. Throwing back the covers, she sat up slowly and reached for her phone. Seven-fifteen. On Thanksgiving morning. Madeline and James had left for North Carolina yesterday. Her decision not to go with them was looking like the right one. No use in three people’s holiday being ruined.
Standing up didn’t improve things. She felt woozy, her head uncomfortably hot and the rest of her clammy and cold. She needed to get something inside her to prevent getting dehydrated. On her way down the hall to the kitchen, the front door opened and Trent walked in. He stopped short at the sight of her.
“Your front door wasn’t closed all the way. Didn’t you hear me knocking?”
If she hadn’t felt like death warmed over, she might have been more upset that she’d slept all night with her door open. As it was, she was just relieved nothing had happened. She saw his glance slide downward and wished she’d put on a robe, but then again, it was unlikely that she was the first female Trent had seen walking around in a nightgown. Because it was November and she was trying to keep the electric
bill to a manageable level, the garment in question wasn’t of the flimsy variety. In other words, he wasn’t going to be overpowered by the sight of her in it.
“I’m been kind of out of it since I got home yesterday.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“Because you had things to do.”
He walked over to where she stood propped up against the wall hoping she wasn’t going to embarrass herself further by fainting.
“I think we’re dealing with more than a headache here.”
No kidding. She didn’t want to be rude, but she really needed him to leave. Her stomach lurched painfully, and she knew that fainting in front of him would have been preferable to what was about to happen. “Oh, no!” she said in an agonized whisper. “I’m going to be sick.”
Without a word, he steered her into the kitchen and over to the garbage can, one hand resting lightly on her back. With the other, he held her hair out of the way. When she finished, he grabbed a napkin and gently wiped the moisture from her face. Sabrina had never been so mortified and grateful at the same time.
“Let’s get you off your feet.”
Still with his arm around her, he helped her walk to the couch. She was glad of his support; her legs felt as if they were made of jelly. He pressed the back of his hand against her forehead. His skin felt deliciously cool against the moist, warmth of hers.
“You’re burning up. I’ll be right back.”
Sabrina closed her eyes, fighting off another wave of nausea. She heard his footsteps returning and opened her eyes.
“I found some Motrin in the kitchen. That should help with your fever. Can you hold the glass?”
“I think so,” she said weakly. The simple task of taking the pills exhausted her. She slumped back against the cushions, feeling as if she’d been run over by an entire convoy of trucks. “I’m sorry…about what happened in the kitchen.”
“Don’t apologize. I’m glad I was here to help. We need to get you more comfortable. Don’t move until I get back.”
A weak laugh escaped her. She wasn’t going anywhere. She’d barely made it to the couch.
He was gone longer this time. Had he decided to escape while he could? She wouldn’t blame him for doing so. Showing up at a girl’s house in time to witness her being violently sick had to rank near the top of the list of the biggest turn-offs.
Her eyes flew open just in time to see him reappear carrying the smaller garbage can from the guest bathroom as well as the pillow and blanket from her bed. The former was placed on the floor beside the couch within easy reach of her hand.
“Just in case you get that feeling again. In the meantime, why don’t you lie down and rest for a bit?” He arranged the pillow under her head and tucked the blanket around her with a matter-of-fact efficiency that lessened the awkwardness of the situation. Then he leaned down and brushed back the hair from her face. “Close those pretty blue eyes and try to sleep. I’ll be right here if you need anything.”
“You can’t stay, Trent. It’s Thanksgiving. Your family is waiting for you.”
“I’ve got plenty of time to get there. Stop worrying.”
She shouldn’t let him stay, but she didn’t have the energy to argue with him. He moved away, and she heard the swoosh indicating he’d sat down in her grandmother’s ancient recliner. At some point, she fell into a restless doze from which she woke feeling much the same. She pushed aside the blanket and tried to sit up. The movement caused her head to swim, making her regret trying to move at all. A few seconds later, a cool hand slid across her forehead, and Trent’s face came into view. He was so close she could see the narrowing of the dark pupils in the deep green of his eyes.
“I thought I’d dreamed the part about you being here.”
“I like the thought of being in your dreams,” he teased, his fingers weaving into her hair and raising goosebumps on her scalp and arms. “I wish I could take credit for your high fever, but it started before I got here.”
“You could have been almost to St. Marys by now.”
“We can discuss where I should be later.” He fluffed up her pillow and tucked the blanket around her once more. Then he knelt down on the floor beside her.
“I appreciate you staying here, but you need to go. You can’t miss Thanksgiving with your family.”
“Sabrina, I’m not leaving, and you’re in no position to make me.” He began to run his fingers lightly up and down her arm. “This is what my mother always used to do when I was sick. Do you like it?”
Tingles of warmth radiated up her arm, shoulders and neck. “Yes, it feels nice.”
“She also used to sing to me. I won’t torture your ears by doing that. I could tell you a story. I know The Princess and the Pea by heart because it’s my niece’s favorite.”
Sabrina gave up the fight. If he refused to leave, so be it. “Okay, tell me about the princess and the pea.”
* * * * *
Trent knew by the change in Sabrina’s breathing that she’d fallen asleep. Very carefully, so he wouldn’t wake her, he slid her arm under the blanket. Then he stood up, his glance on her flushed face. He was glad of the impulse that had led him to check on her before he left town. It was the strangest thing; he hardly knew how to explain it other than a strong feeling that something wasn’t right.
Walking into the kitchen, he pulled his phone out of his pocket. Landris would need to know about his change of plans. Whether Sabrina liked it or not, Trent wasn’t leaving until he was convinced she was well enough to be left alone. His brother answered on the first ring.
“Hey, Trent. Faith and I were just wondering how close you are.”
“I’m still in Alpharetta. I’ve got a small problem. Sabrina, the woman I told you about, has come down with something, probably the flu based on what I’ve seen so far. Her sister is out of town and won’t be back until Sunday. I’m going to stick around here for today and maybe even tomorrow. I’ll try to make Olivia’s birthday party on Saturday, but right now things are up in the air.”
“I understand. Do what you have to do. Have you told Mom and Dad?”
“That’s my next call.”
“We’ll put some leftovers in the freezer for you. I hope Sabrina feels better soon.”
“Me, too. She’s running a pretty high fever right now.”
“If she feels like it, she can take a lukewarm shower. I had to do that with Olivia.”
“I’m not sure she could do it alone, and she’d kill me if I tried to get in there with her.”
Landris laughed. “I wasn’t suggesting you do that. She also needs to drink lots of liquids.”
“Anything else, Dr. Thomas?”
“No. You’re smart enough to know if she needs to be taken to the emergency room.”
“Thanks for putting that vision in my head. It’s always good to talk to you, Landris.”
“You’re welcome.”
After he finished with his brother, he called his mother. Although disappointed that he wasn’t coming, she agreed that he couldn’t leave someone in that condition alone.
“You sound different, Trent.”
He smiled to himself. He’d never been able to hide anything from her. “I’m tired. It’s been a hectic couple of weeks.”
“That’s not it.”
“I don’t know what it could be then.”
“Yes, you do. This girl is someone special to you, isn’t she?”
“You could say that, but right now, we’re just friends; and that’s all it may ever be.”
“You’re like your father, Trent. You don’t love easily, but when you do, it’s the forever kind.”
Trent looked through the archway into the living room at Sabrina. “Then I better hope that whoever I love will love me, too.”
“You have it within you to make any woman love you.”
“Even if I’ve already broken her heart?”
“Who better to mend it than the one who broke it?”
Again h
is glance went to the figure on the couch. “I hope you’re right.”
“I’m not wrong very often. We’ll miss you today.”
“I’ll miss you guys, too. Don’t let Landris eat all the pumpkin pie.”
“There are four pies here. We won’t run out. I love you.”
“Love you, too, Mom.”
When Trent returned to the living room, Sabrina had turned on her side, one leg dangling off the edge of the couch. Her hair had fallen over part of her face and was almost touching the floor. She should be in bed. Why hadn’t he thought of that before? With any luck, he could get her there without waking her up. He bent down and lifted her into his arms.
This wasn’t the first time he’d done so. The previous time had been the result of overhearing a conversation between her and her roommate. They were talking about how romantic it was when a guy picked a girl up and swung her around in his arms. Sabrina had laughed and said, “I might as well forget that one. That’s for you little girls, Camille. Not for big girls like me.” Trent had enjoyed showing her how wrong she was.
Now, just as then, he was aware of the subtle perfume she wore, the rose-petal softness of her skin, and the way her curves fit so perfectly into the grooves and planes of his body.
A few steps from the bed, he saw her eyes slowly open, and for a confused moment she stared at him. Then she smiled. It was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. His forward motion stopped at the same time that his heart began to thump heavily in his chest.
“What are you doing?” she said drowsily.
He was wishing he could hold on to this moment forever. “Putting you in bed. You’ll rest better there, and I won’t have to worry about you rolling off the couch.”
“Why didn’t you wake me sooner? I missed all the excitement of being carried.”
“You didn’t miss everything,” he told her. Then he totally lost his mind and leaned down to brush his lips lightly against hers just long enough to know they were as delightfully soft as he remembered. Sanity returned before he could do it again. That had to be his worst idea ever.
Sabrina didn’t move or say anything; she just looked at him. Like she was waiting for something. Probably an apology. “I shouldn’t have done that, not with you being sick and feeling so awful. It was a really dumb thing to do and…”
Dare to Love: A Sweet Contemporary Romance (Finding Love Book 4) Page 14
