“He has to be okay,” she whispered.
“It’s a fever. He’s a healthy kid. He’ll be all right. We’ll get through this, okay?”
She nodded, but her worried expression told him she didn’t really believe him.
Five minutes later, they had Patrick out of the tub and wrapped in a towel. Galen offered to carry him back to his room, but Myka refused. He wasn’t surprised. She’d expressed doubts about her mothering abilities, but she was a wonderful mother as far as he was concerned.
“Leave him nude, and pull the covers up to his waist.”
After she did as he’d instructed, he knelt beside the bed and pulled the bottle of peppermint oil from his jeans pocket.
“Is he due for another dose of acetaminophen yet?”
“Close.”
Galen nodded. He held up the bottle so she could see.
“This is peppermint oil. I found it in your cabinet. It helps to reduce fevers. I’m going to rub some on his chest.”
By the time he finished, Patrick had stirred. He felt a bit cooler—probably from the bath—but Galen knew it wouldn’t last long without help from the peppermint.
“Can you go make him a strong cup of tea while I sit with him?” Galen asked.
She nodded and left. Within a couple minutes, she was back with the tea and another dose of medicine.
Galen was sitting on the bed beside Patrick and took the cup from Myka. He put a few drops of the peppermint in the tea, then leaned toward Patrick.
“Patrick.”
Galen waited until he stared up at him through fever-glazed eyes.
“You need to chew these pills and drink as much of this tea as you can. It will make you feel better. Do you think you can do that for me?”
Patrick nodded weakly, and Myka helped him sit up by propping some pillows behind him. Galen felt much better ten minutes later, when Patrick had drunk three-quarters of the tea and taken the pills. He helped him get comfortable, then pulled the covers up to his chin before taking the near-empty cup to the kitchen. Afterward, he stopped by the bathroom to get a cold rag and returned to Patrick’s room, where he placed the rag across his forehead.
“Thank you,” Myka said. She was still sitting beside Patrick, his head now resting on her shoulder.
“Don’t thank me yet. It’ll be a couple hours before we know for sure if his fever is going to stay down.”
“How did you know about the peppermint?”
“I’ve always liked and spent a lot of time in nature. You pick up things.”
“Oh. Well, I’m glad I had some.”
“Me too. I had nearly run out of hope of finding anything when I came across it.”
Patrick’s skin didn’t appear quite as pale, and his cheeks weren’t as red as they had been earlier. He slept without much fussing, which was a good sign to Galen. Myka shifted and let Patrick rest against the pillows before tucking the covers loosely around him. Just as she got off the bed, the phone began to ring in the other room.
“I’ll stay with him,” Galen said when she looked at Patrick worriedly.
She nodded and left the room.
Galen reached out and touched Patrick. He was even cooler now than when he’d applied the peppermint to his chest. They weren’t out of the woods quite yet, but he was confident that the fever would stay down.
“Yes. We already did that, Doc.” Myka spoke into the phone as she came back into Patrick’s room.
She had a thermometer in the other hand, pressed a button on it, and stuck it into Patrick’s ear. A few seconds later, it beeped.
“It’s down to one hundred point four. Yes. Yes. Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.” She hung up the phone.
“Good news?” Galen asked.
“Doc says as long as his fever doesn’t go back up to bring him in tomorrow. He said to continue with the acetaminophen and peppermint. He was impressed with the peppermint, by the way. He was sure that it was what finally brought down the fever. When I took it earlier, it was almost one hundred and four.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
She swayed before she sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Hey. You are exhausted. You should get some sleep.”
“I can’t. I have to watch him.”
“I’ll watch him.”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” she protested.
“You aren’t asking. I’m offering. Besides, he’s doing better, and unless his fever goes back up—which I don’t believe it will—he’ll probably sleep for a few hours.”
“I could use a nice hot bath and a couple hours of sleep.” She yawned.
“You sit here, and I’ll run you a bath.”
She had to be extremely exhausted to so readily accept his help. It wasn’t that he didn’t think she trusted him, but the motherly instincts in her demanded that she tend to Patrick personally. He was honored that she was comfortable enough with him to let him stay with Patrick while she slept. He went to the bathroom and ran a steamy bath for her to soak in, then went back to Patrick’s room.
“The bath is ready for you.”
She looked up at him. The relief in her eyes washed through him like gentle waves. When she burrowed tightly against him, then rested her head against his chest, he wrapped his arms around her and held her.
“He’s even cooler now. I can never thank you enough for your help, Galen. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
He reached down and tipped her chin up with one finger. “You would have been fine. You would have gotten Patrick’s fever down with the medicine. It might have taken a bit longer, but your determination would have prevailed. I have no doubt. You are a great mother, Myka.”
“Aunt, really.”
“No.” Galen shook his head. “That boy needs a mother, and you are it.”
“Yeah. I know. Each passing day I see him more as my son than my nephew, but I don’t want to push him. He’s had it hard.”
“He loves you, Myka. There is no doubt about that. He trusts you.”
“I love him too.”
“It’s obvious.” He bent and scooped her up into his arms.
The fact that she didn’t protest proved how tired she was. After he carried her to the bathroom, he set her by the tub.
“Be quick, or you’ll fall asleep in there.”
“Okay.”
When he turned to leave, she reached for his arm and tugged him back to her. She stood on tiptoe and pulled at his shoulders until he bent down far enough for her to kiss him softly on the lips. Her touch turned his blood into a boiling inferno of need.
“Thank you. Thank you so much,” she whispered. “I’m so happy you are here.”
He nodded, then backed out of the bathroom and shut the door before he became a complete asshole and took advantage of her in her vulnerable and exhausted state.
He returned to Patrick’s room and lightly laid his palm across his forehead. The fever was nearly gone now. He smiled and went to the window on the far side of the room. Dawn would break soon.
“Looks like I’m not leaving so soon after all,” he muttered to himself. There was no way he could leave Myka until he was sure everything was okay. After that, he must be on his merry way.
He snorted. He’d be on his way, but there wouldn’t be anything merry about it. He went back to the chair beside the bed and sat down, getting as comfortable as possible. He let his head rest on the back of the chair and closed his eyes.
Chapter Six
“Galen? Is that you?”
Myka stood at the barn door in a sheer black nightie that highlighted the flawlessness of her golden skin and shiny hair. His body ached to possess hers. He ached to possess her. But it wouldn’t be fair. He was aware that this particular dream—one shared between fated mates—was more than just a dream. But she wasn’t. He couldn’t take advantage of her even if he wanted to. Badly.