“As to that.” She brought over a large glass jar. “This should work if you really get caught short.”
“Thanks.” He placed it under the bed. She didn’t need to know that it was the very jar that he’d been using for the last few days. “That’s a great idea.”
“Lucky you, having the plumbing to use it.” She wiped down the countertops. “I guess I’ll still need to fight my way through the spiders.”
Jeez, he almost smiled at her, his relief that she’d gotten over his intrusive comments far greater than he’d anticipated.
She took his temperature and then brought him over a large glass of water and some more pills. “Take these, and hopefully you’ll have a peaceful night and feel much better in the morning.”
He made himself look her in the eye. “Thanks for helping me out. I really mean it.”
She shrugged. “You’re welcome.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to take the bed?” he offered again.
“Nah, I’m good.” She pointed at her sleeping bag, which she’d left on the back of the couch. “I’ll just fold out the bed and I’ll be fine.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Beth lay in the darkness and listened to the even sound of Conner’s breathing. His temperature had gone down and he was no longer sweating and shaking, which had to be good. She’d checked his leg just before turning out the lights and everything looked a lot less angry.
She turned carefully onto her side, aware that the sofa bed creaked, and studied Conner’s outline in the moonlight. She still couldn’t get over how he’d suddenly decided to weigh in about how she should manage her own son. The fact that he had made some good points didn’t help. She knew she was avoiding talking to Mikey about a lot of important things and that they needed to go back into family therapy.
She’d hoped that Mikey being away from home and forging his own life would’ve changed things for the better. Sean deciding to write to Mikey and ask for his forgiveness hadn’t been on her radar, but it should have been. Her ex never gave up on an opportunity to pursue his vendettas, and never forgot a slight. If you weren’t one hundred percent on team Sean, you were the enemy and were offered no mercy.
Beth sighed and cautiously unzipped the sleeping bag. She was way too hot. Even though she’d left the windows open and Loki was outside guarding the door, she still felt vulnerable. Talking about Sean brought back all the bad memories. The fear that he’d suddenly turn up and upend her life again never quite went away. And now that she knew what he was capable of, that dread had only intensified. She determinedly closed her eyes and told herself to go to sleep.
A slight noise alerted her to the window, and she froze in place as a shadowy face pressed itself against the glass. She knew who it was and went to scream but could make no sound. She tried to sit up, but it was as if her limbs were made of jelly.
“Beth.”
He spoke her name and she whimpered, trying to turn her head away from the hot breath on her cheek.
“Beth, honey, you’re having a bad dream. You need to wake up now, okay?”
As if she’d suddenly been released from a vise, Beth sat up and threw herself against Conner. His arms closed around her and he rocked her back and forth.
“It’s okay, it’s okay.”
She pressed her ear against his chest and concentrated on the steady sound of his heartbeat, counting each strong beat as she struggled to control her breathing and bring her world back under control.
He slid one hand into her hair and stroked her with the other, his strong, low voice murmuring nothings as she shook and cried.
Eventually, she eased away from him, shoved a handful of hair behind her ear and addressed herself to his bearded chin.
“God, I’m so sorry. I’m the one who’s supposed to be looking after you!” She tried to laugh, aware that she was basically sitting in his lap. “I don’t usually behave like this.”
“As I said, it’s no big deal.”
He still had his arm around her, and she didn’t want him to let go. She only realized she was hanging on to his shoulder when he tried to straighten up and she clung onto him like a limpet.