Chapter 13

There's nothing better than picking up germs from a kid and then feeling ten times worse than she ever did…said no nanny ever.

Ugh. I should've known Elsie's fever would somehow morph itself into some nasty virus that I would end up with. I woke up feeling pretty great, but it's been downhill all day. The body aches and chills are the worst, and it sucks that no amount of clothing is keeping me warm enough. Zeke has been at the arena most of the day hoping to get cleared for play, but Elsie has been an absolute trooper helping to take care of me as much as a cute four-year-old can. Really that means snuggles on the couch, covering me with a blanket, and kisses on my arm telling me everything is going to be okay very soon.

And I believe it because Doctor Elsie said so.

The front door opens as I'm cleaning up the kitchen after dinner. Elsie runs to greet her dad, but I keep my distance. The last thing Zeke needs after recovering from an injury is to get sick.

"Daddy!"

"Elsie!" Zeke swings her up into his arms and she giggles. "How's my big girl?"

"Daddy, I'm Doctor Elsie and I'm making Ada all better."

"Why?" I hear him ask. "What's wrong with Ada? Where is she?" The genuine concern in his voice is heartwarming.

"I'm in the kitchen," I call out. "And I'm fine."

Elsie doesn't get the chance to answer Zeke before he makes it into the kitchen. Cocking his head he takes me in from head to toe as I stand in my sweatpants, heavy socks, long sleeved shirt, and a cardigan sweater. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I wave him off. I think I just caught whatever virus Elsie had. No big deal. I'm probably getting a cold."

I mean I kind of feel like absolute shit but I'm not going to tell you that.

"But you know…" I grab another Lysol wipe for the counter. "You should stay away from me just to be sure. I don't want to be the reason you don't get to play."

His brow furrows but then I ask, "Speaking of which, did you get cleared?"

"Monday. I'm back on Monday," he answers quietly, still watching me like he can't understand why I'm still upright.

I sniffle and then give him as much of a smile as I can muster. "That's great."

"Daddy?"

"Yes, babe?"

"We need to fix Ada."

"Oh, we do?"

"Mhmm."

"I think that would be a nice idea. What does Doctor Elsie think we should do?"

"Umm…" Elsie taps her cheek as she thinks. "She needs Mr. Rainbow-Bunny-Bunny-Rainbow."

Zeke's eyes grow and he gasps. "You know what? I think you're right. She does need Mr. Rainbow-Bunny-Bunny-Rainbow. Do you know where he is?"

Elsie nods excitedly as Zeke lowers her back to the floor. "Yes! He's on my bed. I'll be right back, Daddy!"

He watches her run from the room and then turns back to me. "Okay. She's out of ear shot. How are you really?"

"Who is Rainbow-Bunny-Bunny-Rainbow?"

"A stuffed animal. Please answer my question because no offense but you don't look so hot."

"Thanks for the compliment," I try to tease, but he doesn't laugh. "I'll be fine, Zeke. Really. It's probably just a cold."

"I highly doubt that."

"Why?"

"Because you are physically shivering right in front of my eyes. Do you not feel that?"

"I…" I sigh. "Yeah. I know. I'm just struggling to get warm."

He lowers his bag from his shoulder and unzips it. From inside he pulls out a red Chicago Red Tails hoodie and walks over to me. "Here, put this on."

I take a step back. "Zeke, no, you shouldn't get too—"

"Bullshit. You're sick and you're freezing, Ada. I'm not going to just ignore that. Besides, I'm amped on all kinds of vitamins during the season. I'll be fine. Put this on." Something in my stomach flutters when he steps up to me and pulls the hoodie over my head and then holds it out for me to push my arms through. "I'm sorry I wore it earlier but just to get to the arena this morning. I promise it's clean."

It's ridiculously too big on me but it fits well over my other layers so that's a plus.

It smells just like him. A little laundry detergent, a little shower soap. That's a mega plus.

"Thank you, Zeke."

"Of course." He brings a hand to my forehead, his brows drawing together. "You're burning up, Ada. What else can I get you? Would you like some tea?"

I shake my head. "No. I had some earlier when I took some Tylenol."

"Did you eat something?"

"Elsie and I had chicken soup for dinner. I had a few bites."

Knowing that I've had something to eat and drink today seems to appease him at least a little bit.

He holds my face tenderly in his hands. "You should be resting."

"And who was supposed to explain that to the four-year old bundle of energy?"

He cocks his head again. The very edge of his lips turning up momentarily. "You could've called me."

"Not necessary. I promise I'm fine."

He stares at me for a few seconds before changing the subject. "Look, I know this is terrible timing given you don't feel well but I'd really like to talk about the other night."

"Here he is, Daddy!" Elsie exclaims, running back to the kitchen with a multi-colored stuffed rabbit in her arms.

Phew.

Saved by the child.

Zeke's shoulders fall, but he hides his frustration from Elsie and turns his attention to her. "Okay, well you'll have to introduce him to Ada and tell her all about him."

As Elsie brings me the bunny I crouch down so I'm on her level. "Who is this?"

"This is Mr. Rainbow-Bunny-Bunny-Rainbow," she says proudly. "I made him at the mall and he keeps me company when I feel yucky like you."

My eyes meet Zekes and he mouths, "Build-A-Bear."

Aaahhh.

"Wow Elsie! You made him all by yourself?"

"Mhmm! I put a heart in him and then I helped give him all the stuffings and look!" She squeezes the bunny's paw and Zeke's voice says, "I love you."

"Aww, that's so sweet, Elsie."

"Yeah and Mr. Rainbow-Bunny-umm, Bunny-Rainbow will help you get better!"

"I bet he's going to make me feel so much better really fast. Thank you for sharing him with me."

"Yeah! And Daddy will give you medicine and juice and he can snuggle you so you feel better too!"

"Oh. Uhh…" I'm not exactly sure what to say, but before I can politely bow out, Elsie grabs my hand.

"Come on!"

With me in one of her hands and her dad in the other, she leads us to the living room couch. She tells Zeke to sit down in the middle and then climbs up beside him on his left. Then she points to the empty seat on his right. "Now you sit there and Daddy will snuggle you so you feel better."

"That's really not necessa—"

"Doctor Elsie's orders, Ada," Zeke murmurs. He opens his arm over the top of the couch and then gestures with his head for me to sit next to him.

I have no idea what Zeke wanted to say to me about what happened the other night, but if he was going to tell me it should never have happened, to which I would agree, and now he's opening his arms to me, this could be all sorts of awkward.

His eyes never leave mine as I glance between him and Elsie.

"Come on, Sunshine. I promise not to bite."

Elsie giggles and nudges him. "Daddy, you're funny. You don't bite."

Okay, I'll do this for her.

And maybe a little for me because cuddling with Zeke does sound nice.

And because I really am freezing.

I take the seat next to Zeke, bringing my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. Zeke's strong arm reaches around me and pulls me against his warm body and if I didn't know any better I would think I was in Heaven right now.

"Comfortable?"

"Yeah," I whisper.

"Warm enough?"

"Not yet. But I'm sure I will be."

Zeke tugs the throw blanket from the back of the couch. "Hey Else, will you help me put this over Ada so she can be warm?" She hops down from the couch and helps as her dad places the throw over me one-handed. His other hand never leaves my side.

"Better?" he murmurs.

"Yes. Thank you. And Thank you Elsie."

I am physically wrapped up in Zeke's comforting scent and for the first time today I feel like it would be okay if I let go a little and tried to relax. It's been a long time since I've been held by a man in a way that made me feel safe. He's not trying to put a move on me. He's not trying to sneak inappropriate or flirty touches. He's simply being a good man and I can appreciate that more than he'll ever know. The shivering still hasn't stopped but as he rubs his hand up and down my shoulder and arm, my eyes begin to feel very heavy.

Somewhere in and out of sleep, I feel Zeke place a kiss on the top of my head and whisper, "Just relax. I've got you."

Like they were the words I needed to hear, I burrow into him tightly, leaning my head in the crook of his chest, and drift off to sleep, allowing myself to trust in his care for the rest of the night.

___

Floating.

I'm floating.

And I'm so fucking cold.

I try to move my body but the vise I seem to be in is stronger than me.

I try to speak but my words are nothing more than a mumble. "Wha-what's—"

"Shhh. I've got you, Ada. Don't worry."

His voice is soft and tender. Comforting. Opening my weighty eyes a smidge, I finally realize Zeke is carrying me in his arms.

"Zeke?"

"Hey Sunshine. You're still fevered. I'm taking you to bed."

"But Elsie…"

I have a job to do.

He chuckles, looking down at me as we climb the stairs. "Ada, Elsie is fine. She's taken care of. You've been out for hours. You conked out pretty hard."

"Oh, I'm so sor—"

"Don't worry. She's perfectly fine. You on the other hand haven't stopped shivering. I have more medicine up here for you to take and then you're going to sleep this off and see if this fever can break."

I don't notice at first that he passes my bedroom, but when he lays me down on a bed in a room I know isn't mine, my brows furrow.

"Zeke, this isn't my room."

"I know. You're staying with me tonight."

I open my eyes a little further because hell, if I don't want to see his face right now to figure out what he's thinking.

"Zeke…" I shake my head. "We can't."

"Yes we can." He hands me a glass of water from his nightstand along with a few Tylenol. "Drink. Take these." He watches me swallow them down and then he covers me up with his duvet and an extra blanket before climbing into bed behind me.

"Zeke…"

"Ada, I'm not leaving you tonight. Not when you're like this. You're freezing cold and you're shivering." He cocoons me against his chest, wrapping his warmth around me. "You helped me when I needed it. Now let me help you."

"But you could get sick."

"It's a chance I'm more than willing to take." He lifts a hand and smooths it over my hair. "Sleep. Just relax and sleep. I won't let go. I promise."

His hand shifts over my stomach and he pulls me snug against his body. He kisses the back of my head before nestling in and releasing a long and deep sigh. I'd be lying if I said I didn't love the feeling of being in someone's arms again, but I also realize this is not how a typical nanny and boss are supposed to act toward one another.

"Zeke?"

"Yeah?" he whispers.

"We should talk."

He huffs an amused chuckle behind me. "About what?"

"You know what."

"Tomorrow." He breathes, squeezing me to him a little tighter. "You should rest. It can wait until tomorrow."

As much as I want to fight him on the issue, especially knowing that we're alone at the moment and it would be a suitable time to talk with Elsie not around, my body feels heavy and my eyes are begging to close. I give up. He's right. We can talk tomorrow.

"Okay," I mumble. "Good night."

"Good night, Ada. I'll be right here if you need me."

___

I startle awake several hours later knowing full well Elsie has to be up and therefore I need to be up. I feel surprisingly better but insanely gross at the same time. I'm sweating profusely which tells me my fever clearly broke overnight, but also feel like I got hit by a truck. My body is heavy and slow to move but realizing I'm now fever free fuels me. I cautiously scoot my body into a sitting position and notice the small pile of clothes neatly folded on Zeke's side of the bed with a note scribbled on top.

"Take your time or sleep all day. I took the day off and I've got Elsie.

There's water and Tylenol on the bedstand if you need it. Use my shower. I'll check on you in a bit."

Zeke's bedroom door is closed and he's nowhere to be found, but from downstairs I can hear Elsie's squealing giggles. I can't believe he took the day off after being off the ice all week. I would've expected him to be itching to get back out there, so knowing he's doing all this, for me, and for Elsie, it means a lot. The two of them clearly have fun when they're together. I smile, listening to them for a minute, and then take a closer look at the clothes waiting for me on the bed. My black sweatpants, a pair of my red lace panties and matching bra, and a sweatshirt I don't recognize. I pick up the red crewneck and unfold it. On the back, in large white letters, is the last name MILLER and the number 1. The front says PROPERTY OF CHICAGO RED TAILS.

He wants me to wear his sweatshirt.

Again?

Should I be reading into this?

He did have me sleeping in his bed.

Is this his way of communicating with me?

I lift the sweatshirt to my nose and inhale a deep breath, smiling at Zeke's recognizable scent. There's just something about wearing a shirt that smells like the man it belongs to that gives me all the smiley feels. Standing up from the bed I immediately strip the mattress of the damp sheets and blankets. I feel terrible enough that I made his bed a sweaty mess. I'm certainly not going to leave it here for him to deal with. The least I can do is toss his sheets in the wash.

But first? Shower time.

I grab the pile of clothes and step into Zeke's master bathroom, noting the similarities and differences between his bathroom and mine. His is definitely bigger. The walk-in shower is huge with all sorts of nozzles and dual showerheads. There's even a button for music and special shower-only lighting.

Wow!

Once I figure out how to turn on the water, I strip out of my sweaty clothes and step into the hot, welcoming downpour.

A shower never felt so good in my life.

I turn to reach for my shampoo and surprisingly find the raspberry scented brand I use every day. I look to the right of my shampoo and find my conditioner, shower gel, and face wash as well.

How sweet of him.

I lather my body in more soap than I usually use. Fever sweats are no joke and I am ready to wash it all away. I rub my hands over and around my neck and down my arms and then slide them up and over my breasts, reveling in the feel of the warm water, the soap, and the sensitivity of my nipples. For just a moment I close my eyes and imagine Zeke standing in this shower with me.

His strong body towering over me.

His hands caressing my body.

Holding my breasts.

His thumbs flicking over my nipples.

The nice guy I've come to know taking care of me in every sense.

Touching me.

Washing me.

Pleasuring me.

Loving me.

Whoa. Let's not go too far, Lewis.

Snapping back to reality, I remember Zeke telling me last night that we could talk tomorrow…which is now today. An uncomfortable wave of nerves washes over me at the thought of how this conversation is going to go between us. How we've managed to go this long without talking about our middle of the night make-out session several nights ago is beyond me. We're clearly both professionals when it comes to ignoring the elephant in the room.

But it's time.

Today is the day.

We need to talk.