Then Megan saw Matt, gave a loud cry and threw her arms out toward him, wanting to be held by her father. Lana looked at Matt and her legs almost gave out at the sheer love for his daughter on his face. She willingly handed Megan over to him.
“I’ve given her some medicine,” Ruth said calmly as they moved inside. “And I’ve been cooling her down in the bath.”
“Thank you, Ruth,” Lana said, looking at her daughter with a worried frown. “Let’s take her into the living room, Matt.”
“I’ll just go wet this washcloth again for her,” Ruth said.
Once in the living room, Megan whimpered and Matt looked helpless all of a sudden. “Shouldn’t we take her to the hospital?”
Lana tried not to show her worry. “Let’s give the medication a chance to work until the doctor gets here.”
Megan started crying again and he tried to soothe her. “Dammit, where is that bloody doctor?”
Lana wiped her daughter’s nose with a tissue. “Try not to worry, Matt. Kids can look so sick one minute and the next they’re up and running around.” She gave a sympathetic smile. “Believe me, there were some nights I walked the floor with her when she had a cold or colic and I would have sworn she had pneumonia or something worse.”
Matt stiffened. “I would have been there if I’d known.”
She groaned inwardly. “It wasn’t a criticism of you.”
Megan continued crying and he shot Lana a dark look. “Really? It sounded like it to me.”
She knew he was panicking deep inside, so she allowed him his snide remark. “Matt, I was only trying to say she’ll be back to normal in no time. Just take it easy.”
“Like you’re doing?” he snapped, as Megan continued crying. “You seem to be taking this real easy. But you’re an old hand at this, aren’t you?”
She angled her chin. “That’s enough, Matt.”
“No, it’s—”
“Mr. Valente,” Ruth warned, coming back into the room with the washcloth. “This is not the time or place to be arguing. Your daughter is sick. She needs you to remain calm.” She sounded like a schoolteacher reprimanding one of her students, and Matt’s face blanched.
A moment crept by.
He let out a slow breath. “You’re right, Ruth.” He looked at Lana. “I’m sorry, Lana. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“I know, Matt.”
After that the doctor came and said it was probably only a virus but to keep an eye on her. The medication had worked by then, so the little girl soon fell asleep.
They continued to anxiously check on her throughout the evening, unable to sit still for long. By midnight she woke and was cool to the touch, and they each breathed a sigh of relief. It appeared the worst was over. After a drink of water, she fell asleep again.
“Lana, I’m really sorry about snapping at you today,” Matt murmured, standing by the crib.
She realized she had finally given himself permission to relax now that Megan was on the mend. “Matt, I understand. You were scared something serious was the matter with her.”
His mouth flattened into a grim line. “It doesn’t excuse me taking it out on you. Hell, I can only imagine how it must feel to be alone and carrying the full weight of it all.”
“Don’t beat yourself up about it.”
He stood still for a moment longer, looking down at his sleeping daughter. Then he looked up. “Why don’t you go to bed,” he suggested quietly. “You should get some sleep.”
“But you’re the one with work tomorrow.” She at least had a day off.
“I don’t have to go in if she’s not better.” Then he heaved a sigh. “I suppose we should both go to bed,” he said, nothing remotely suggestive in his words.
Lana nodded. “It’s been a long day.”
He went to move away, then stopped. “Call me if I don’t hear her.”
“I will.”
He left the room and exhaustion swooped over Lana. The thought of bed and sleep sounded like heaven.
Only, once she’d had her shower she felt incredibly thirsty and decided to get a cool glass of milk or she wouldn’t sleep until she did.
And this time she remembered to slip on her satiny bathrobe over her chemise nightgown.
Just in case.
It was as well she did. At the kitchen door she got a jolt to find Matt standing there in his pajama bottoms, looking out the window over the back garden, the moon giving enough light for her to see his knuckles gripping the edge of the sink.
She moved toward him in concern. “Matt?”
He didn’t turn around.
“Matt, are you okay?”
He took a ragged breath. “I’m not sure I can handle this parenting stuff, Lana,” he muttered. “Tonight almost killed me worrying about her.”
Her heart softened. Oh, she so knew how he felt. It was a tough job at times.
“Too late,” she said gently. “Once you’re a parent there’s no going back. She has our heart.” Without thinking, she rested her hand on his shoulder and felt his muscles tighten.
“Don’t touch me, Lana. Not right now. Not tonight.”
The breath hitched in her throat. “Why?”
“I may not be responsible for my actions.”
A knot rose in her throat. “Then don’t be,” she whispered, squeezing his shoulder.
He sucked in a sharp breath and slowly turned to face her, his eyes riveting on her face. “Are you sure?”
She nodded.
His hands slid onto her h*ps and held. “I’ve never wanted a woman like I want you.”
Oh God, he was turning her into mush.
“If we make love, I’m going to share your bed from now on, Lana.”
She swallowed. “You are?”
“It’s no use us pretending we don’t want each other.”
Her heart thudded. Did he mean…
“But I make no promises.”
Her heart hit the floor, then picked itself up.
Her eyes clung to his. “I don’t want any promises, Matt. I don’t want anything but for you to make love to me over and over.”
He groaned and pulled her into his arms, his mouth capturing hers, her lips opening in invitation. He took slow sips from her mouth, drugging her with his taste and his velvety tongue.