Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 410

After dropping Ruby off at preschool, Amelia returned home and crawled back into bed for a nap.

Yesterday’s disappearance hadn’t caused as much of a stir as she’d expected. Daniel must have handled everything in advance—she even got a text from the principal, telling her she’d been working hard lately and should take a couple of days off to rest.

It was past ten when Amelia finally woke, mouth dry. She padded into the kitchen for a glass of water.

The doorbell rang. Ashley, who was chopping vegetables at the kitchen island, poked her head out. “Amelia, the groceries are here. Could you get the door for me?”

Amelia headed for the front door and swung it open—only to find herself face-to-face with Daniel.

Before she could say a word, Daniel slumped forward, his tall frame nearly knocking her off balance. Amelia had to grab the doorframe to steady herself.

“Daniel!” She frowned. “What are you up to now?”

His reply was muffled. “I’m not feeling well. Let me lean on you for a second.”

He was heavy as a mountain. Amelia couldn’t budge him, and her patience was already wearing thin. “If you’re sick, maybe you should go lie down. In a coffin, preferably...”

She trailed off. The heat radiating from his body through his shirt was intense and all wrong, his breath uncomfortably hot against her neck.

While she was distracted, Daniel slipped an arm loosely around her waist and, with a gentle but insistent pressure, nudged her inside. He followed, using his other hand to shut the door behind them.

“Amelia…” His voice was low and pitiful. “I really feel awful. Can you get me some medicine?”

Amelia clenched her teeth. “Want me to get you rat poison instead?”

“I’ll take whatever you give me.”

He wasn’t faking it—his voice was so weak it barely held together. As soon as he finished, he slumped against her again, sticking to her side like a stubborn burr.

Amelia couldn’t push him off; any harder and they’d both go down. So she half-carried him to the sofa, dumped him there, and collapsed beside him.

Ill or not, Daniel didn’t miss a beat—his hand slid to her waist. Amelia sat up and punched him in the chest. “Touch me again and I’ll break your fingers!”

Daniel broke into a coughing fit, face flushing red. He lay there, looking terribly fragile, his eyes watery with the effort. He gazed at her with a look that was equal parts reproachful and reluctant.

Amelia looked away.

Ashley came over with an ear thermometer. “Is he running a fever? Let’s check.”

A few seconds later, Ashley whistled. “Whoa, 101.7. We need to get you some fever meds, stat. Amelia, can you find them? I’m worried I’ll grab the wrong ones.”

Amelia didn’t want to help—if he burned up, what was it to her? But if he stayed here, sick and contagious, the whole house would be crawling with germs. The last thing she needed was Ruby catching something.

She opened all the windows to air the place out, then found the fever medicine and handed it to Ashley. “Give it to him and get him out of here.”

Ashley poured a glass of warm water, but when she returned to the living room, the sofa was empty. “Hey, where’d he go?”

Amelia glanced over. Her bedroom door was wide open.

Sure enough, that shameless mutt was sprawled out on her bed, head buried in the pillows, wrapped up tight in her comforter from head to toe.

“Then why are you trying to kick me out?”

“I’m perfectly comfortable here,” Daniel replied, thoroughly at ease as he stroked the fresh-smelling pillow. “I haven’t slept this well in ages.”

It wasn’t just the bed, Ashley thought, but the feeling of being here.

She kept her thoughts to herself and turned to leave. Daniel stopped her. “Ashley, check your phone.”

Ashley had a bad feeling, standing a little straighter. “Sir, I work for Mrs. Evans now. I won’t betray her.”

“Just take a look.”

Ashley only peeked out of curiosity, but when she saw the amount transferred to her account, her resolve crumbled like a dandelion in the wind.

It wasn’t that she was weak-willed—he was just offering way too much.

Daniel coughed weakly at exactly the right moment. “You know what to say.”

…

When Amelia brought Ruby home, she glanced instinctively at the master bedroom door.