Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 411

“Just let it kill you if it’s that bad.”

Amelia said nothing. Ruby’s wide eyes blinked, curious. “Who’s sick? Is it Uncle Daniel?”

Bunny looked puzzled. “If he’s sick, why doesn’t he go to the hospital? Why come to our house?”

Ashley picked up the thread smoothly. “He says it’s because you and Amelia are here, and seeing you two cures everything.”

Amelia slipped off her shoes and changed into slippers with a blank expression. “If the fever won’t go down even with medicine, he’s probably beyond saving. Just up the dose—at this point, it’s a long shot anyway.”

Ashley pulled on her mask and carried the doubled dose of medicine to the bedroom. Daniel frowned. “Why one pill during the day and two at night?”

Ashley paraphrased Amelia’s words gently. “Mrs. Carter’s worried the fever won’t break and it might hurt your brain. She thinks a bit more medicine will help you get better faster.”

Daniel snorted. “I’ve heard of eating more to recover, but never taking extra pills. If she wants to bump me off, she can just say so. Have her bring the pills herself—I’ll down a whole bottle if she does.”

Of course, there was no way Amelia would come deliver the medicine.

And of course, Daniel had no intention of actually taking it. He tossed the pills in the toilet, flushed, then smoothed the silk comforter over himself and inhaled the faint scent of her on the pillow. Satisfied, he drifted off to sleep.

Skipping the medicine had predictable results—by midnight his fever soared even higher.

Daniel felt woozy, each swallow scraping his throat like glass. He stumbled out of his room and ran straight into Amelia, who was in the kitchen for a glass of water.

She wore a cream lace nightgown, her skin almost luminescent under the soft lamp glow. Her hair was loose and a bit tousled, her usual prickly daytime defenses softened by sleep. She looked almost gentle—approachable, even.

The heat inside Daniel flared hotter.

He wanted to hold her—wrap himself around that cool, delicate warmth of hers. But before he could even move, she was already heading for the kitchen island, treating him like he was invisible.

Scalded by this chilly indifference, Daniel followed her to the island. Amelia poured herself a glass of water, about to take a sip when suddenly she felt a feverish presence at her back. Before she could react, something heavy leaned onto her shoulder—a man’s head, hot as a furnace.

Daniel was so exasperated he nearly laughed, but he felt too miserable to even manage that.

He shuffled over to the couch and did as he was told.

Amelia fetched the ear thermometer, none too gently sticking it in his ear. Beep.

She frowned—104.4°F. His brain was practically boiling.

Daniel opened his bleary eyes, not sure if he was really that sick or just milking it. “Feed it to me.”

Amelia set the water down with a thud and turned to leave.

But Daniel’s burning hand wrapped around her slender, cool calf.