Courtship of the Recluse

Cade handed her a towel and gently rubbed her back. His expression was openly compassionate as he reached out, drawing her into his arms and guiding her head to his shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell me you were sick? You don't have to wait on me hand and foot, you know." He brushed the hair back from her face and stroked her cheek gently.

She buried her face in his shoulder, hoping he wouldn't notice she was crying. But he wasn't fooled. He patted her shoulder.

"What's the matter, Cindy?"

"Nothing," she managed to respond in a weak voice.

"Then why are you crying? Is it this house? Are you lonely? Do you need to see a doctor?"

"No." His sympathy only made matters worse and she hiccupped.

His voice was anxious. "You're not going to throw up again, are you?" He lifted her chin with two fingers, and the expression on his face might have been amusing under different circumstances.

"No, I feel better now." She said, stepping away from him. She grabbed a tissue from the box on the counter and blew her nose. "I'm sorry. It happened so suddenly that I didn't realize it was coming."

He was still watching her intently. Pulling out a drawer, he removed a paper and pencil.

"Write down what you need and I'll get it. Surely it can't be that personal, and you're in no condition to be going to town."

She stared at the paper. How did she get herself into predicaments like this? She shook her head. "I can go. I feel better now."

He frowned at her suspiciously. "Is it a female thing?"

When she blushed, he nodded. "Write down exactly what you want." When she still hesitated his expression became exasperated. "Come on, Cynthia. We're both adults. There's no reason to feel embarrassed about a normal body function."

"I'm not embarrassed." She grabbed the note pad and wrote a brand name and quantity. "They carry these at the store where we always shop."

He glanced at the paper and nodded. "I know what to get, now you go lay down on the couch until I get back. I don't want you fainting and breaking your neck or something."

"I'm all right. I can go..."

"You can go lay down, like I said." He followed her to the family room and made sure she was safely lying down before he left. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

It was ridiculous - sending him into town after such personal items when she was perfectly capable of going by herself. Of course, if he was already going to the store to get something... A mental picture of Cade shopping for such items brought a smile to her lips. Cade probably wouldn't be the least bit intimidated by the task, though.