Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49258 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49258 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Navigating the busy streets was torture on a good day. This evening, it was a lot for her to handle. She’d never been so happy to see a house in her whole life as when she pulled into her daddy’s driveway. Giana dropped her forehead back onto the steering wheel to rest.
A knock on her window made her look up. Koa stood outside, concern etched on his handsome face. “Little girl. Unlock the door for me.”
She ran her fingers over the buttons, trying to process which one worked. Finally, she heard the whir of the motor as the lock released. Her daddy opened the door and stepped close. He pressed a hand to her forehead and shook his head.
“You are burning up, Flame. Why didn’t you tell me you were this ill? I would have picked you up.”
“I just need some sleep,” she mumbled and struggled to get out of the seat.
“Let me help you, baby.” Koa quickly unfastened her seatbelt to free her.
Giana melted into his arms as he picked her up. Resting her heavy head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes. Trusting Koa to take care of her was so easy. She had vague impressions of being carried into the house and settled on top of their bed. Curling onto her side around her stuffies, Giana crashed into sleep.
CHAPTER 14
“Zale?” Koa spoke quietly into his phone. He could hear Pippa talking in the background.
“Koa? Is everything okay?”
“I’m sorry to interrupt your free time. Could you come check on Giana?”
“I’m okay,” Giana croaked.
Her rough and weak voice wouldn’t have carried through to the medic. Koa leveled a hard look on her and she relaxed back on the covers. She hadn’t struggled at all when he’d taken her temperature. That told him everything. His little girl was sick.
Zale’s voice refocused him. “I’ll be right over. Give me an idea of what we’re dealing with so I can bring some medicine in case she needs it.”
“Sore throat, fever, exhaustion,” Koa listed his concerns.
“Got it. A lot of strep throat is going around. I’ll bring a test. Give me ten minutes and I’ll be there,” Zale promised.
“Thank you, Zale. I’ll owe you,” Koa told him, grateful for his help. Zale had patched him up a dozen times on missions. He trusted the skilled medic with his own life. Zale would take care of Giana.
“I don’t want to see a doctor,” Giana grumbled in her hoarse voice.
“Good. You’ll get to see Zale. Drink some juice, Flame. We need to keep you hydrated.”
“I’m tired of drinking,” she said.
Koa watched her lips thin as she pressed her lips together tightly. “Sick little girls who misbehave can still earn consequences.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. Koa steeled himself to not react to her cuteness. He held the sippy glass to her lips. “Drink, Giana. You’ll feel better.”
After snorting her disapproval, Giana relented and drank the mixture from the cup. “Mmm,” she hummed in enjoyment.
“I thought you’d like that,” Koa said. “You can trust me, little girl.”
She nodded and handed the cup back. “Tired, Daddy. I’m going back to sleep.”
“Rest, little girl.”
A few minutes later, Koa ran quietly through the house to open the door for Zale who carried a box of supplies. “Hey, Zale. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Let’s go see that little girl of yours,” Zale suggested.
“She’s in bed.” Koa led the way to their room. “Giana? Zale is here.”
“No shots,” she said, before coughing.
“That’s a nasty cough, Giana. Would you like me to see if I can help you?” Zale asked.
“I don’t want to make Pippa angry. She’s my friend,” Giana whispered.
“Pippa sent you this picture,” Zale said, walking forward to hand Giana a piece of paper. He waited as she fumbled with the covers to get a hand free to take it. Koa stepped closer to see a decorated, coloring book page showing a bunny with an ice pack on his head. Underneath, Pippa had carefully printed, Let Daddy help you.
When Giana glanced up at him, Zale said, “It’s your choice, little girl. I’m glad to examine you and help you feel better, but I will treat you as a little girl. If you’re not comfortable with that, I’ll be glad to suggest a great doctor who treats adults if you don’t currently have a physician.”
Giana was quiet for a few seconds. Zale would treat her as intimately as her own daddy did. Pippa had told her before that Pippa understood Zale would see others naked to take care of them. Giana had seen how much Zale cared for Pippa. She understood Zale’s intention was simply to do as he stated—to help her feel better.
“I feel awful, Zale. Everybody trusts you. Please help me.”
“You got it, Giana.” Zale turned to Koa and asked, “Would you undress Giana completely so I can examine her while I get myself organized?”