Page 62 of Trial By Fire
"Dani, you listen to Mads and do not leave her side. Break the rule, and we leave for home immediately. Understand?"
"Okay, Daddy."
The girls get up and make their way to the door. And being the dad I am, I watch them through the glass as they pass a group of people standing outside talking and make their way to the play area.
"Your protective side is sweet," Lindsey says softly.
"Glad you feel that way. Eat," I order.
Her gaze narrows, and I grin. "You just said I'm sweet," I remind her, splitting my attention between her and the girls.
She nibbles on a strawberry, and I have to force my gaze away from her luscious lips.
Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment. Doing the right thing should be simple. But simple stopped applying somewhere around the moment Lindsey started feeling like mine.
Chapter 26
Lindsey
What happened?
I groan dazedly, trying to piece together the fuddled bits of…before.
I hurt all over. My palm is throbbing. My head pounding. My ears ringing. I'm hot and cold, and everything is whirling around like a Ferris wheel.
"Lindsey? Linds? Sweetheart, open your eyes."
I hear Kace's voice, but he sounds like he's at the end of a tunnel. "Kiss?"
No, that's not right. I meant to say Kace but?—
"Open your eyes, baby. Talk to me."
I love his endearments. I know they come as second nature for him but to me? I love how they roll off his lips. How they make me feel all warm and fuzzy and safe. Cared for.
"Here," Madi says. "Give her my water."
"Nine-one-one's on the way."
I frown, not recognizing that particular voice.
"Take a drink," Kace says.
A bottle is pressed to my lips, and I sip and swallow wrong and then choke, coughing.
I remember leaving the restaurant. Getting back into the cart and going to the conservatory. We toured it and petted turtles and then walked one of the boarded nature trails running throughout the island. It's shaded but so hot, and there's no breeze due to the thick foliage. I'd started getting dizzy and then?—
"Daddy? What's wrong with her?"
Dani is crying, and I shift toward the sound. I have to get to her. "Dan…"
"Easy, sweetheart. Stay still. Dani, baby, she's going to be fine. She fainted, but she's okay."
It's a struggle, but I manage to shove my eyelids up and keep them up—right about the time my stomach heaves, and I hurl all the food we ate for lunch.
"Daddy!"
"Mads, can you?—"
