She startled at the question, spilling the juice she’d been trying to pour. “Oh, I’m pouring you some juice?” Was that so weird?
“Did you just blow on my grilled cheese?”
“Um, yes?”
His lips twitched. “Don’t think anyone has done that since I was a toddler.”
“Oh. . .ah. . .” Shoot. She was such a dork.
“You’re not a dork,” he told her, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “Thank you.”
Her breath whooshed out as he took a few bites. At least she hadn’t made a complete idiot of herself. And she’d gotten him to eat most of a sandwich. She ate hers quickly then cleaned up. She gave in to her instinct and gave him a gentle kiss on the top of his forehead as she took everything inside.
Her mind searched for things to do to make him feel better. She wandered out onto the porch to find him back at his spot by the railing. Self-doubt filled her. Maybe he wanted to be on his own. Maybe she was just annoying him. She shuffled from foot to foot. He could always tell her to go away. Sure, it would hurt. A lot. But she’d give him whatever he needed right now.
“Um, Macca?” It felt a little weird to call him that now. He was Daddy in her mind. Totally and utterly.
“Yeah?” He glanced down at her.
“I ran you a bath.”
He blinked. “A bath?”
“Yes, a bath,” she repeated.
“I haven’t taken a bath in years.”
“I thought. . .you’re always taking care of me. I want to look after you right now.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know. I want to. Unless it’s what you don’t want,” she added quickly. “I can leave you alone if that’s what you’d rather.”
He shook his head. “No, I guess I could use some looking after right now.”
Good. Her tension eased as she led him inside and towards the bathroom. She’d added bubbles to the bath and even lit a few scented candles she’d found.
She came to a stop then turned to him and with fingers that shook, started tugging at the bottom of his t-shirt. He was too tall for her to pull it off him and he had to help her whisk it over his head. She stared at all that delicious skin on display, barely resisting the urge to run her tongue over every groove, every inch of his chest, to suck on his gorgeous nipples until he moaned.
Not the time, Gigi. She felt ashamed of herself. Penny had just died. She shouldn’t be thinking about sex at a time like this. It was only because he was so gorgeous.
No, it was more than that. He was more than a pretty face and a muscular body. He was Macca. He was her Daddy. Her soul. And she loved him.
Oh. Shit.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“What? Yes. Sorry. Away with the fairies.”
“You’re shaking,” he pointed out.
“Am I?”
“Are you feeling all right?” Concern filled his voice. Oh, she couldn’t have that. She was supposed to be taking care of him. Not the other way around.
“I’m fine.”
“Meds?”