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“I’ll get my medical kit. You get him to the bathroom for a quick bathing. Colt, get some clothes for him to change into. Maisy, heat some chicken broth,” she barked orders, and everyone jumped into action.

“I’m fine. Just give me a c-cup of c-c-coffee.” He started shivering as I ducked under his arm and helped him down the hall to the bathroom. “I h-had to s-s-see you, Ch-Ch?—”

“Sh. Rex, you’re here, but you’re feverish. I’ll take care of you for now. There’ll be plenty of time for talking later.”

In the bathroom, I finally got over my initial shock and took in his pale appearance and condition. He’d braved a storm to get to me. But what did this mean? Was he here to make another pitch to marry for all the wrong reasons?

A couple hours later,in my room, Rex slept while I kept a constant vigil in a chair next to my bed, changing the cold washcloth on his head frequently. Everyone else went out to the festivities in town, leaving us alone in the house. I didn’t mind missing it; I was only worried about him and what he was doing here.

I reached up and fingered the hair on his forehead. The typically virile man slept like a baby after taking medicineand drinking a little broth. The fever weakened him, hopefully only temporarily.

I hadn’t talked to him or seen him for almost two months, but certainly thought and wondered about him. If I was honest, I even fantasized that somehow we might find our way back together and try again one day, under different circumstances.

Never did I think he’d show up on my doorstep on Christmas Eve. I still couldn’t believe he was in Holly Creek. Had he changed, or was he desperate and still after the same things he wanted before, my hand in marriage for his precious building remodel?

He stirred, and I stood, leaning over him and feeling his chest a little clammy. I untucked the sheet a little, when I felt a hand on my thigh. I gasped and locked eyes with him.

“Hi, sweetness.” He half spoke, half coughed.

“Hi. Don’t talk. Try to rest.”

“That’s hard to do when I have so much to say to you.”

“I know.” A stray tear rolled down my cheek for some reason, and he caught it.

“Don’t cry.” Somehow his touch on my cheek and nearly hoarse voice were even sexier and set my heart racing. Why couldn’t I resist Rex Buchanan?

“I’ll be fine. I just need you to rest so you can get better fast. Then we’ll talk and figure all this out between us.”

“Promise you won’t run away?” His face took on a boyish quality, and I just wanted to eat him right up. But I had to remember our last conversation on the rooftop. Clearly, our goals didn’t align. He wanted me to marry justto get what he wanted. Not for love. But talking would help bring closure.

“Yes, promise. I’m not going anywhere. The deli’s closed for the holidays. I don’t report back to the TV station until the second week of January. Besides, the roads aren’t the best to drive on right now, as you know. Do you have to be anywhere soon?”

“Mom fired me from CEO of the family company. I’m free to do what I want, and right now, without a car, I’m not going any—” He coughed more. I blinked at the news.

“Sh. We have time then. You rest and get better.”

“No, sweetness, I need to talk with you.”

“We’ll talk when you’re better. If you don’t mind staying here in Holly Creek and resting for a few days, that is.”

“Is that all we’ll do? Rest and talk?” He tried to be sly about his question, but ended up in a coughing fit that lasted a couple of minutes this time. I shook my head and helped him with a glass of water.

Once he quieted down, I forbade him to open his mouth. Instead, I became chatty, telling him about Holly Creek and all the festivities this week before New Year’s Day. “Flora’s Diner, my mom’s place, is featuring her famous Pie Duo Plate—any two homemade slices with ice cream, and you can pick from pumpkin, apple, cherry, mincemeat. My cousins give horse and sleigh rides through the fields for a few dollars. Some of my friends have businesses in town, so I’ll be visiting them and shopping. And the pond is popular for ice skating. Do you know how to ice skate?”

He nodded. Then he scooted over to the other side of the bed and patted the mattress.

“What? You want me to lie there?”

His smile and vigorous head bobbing had me giggling. He was too darn cute right now as my patient. Although he still looked tired, his blue eyes brightened, luring me in. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Rex.”

“It’s the best idea, because I miss you, sweetness. Besides, I’m cold and the best thing to warm up a body is another warm body. You want to nurse me back to good health, don’t you?”

I caved in and got under the covers with him, spooning my back into his chest out of habit. “I’m not sure this is proper nursing technique,” I teased. He responded with a growl and tightened his hold on me.

“Does that mean don’t move?” I asked.

“Yes,” he whispered. “Stay with me.” His breath feathered across my ear and his chin scruff tickled my neck.