My Unexpected Vow: California Billionaires Book 2 Harlow James (scary books to read txt) 📖

“This will help you breathe and relieve any aches and pains you have. Come on.” I reach for his hand and help him in the water as he bites down on his lip.

“Fuck, it’s cold.”

“No, it’s not. It just feels that way because you’re burning up.”

“I hate this.”

“Well, tough shit, Hayes.” He glowers at me again as he gently rests his body on the bottom of the tub. “You’re sick and this will help.”

“Damn. You’re being kind of mean to a sick man right now.”

I roll my eyes. “Forgive me for wanting to help you. Will you be okay if I run downstairs really quick?”

“I’m not going to drown if that’s what you mean,” he fires back, closing his eyes and leaning against the tub as the bubbles start to appear on the surface of the water.

I shake off his grumbling and exit the bathroom, hurrying to the kitchen to fetch the thermometer and some Tylenol to try to get his fever down. I remember seeing some in a cabinet in the kitchen shortly after I moved in. I empty a few pills in my hand and fill up a glass of water before I make my way back up just in time to turn the water off in the tub so it doesn’t spill over the sides. Hayes’s eyes are still closed, so he obviously wasn’t paying attention.

“Are you alright?” I ask, but only get a moan from him in return. “I need you to take this.”

He pops open one eye to stare at me. “What is that?”

“Tylenol. It will help bring down your fever.”

“I feel like I’m freezing already,” he counters. “I don’t need it.”

I point the no-touch thermometer at his head and it beeps a few seconds later. “This says you’re at a temp of 103 degrees right now, so I beg to differ.”

“Fine.” He sits up and takes the pills from me, followed by the glass of water, throwing them back and swallowing them effortlessly. As he hands the glass back to me, he slinks further into the water and rests his head on the side of the tub. “Thank you.” The soft lilt to his voice is a surprising change from the harshness he was just offering a few seconds ago.

“You’re welcome.” On instinct, I settle on the tile just on the outside of the bathtub and reach out to brush the hair from his eyes, stroking his forehead over and over as we stare at each other.

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be an ass. I just hate being sick and it’s been so long since anyone was actually here to take care of me.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I think the last person to do so was my mom, and I was much younger. I don’t get sick very often.”

That piece of information makes me realize that when Hayes admitted that he’s never let another woman in, he meant it. He’s never had a relationship last long enough for someone to see him in this state and put his health above their own. But he’s letting me do that—because he’s been honest when he said I’ve changed him.

And the same is true for me—he’s changed me as well.

He wants me. It feels strange to actually feel desired by someone for the first time in my life and not question it anymore. My parents barely gave me enough attention to constitute a relationship with them, the handful of boyfriends I had since high school, Brett included, have been lackluster at best—but now for the first time, I feel like I can actually believe that another person wants me in their life as much as I want them in mine—besides my brother, that is.

Hayes and I have only grown closer over the past two weeks, ever since our date and the sex that hasn’t stopped since then either. The way he looks at me, really sees me—it has my heart tripping over every boundary I’ve tried to keep up with this man, and that’s when the truth slams right into me.

I’m falling for my husband—this crass, yet intelligent man that drives me insane and leaves me breathless in the same minute, this boy who teased me relentlessly growing up and eagerly pissed me off as an adult, this man who ended up being someone I feel completely comfortable being myself around—which I think shocks me the most. And it also makes me realize that I haven’t shared one of the most important aspects of my life with him yet.

“Are you contemplating drowning me in this bathtub right now?” Hayes asks, his comment catching me off-guard.

“What?”

“You’ve been kinda quiet for a while now, Wave,” he grates out, covering his mouth as he coughs again.

I shake off my internal admission and then clear my throat. “No, I’m not plotting your death, Hayes. I think it’s safe to say we’re past that point.”

“Oh, yeah?” he asks as his lips tip up in a reverent smile, followed by an entire body shiver.

I brush his hair from his face again, dipping my hand into the water and then wetting his face when I do it this time. “Yeah, I kind of like having you around.”

“I kind of like having you around too, babe.”

I lean in and press my lips to his forehead, lingering there for just a moment as I breathe him in, absorbing how vulnerable he is right now. I’ve rarely seen him like this, but by the heaviness of his eyes and the curl of his shoulders, I can tell he’s not feeling well. When I break the touch, I stare down into his eyes and melt for the second time since I realized that I’m hopelessly in love with him. I’m in love with Hayes Weston, and I’m not even mad about it. Instead, I feel an overwhelming sense of purpose. “I’m going to go make you some soup, okay? It will help your throat.”

“You know, if it were a month