Page 20 of To Charm a Highlander

She gasped, despite his words that had caused her heart to beat faster and strange feelings like butterflies in her stomach.“Callum, ‘tis improper for ye to speak to me like that.”

“Ah, mayhap, but ‘tis true.”

It had just occurred to her that Callum’s eyes were glazed and his cheeks flushed.She reached over and touched his forehead.“Ye have a fever, Callum.I fear ‘twill be a tad longer in bed whether ye like it or no’.”

“No fever.I’m just warm because it’s so blasted hot in here.”

“Nay.‘Tis not hot in here.Ye have a fever and I think the best thing for ye is to sleep and let yer body heal itself.”

He huffed just as a knock sounded.The old wooden door moved open, and a young lass walked in, carrying a bowl of some sort of stew, along with bread and fresh butter.“I have yer evening meal, Callum.”

Donella had to work hard to control herself when the itch to grab the food from the lass and show her to the door came over her.‘Twas silly.She and Callum were only friends.Just because he asked her to go to the village with him and then got injured defending her in the alehouse dinna mean much.

She stood and took the tray from the lass.“I’ll see thatMr.Gunneats his meal.You may leave now.”

Her head snapped around when she heard a chuckle from Callum.“Are ye laughing at me?”

Despite shaking his head, the mirth in his eyes made her want to dump the bowl of stew over his head.Drawing on her dignity, she raised her chin and walked toward him.“Do ye care to eat yer meal before I give you the potion Dorathia sent ye?”

“Actually, lass, I doona feel like eating.Can ye put the tray o’er there on the table and I’ll eat it later.”

Donella put the tray down and then placed her hand on Callum’s forehead.“Ye are getting warmer, Callum.I think if ye try to force yerself to eat right now it might come back up.I will get ye some fresh water and then ye can take the medicine from Dorathia.”

“Aye, ye take good care of me, lass.”

“If ye remember correctly, ‘twas defending me that got ye into this bed with an injury ye refer to as a ‘scratch.’

He reached out to take her hand.“We take care of each other, aye?”