Giving him a few minutes to traverse the drive, she got up and went into the kitchen. After she cleaned the table and finished the dishes, she went to her room to get some aspirin. By the time she reached the top of the stairs, tiny flecks of light were dancing across her vision. In her bathroom, she wiped her face with a cold rag and took a couple of aspirin. Pulling back the covers on her bed, she slipped between the cool sheets and let exhaustion take its course.
Cool fingers brushed her cheek lightly and she woke to find Cade leaning over her. The lamp beside her bed was on and he had a sack in one hand.
"Are you feeling any better?"
She rolled on her back and smiled up at him.
"Much."
"Good." He set the sack on the night table. "I'll leave this here for you. "Would you like some ice cream?"
She sat up and grabbed her throbbing head. "I'll come down in a few minutes."
He felt her forehead and rubbed her back. "Headache?" At her nod he stroked her hair. "The ice cream will help."
After he left the room she opened the sack to get her things and smiled. Inside was everything she had ordered - as well as a box of chocolates. Cade knew how to be a friend, even if he didn't know what to say. She put the things in her bathroom and was returning to the bedroom when Cade knocked on her open door.
"Room service." In his hand he held a bowl of ice cream, and his eyes held a welcome spark of humor.
"Oh, Cade," she laughed. "That's so sweet."
He grimaced. "Don't get mushy on me."
He sat on the end of the bed and watched reflectively as she ate the ice cream.
"You know," he finally said. "I think I'll sleep in tomorrow, so don't bother to get up early. I could use a day cleaning up the barn."
She rolled her eyes. "I was out there yesterday when I came back from riding and noticed that the barn was almost as clean as this house. I know what you're up to and thanks for the concern, but I'm fine now." She jabbed the spoon in the ice cream and sighed. "I feel like such a baby."
He frowned. "Why? You've been working for me for almost three months now and this is the first time I've ever seen you sick."
She made a face. "That and the time when I was trying to get the salt shaker from behind the stove."