Chapter Six
Five days passed by and Brittany didn't see Lucas after that brief encounter by the lake. Even grandma was worried about him. He lived in the neighbourhood ranch and apparently spent his off time here, eating all meals with them.
"The boy hates livin' all alone at his ranch," said grandma worriedly.
"Don't worry, I'll go check out," said grandpa getting up. "You wanna come dear?" He asked Brittany.
Brittany stood up in a dilemma, unable to decide whether to go or not. She wanted to check up on him but didn't want to look desperate. Grandpa chuckled, "I'm sure he is unwell, the boy never misses your grandma's food," he said as Brittany nodded, deciding that she would go and check him.
So, they walked all the way through their huge ranch to the neighbouring ranch which was far bigger than her grandpa's. "He's developed all this on his own, by sheer hard work and dedication. Ten years ago he lost everything, look what he's achieved today," said grandpa proudly. Brittany was impressed by Lucas's ranch, but where was he? There were ranch hands all around, working hard but no sign of him anywhere.
Grandpa and Brittany stood in front of the door of the main house which was a sprawling three storeyed villa style house done up in white and brick red.
Suddenly grandpa's phone started ringing and he turned to Brittany,"You go inside. I have to take this call," he said, pushing the door open and ushering her inside while he went towards the back to take his call.
It was a warm and inviting home with beautiful landscaping, a huge courtyard and wrap around patio. The floorplan had plenty of windows allowing for natural light to flood the home. A stone fireplace was the centerpiece of the living room, making the place look grand. A theme of wooden elements perpetuated throughout the home in the form of beams, countertops and cabinets. A nice kitchen included an island bar, double ovens and ample counter space.
Everything was neat and spotlessly clean. When she didn't find Lucas, she went upstairs. There were four bedrooms, she could see. She thought of checking out the master bedroom. A bout of coughing from the master bedroom however confirmed that Lucas indeed was there.
She softly knocked, but there was no response, so she opened the door and peeped in. There lying sprawled on the bed, tangled in a white duvet, was Lucas, with his head covered. She walked up to the bedside, looking down at his covered form. She was about to uncover his face, when he peered out of the duvet and saw her.
"Are you here for real?" He murmured to himself.
"Yes," said Brittany as he threw the duvet and sat up, his shirtless bare body, exposed as she covered her eyes. Lucas chuckled and caught her hand, not letting her escape, as she tried to get free.
"You're really here and not a dream," he said smiling.
Brittany blushed, so he had been dreaming about her. "You are burning. Did you take any medication?" She asked as she touched his forehead with her other hand.
"No, I will," he told her, looking at her like she would vanish any minute. "Why are you here?" He asked.
"Grandma was worried about you, so she sent grandpa. He wanted me to come along," she said.
"I don't see him," he said, not believing her.
"He's taking an important call," she told him, as he kept his hold upon her.
"You missed me?" He asked as she nodded.
"No," she told him.
"Liar," he said staring at her.
"I'm not," she defended herself. "Did you eat anything?" She asked
He just waved his hand, "I'm not hungry," he said lying down, with her hand still in his hold.
"You've got to eat something, then take medicines," she explained but Lucas wasn't listening.
"Let me go and make some soup for you Lucas," she tried to coax him.
"No, I don't want this dream to end," he said.
"I'm not a dream, I'm real. You have to leave me," she said but Lucas just lay down with her hand in his hold.
She sat beside him, "I promise I will come back in 15 minutes with your soup," she said.
"No, you break promises," he said stubbornly.
"I won't break this time," she told him as he left her hand.
She went downstairs to the kitchen. She raided the empty fridge and pantry but didn't find anything. So she went out to search for her grandpa. When she found no one, she asked one of the ranch hands to go to her grandpa's ranch and get the ingredients for her soup.
She waited impatiently as the ranch hand returned with a lot more, her soup ingredients, bread, butter, fresh fruits and vegetables, rice, pasta, meat, eggs, milk. She stocked up the kitchen and proceeded to prepare her chicken and vegetable soup. Once done, she ladled it into a big bowl and carried it upstairs to Lucas's bedroom.
He was lying down, staring out of the window, lost in thoughts. The moment she entered, he looked up. "You came?" He asked excitedly.
"Yeah, why won't I?" She asked confusedly.
"Nothing," he chuckled, nodding his head.
"Have this, you'll feel better," she said, bringing the soup to him, as he sat up.
"I'm sick, feed me," he said as she smiled and sat in front of him. He removed the duvet and Brittany blushed seeing him in just a trackpant, riding low on his waist. His rippling muscles and tight six pack abs, disturbed her as she sat on the bed beside him, with red, flushed cheeks.
She fed him slowly, blushing under his intense unwavering gaze, "What?" She asked, unable to take it anymore.
"You missed me?" He asked.
Brittany did not answer. Truth was that she missed him tremendously, if she knew he was unwell she would have visited him earlier.
His hand touched her chin, turning her face towards him," I missed you more than you can ever imagine. Did you miss me darlin?" He asked with such honesty that Brittany couldn't avoid anymore.
"Yes," she said quietly as she fed him, averting her eyes.
"Say it?" He demanded as Brittany blushed with embarrassment.
"Please Lucas. I'll get your medicine," she said, placing the soup bowl down on the nightstand, she got up to go.
His hand caught her wrist and he pulled her into his lap. "Tell me first," he coaxed as she blushed at the close proximity.
"I missed you Lucas," she said as she pushed him back on his bed, covering him till his neck and went to the en-suite to get some paracetamol. He chuckled, following her with his eyes as she found the medicine and pouring a glass of water, brought it to him to take.
She settled him in, covering him well, "Try to get some sleep," she said stroking his hair as he closed his eyes.
"No, I'm not sleepy. You'll leave the moment I sleep," he said as his hand clasped her wrist again.
She didn't answer, just gently stroked his soft hair. He was breathing evenly in no time. Brittany didn't get up, he was sleeping holding her hand. She watched him sleep, his long lashes casting shadows on his cheek, his strong chiseled jawline showed so much determination.
The bedroom door opened and Bryce came in. "He's sleeping? Good. He hates taking medicines. Avoids taking them like plague," whispered Bryce.
"He took the medicine I gave, without a fuss," she told him with a smile as Bryce rolled his eyes.
They went downstairs. "Grandma's calling you for breakfast, go, I'll stay here," said Bryce as Brittany left to go.
