His Every Word by Kelly Favor

would have been just as tainted. But so much good has come from Blue Horizon.”
    He continued to stare at her, and his eyes were fixed on hers, like a drowning man begging for someone to throw him a line. “Some good has come from it,” he agreed, his voice gaining strength. “I’ve gotten letters and letters about Blue Horizon—people telling me how they just read it over and over. The letters have never stopped, to this day they’re still pouring in.”
    “I know how your novel made me feel,” Kallie said. “When I was working that horrible nanny job and your book was the only thing I looked forward to.”
    Hunter finally allowed himself a tiny smile. “You really might be an angel,” he said, his voice betraying awe. “I feel so much lighter. I feel like maybe something’s lifted this dark cloud that I’ve been living under for years.”
    She caressed his cheek with her hand, and then he pulled her towards him and they kissed. “Careful,” she said. “I don’t want to hurt you, Hunter.”
    “I feel indestructible,” he said, and then kissed her again. His lips were burning hot, and she gave into his need.
    It was strange, Kallie thought, how passionate a kiss could be, even a kiss in a sick bed.
    It was so different than those first kisses they’d shared. In the beginning, it had been pure lust between them. But now, when she felt Hunter’s lips caressing hers, there was such a sense of depth, of feelings that could only be expressed through touch, through silence, through the feel of bodies pressed together.
    Hunter had saved her life. And maybe she’d returned the favor a tiny bit today, just through listening to his story.
    “I love you,” she said, when they broke apart for a moment.
    “You’re the only one I’ve ever told about my father—the real truth about what happened,” Hunter said. “I’ve never trusted anybody enough to say it out loud like that.”
    She caressed his face. “You feel warm,” she said.
    “I am warm. Warm for you.”
    Kallie laughed, but then grew serious. “No, really. You seem warm. I feel like maybe you have a fever, Hunter.”
    “I’ve never felt better.”
    “Just the same….” She got off the bed. “I want to get a nurse.”
    “Okay.” He shrugged and coughed. His forehead was sweaty and she could hear his breathing rattling in his chest.
    Kallie went outside, and found Detective Phillips in the hallway, laughing with the officer in the chair next to Hunter’s room. When Phillips saw her expression, he grew serious. “What happened?”
    “We need a nurse. I think he’s got a fever.”
    The detective immediately sprang into action and went to the nurse’s station.
    Kallie watched as he spoke to the older nurse from the other day. She nodded and then quickly scurried over, her large hips swaying as she walked. “Hey there,” she said, smiling at Kallie. “You think he’s got a touch of fever?”
    “I think so, yes.”
    “Let’s go have a look.” The nurse strode past her into the room.
    Kallie followed immediately behind her, feeling butterflies in her stomach at the prospect of something being wrong with Hunter.
    “Hi, hon. How are we doing?” the nurse asked.
    “Pretty well, all things considered,” Hunter answered.
    “Let’s just have a look at your pulse and blood pressure.” The nurse checked his heart monitor, made notes on his chart, ran through his vitals and took his temperature.
    She eyed him curiously. “You’re up around one hundred,” she said, “so your lady friend here is correct. You do have a temperature and your pulse is slightly elevated.”
    “Is that bad?” Hunter asked.
    “Not necessarily. But just the same, I’m going to see if Dr. Forrest is available to come and see you.”
    “Thank you so much,” Kallie told her.
    “Just doing my job,” the older woman called over her shoulder as she exited.
    Kallie went and sat next to the bed and held Hunter’s hand. “How’s your breathing?” she