The Nanny and the CEO by Rebecca Winters

contagious.”
    â€œI’ve heard it’s serious—” Reese blurted.
    â€œIt can be when left untreated. If I’m right, we’ll put him in isolation and hydrate him with an IV to bring back his body’s salt and fluid levels to normal. He should get through this just fine.”
    Should? She and Nick shared a panicked glance.
    â€œWho’s your pediatrician?”
    â€œDr. Hebert Wells.”
    â€œIn a minute a team will come in to take a blood sample. When we know for sure what we’re dealing with, we’ll call him. If it’s bacterial, your doctor will treat him with an antibiotic.”
    Reese hugged her arms to her waist in agitation.“What more could we have done to have prevented this?”
    The doctor eyed her with compassion. “As long as you’re constantly washing your hands before and after you attend to your baby, that’s pretty much all you can do.” Jamie wasn’t her baby, but she loved the sound of it.
    â€œReese has been very careful about that,” Nick interjected. “I need to do it more often.”
    â€œWashing hands can prevent all kinds of illnesses.”
    Nick’s lips tightened. “If an IV is called for, where will you insert it—he’s so small?” He’d taken the question right out of her mouth.
    â€œThe IV team will decide, but probably in his foot. It hurts for a minute, but then it’s over.” Reese shared another worried glance with Nick.
    â€œGo ahead and hold your baby until one of the staff shows you to the isolation area.”
    As the doctor left the cubicle, Nick reached for Jamie. Once he was back in his father’s strong arms, he quieted down a little bit, but clearly he was miserable. Reese smoothed her hand over the back of his head. “You’re all wiped out, aren’t you, sweetheart.”
    â€œWe’re both here—” Nick talked to his son in a low, comforting tone “—and you’re going to get feeling better soon.”
    Reese wanted to believe it, too, but she’d heard the underlying concern in his voice and was scared to death herself because the illness had robbed Jamie of his vitality.
    In a minute someone came and took them through double doors to a restricted area where they were set upin a private room. Jamie cried some more. “I think he wants you, Reese.” Nick handed the baby to her.
    She hugged Jamie close and sang to him. The music kept him somewhat calm. When she lifted her eyes to Nick, she caught a look of such pain in his, it shattered her.
    Something in his expression told Reese that Nick was thinking about his wife and how he’d lost her so quickly after they’d reached the hospital. In the two weeks she’d known Nick, he’d never talked about her except to explain how she’d died. Reese refused to consider the possibility that he was worrying his son would be taken from him, too, in so short a time.
    â€œNothing’s going to happen to Jamie,” she assured him with her heart in her throat. “You heard the doctor. Everyone’s had Rotavirus in their lives. Even the two of us, and we’re alive and healthy, right?” She flashed him a coaxing smile.
    Reese wasn’t destined to hear what he would have said back because two technicians came into the cubicle wearing masks. Jamie didn’t like that and turned his head into her neck.
    The taller one said, “If Mom and Dad will step outside the curtain, we’ll get this over with quick.” He reached for the baby Reese had to give up, but it killed her because Jamie cried out in protest.
    â€œIt’s okay, sport,” Nick assured him. “We’ll be right outside.” He reached for Reese’s hand and led her beyond the curtain. She knew he wasn’t thinking as he drew her along with him, but a sensation of warmth traveled up her arm into her body. He didn’t let go the whole time Jamie