The Billionaire and the Cleaner(36)
He’d not even phoned his parents.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“You’re here, baby. Everything is going to be okay.”
“So that’s why you’ve befriended me. You need a nursemaid.”
“Absolutely, what other uses do you have?” Kent asked, teasing her.
“I have to wonder that myself some days.” She grabbed the soap and the sponge. He watched as she lathered the sponge. The conflict on her face made him curious.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me. I know you, Lana. You’re hiding something.” He frowned at her. She wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“Nothing’s the matter. I’m fine.”
Staring at her, Kent let her soap his arm and chest. Her hands shook a little. He continued to stare at her face.
“Did the diner allow you to take time off?” he asked.
She nibbled her lip. “No.”
“What’s going on?”
“I lost my job at the diner when I went with you to your family’s house for Christmas,” she said.
The words blurted out of her mouth. Kent saw she hadn’t meant for them to come out. Her cheeks were bright red.
“But you need that job.”
“I know. However, I wanted to come away with you at Christmas. My boss said I either had to work or go. I left.”
She shrugged, but he saw the hurt in her eyes.
“How bad is the damage?” he asked.
“What?”
“Lana, I know you only just get by. The bonus you were given wouldn’t last forever. How are you getting your bills paid and the rent?”
She began nibbling her lip again.
“Just tell me.”
“I’ve got to start looking for a new place to live. I can’t afford my apartment. The bills have gone up, and so has the rent. I can’t make ends meet on the one job. I wouldn’t have been able to with both jobs.”
Kent cursed at the unfairness of it all. He rubbed his temple. Lana loved her apartment. The pride she took in her space meant the world to her.
“I’m going to pay for your apartment,” Kent said.
“What? No, you can’t. I won’t accept that.”
“And I won’t accept my woman on the streets or in some shitty apartment where you’re not happy.” He growled the words out. His head was thumping from his illness. Exhaustion swept over him.
“I’m not your woman, Kent.”
“You’re my friend. I take care of what’s mine. I’ll sort out the payments for your apartment. Don’t argue with me, Lana.” He lifted a hand to stop her. “We’ll figure something out. Until then, stop arguing with me and just accept what I’m saying.”
After some time she whispered a thank you.
“You’re welcome.”
He rested in the bath as she cleaned him. Kent took the sponge from her when she hesitated over the water. Staring into her eyes he washed his cock and lower body. Even ill his cock responded to the heat in her eyes. Lana was attracted to him. She didn’t want to be attracted to him, but she was.
When he was bathed, she fetched him a towel. Kent stood, and Lana averted her eyes. She left him to get dried. Her hand came around the corner with some gym pants. They were loose, and he only wore them to work out in. He took them from her outstretched hand.
She tapped the bed for him to climb into.
“I’ll call the cleaning agency and let them know I won’t be in. Hopefully I won’t get fired from there,” she said.
“Don’t worry about it. I’d check your cell phone. I already put a call into them before I phoned you.”
“You were so sure I’d help you.”
“Lana, you love me, baby. I knew you’d help me out.”
He climbed into bed. Kent heard her gasp but didn’t say anything. She watched over him. Kent felt her presence during the night. Her hand was constantly touching his forehead, checking his temperature and feeding him.
When the shivers got too much she phoned a doctor to come out and see him. Kent was conscious of everything happening. He stared at her seeing the concern in her eyes. Tonya’s words from Christmas kept playing around his head. Did Lana love him like Tonya said?
He’d never been so sure as he was when she stared at him.
Kent woke up after the doctor paid him a visit to see Lana looking at a cookbook sat beside him. He tapped the bed. “Sleep with me,” he said.
She looked from her book to the spot next to him. “The doctor said you should sleep.”
“I’ll sleep better with you beside me.” He saw the indecision in her eyes. “Please.” Begging was low of him, but he wanted to get his own way. He’d do anything to get his own way.