A Daddy Sent By Santa. Susan Carlisle

up the scrub top he’d left lying on the bed. Placing the back of her hand on Paxton’s forehead, she decided he was a little warm but not overly so. After turning the heat down in the room to a more reasonable temperature, she headed to the bathroom.

      After the wonderful experience of a hot shower, she pulled on the scrub top, thankful it was extra-large and hung far enough down her legs to decently cover her. The idea of sleeping in her damp clothes or, worse, nude made her shudder. After hanging and draping their clothes around the room to dry, she sat on her bed. She’d decided that leaving the light on in the bathroom would make it easy to check on Paxton.

      Lauren turned off the TV then looked at him sleeping in the next bed. He was resting comfortably. He’d turned on his side but his hands were still above his head. She could only think that they must have hurt. She couldn’t help but feel sympathy for his plight. He looked miserable with his bandaged hands. Taking a pillow from her bed, she raised his head and tucked it beneath before easing him down onto it. Satisfied she hadn’t disturbed his slumber, she adjusted the covers over his shoulders. Switching off the bedside lamp, she got into bed and was soon asleep.

      A loud moan startled her awake. She jerked around to look at Paxton. He whimpered again, then kicked the covers back, leaving most of his body exposed. The scrub pants rode low on his hips. Climbing out of bed, Lauren reached out to touch his head. Heat surrounded him. Her heart thumped. He had a fever.

      Grabbing her digital thermometer from her bag, she ran it across his forehead. It read one hundred and three point seven. She’d been afraid this might happen. Hopefully it would be a temporary situation and not require hospitalization. Returning to her bag, she found fever-reducing medicine then went to the bathroom, filled a water glass and returned to Paxton’s bedside.

      Lauren shook his shoulder. His skin was hot and dry. She bit her bottom lip as anxiety flooded her. This didn’t need to turn into more than a fever. “Paxton.”

      He groaned but didn’t open his eyes.