Free McCade's Wish (The McCade Family Series Book 2) by Mara McBain Page A

should be rewarded for his stupidity. He was milking his misadventure for all it was worth, and Adrienne was proving to be a dedicated nursemaid. Nate yawned and Adrienne leaned forward to fluff his pillow and tug a blanket closer.
    “Why don’t we give Nate a chance to catch a nap? We can go in the dining room and play some cards?” Genevieve suggested.
    Trey looked as surprised by the suggestion as anyone. He met Cole’s eye. Nodding his agreement, Cole walked over to offer his hand to Adrienne.
    “Don’t look so shocked. I’m not suggesting high stakes poker. I just thought it would be a way to pass the time,” Gen said, a slight blush staining her cheeks.
    “It sounds good, baby,” Trey said, standing up with her in his arms. “I haven’t played cards since Daddy was sick. If you’ll bring up some cider, it will just take me a couple of minutes to pop us some corn.”
    “I’m really not that tired,” Nate protested as Trey and Gen left the room.
    Cole helped Adrienne smoothly to her feet. “Take a nap, runt. Maybe you can sit at the big kids table next time,” he said with a wink.
    Adrienne laughed and wrapped her hands around his bicep as he led her into the dining room. She stretched as he pulled a chair out for her. He turned to light the oil lamps.
    “I’m glad Gen suggested this. I needed a break,” she said with a guilty giggle. Her eyes darted to the doorway. “I’m trying to help her out, let her cuddle with the big man. The rescue this morning really shook her up. I think she thought she’d lost the big lug.”
    Some of the tension eased from Cole’s shoulders and he reached out to rub the back of her neck. “That’s nice of you. I guess Gen and Trey share that trait. They both feel like they need to take care of the world.”
    Adri nodded, head lolling back with a little look of pleasure as he massaged tired muscles. She seemed lost in thought for several minutes and he was about to ask if he’d put her to sleep when she spoke again.
    “Even back in New York, penniless and starving, she was always trying to look out for others. It used to make me so angry, sad, and proud all at the same time to see her hand food or money she’d worked so hard for to someone else because she thought they needed it worse. That’s just who she is,” she said, casting another glance at the doorway.  
    “Maybe that’s why they’re so good together. Neither one of them knows how to put themselves first, and this way they take care of each other,” Cole said with a grin.
    “Oh, well said, cowboy,” Adrienne whispered, a radiant smile spreading across her face. “Who said Nate was the smart one?”
    Cole snorted and rolled his eyes. “That was probably Nate.”
    Adrienne smacked his arm gently and took the seat he held out for her as Gen came back with a jug of cider and glasses. A couple of minutes later, Trey plunked a bowl of popcorn in the middle of the table before retrieving a deck of cards from the cabinet. Easy laughter floated around the table as they went over the rules and dealt the cards. Cole looked around. Despite the weather and the close calls, Trey was relaxed and smiling. Gen was so good for him. This was nice. Adrienne caught his eye and winked. He grinned; he could get used to this. Picking up his cards, he leaned back in his chair and followed his big brother’s lead, pushing aside worries about the howling wind and faulty tangle of wires, and just enjoying the teasing and stories of childhood adventures.
     
    Adrienne shivered as she stepped out of the bathroom. She was thankful for the warm water the men had carried upstairs so they could wash up, but now she was chilled. She hurried down the hall toward her room. Slipping inside, she blew out the candle and dove onto the bed, bouncing and wiggling under the blankets. The sheets were cool against her skin and she shuddered, pulling the quilt up to her nose and praying the bed would hurry and warm.
    She closed her eyes.