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And this is luxury living where I come from. I cheerfully lift covers and peek under folded napkins at all the goodies and then fill a plate. I hear water running from his bathroom, so I’m not too shocked when he appears sans shirt in his doorway. He’s looking both bleary-eyed and grumpy.
“Want some breakfast?” I ask cheerily and am met with a mild glare. Then I see the problem. There’s at least twenty-five feet between him and the table and nothing to hang on to. He’s able to walk, but I think that distance may exceed his capacity. And I have a feeling he turned down something sensible, like a walker or a cane at the hospital. I jump up and sling an arm around his waist before he can tell me not to.
He growls when I start walking towards the table. “Don’t be such a baby. There’s a ton of food and coffee as your reward.”
That surprises him. I notice that because he goes still and doesn’t grunt for the entirety of the trip into the living room. When he cautiously eases down onto the chair, he’s eyeing me like I’m a puzzle he can’t quite figure out. I shrug and resume my seat. I’m hungry if he isn’t.
Slowly, he reaches for some of the food. Mostly what’s closest, so I push a few of the plates over and pour him a cup of coffee. “Don’t expect full service dining for two months. This is just because it’s your first day and I can tell your pride is hurting,” I warn him. I notice his lips twitch slightly, like he’s amused, but all I really get in response is a classic Dallas grunt.
When I’m done, I set my dishes on the cart and go back to my bedroom to get dressed for the day. I’ve no idea what it will entail, but based on Dallas, probably nothing too exciting. I take my e-reader with me when I head back into the living room. Dallas has antibiotics he’s supposed to take along with pain meds that I have a feeling he’s going to refuse. So I set up his med station on the counter in the kitchenette. He nods when I show him the antibiotics and I hold back the eye roll when he shakes his head no for the pain meds. Knew it.
Nothing explains the tingle I feel though when I hand him the small white pill and our hands touch briefly. He doesn’t seem to notice anything, so I start straightening the table. “Do you want to go back to bed or do your walk now?” I ask as he slowly stands.
“What am I, a dog?” His voice is raspy, and I know he’s not deliberately trying to be nasty.
“You’re supposed to get two short walks in every day for the next three days and then an hour-long walk a day after that, with breaks. And you will do them, mister.” I stand there with my hands on my hips and stare down a Navy SEAL nearly two decades older than me.
I’m really proud of myself when it works. At first, his eyebrows go up in disbelief and then the corners of his blue eyes start to crinkle. Then dawn breaks into the first genuine smile I’ve seen from him. It only lasts a second and then the clouds return. He scowls. “Fine, let’s get this over with, then.”
I quickly grab the keycard so I don’t lock us out and then loop my arm around his waist again. His skin is warm and smooth and I have to remind myself I’m here in a semi-professional capacity as we slowly make our way down the hall and back.
Dallas
Esme is going to be the death of me. She’s tall, enough that the top of her head fits neatly under my chin when she’s not leaning in attempting to support me. Which is ridiculous because if I did fall on her, she could get seriously hurt. But she’s determined to try to make me follow doctor’s orders. I thought the worst of it was over when we limped back into the suite. But hell no. “I need to check and change your bandages,” she says calmly, but I can tell she’s nervous. I’m not sure if she’s scared of my response or of what’s under all the dressings. So I nod curtly and head into the bedroom to faceplant again.
Her hands are soft and delicate as she tries to peel off the medical tape. Finally, I can’t take the temptation of her touching anymore. “Just pull the damn things off. It won’t hurt more than it already does.”
She gives a sharp inhale and then does just that. I bite back the curse words and let her get on with it. I debate apologizing, but she’s better off hating me a little. Esme finishes up with fresh bandages and leaves me there without a word. I deserve that. It’s what I wanted, but damn if I don’t miss her touch already.
I know I’m in serious trouble at the end of day three. Esme has gotten increasingly efficient about ripping the dressings off my back, and no longer seems concerned if she’s hurting me. She’s not. And maybe that’s the problem. Because out of nowhere, my cock wakes up. Guess all the surgery drugs have worn off. Whatever it is, he’s awake and likes the way Esme’s fingers stroke down my spine with the washcloth she insists on using. I have to stifle a groan of pleasure into my fist, but she hears me anyway.
“Summers, you okay?”
I give her my signature grunt in response, too shocked at my reaction to a kid like her. Yeah, I know she’s over twenty-one, but she’s still fucking young.
She mutters something and leaves the room. About an hour later, when I think I have myself under control, I venture out to the living room. I’m sick of my own company and more than a little curious about what she gets up to.
Esme is on her phone, video chatting. She stops mid-sentence when she sees me, her eyes narrowing. “Here, he’s up. You can see for yourselves.” She flips the phone towards me and it’s only then that I see it’s Mac, Evan, and Cole. Traitors. I stand there gape mouthed like an idiot while one of them tells Esme, “Hey, the wives were talking and they’d like to invite you up for a few weeks in the summer. Fair warning they’ve got matchmaking in mind so we’re supposed to delicately ask what you like when it comes to men.”
“You’re off the hook, but still welcome to visit if you like women, though. We just don’t have any extras of those,” one of them says. Assholes.
Esme laughs, her head thrown back, and blushes slightly.
“Thanks, I’d love to come check out the place. And the single guys.”
This time, my growl is downright feral. I grab her phone, stare into the eyes of my best friends and state definitively, “Not. Happening.” Then I hang up and hand it back to Esme. She’s staring at me like I’ve grown two heads.
“What was that all about?” she finally asks with a grimace.
“Them or me?”
“You! What do you care if I go up there and make friends? It’s not like you’ll have to spend any time with me.” She’s pouting slightly and doesn’t even know it, which makes her even more adorable. I want to kiss that frown off her face.
“You’re way too innocent for those idiots,” I finally growl in response, hoping she’ll forget the whole idea.
Esme rolls her eyes. “Only one way over that mountain, frogman.” She gets up and heads into her room with an angry swish to her backside. Fuck.
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