gently brushing her injured shoulder blade with his fingertip.
“It stung like crazy when the warm water first touched it, but it feels better now.”
“You’ll need to let it dry completely before we can dress it. It might’ve been a good idea to not get it wet until later today.”
“I forgot to check the doctor’s instructions. I wanted a shower so bad.”
“We’ll make sure it’s dry before we cover it. Okay, you’re all done. Need anything else washed?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
“Maybe on another occasion, Ash. Thank you.”
55
“Want more coffee?”
“I’d love it. Milk and two sugars.”
“You got it, darlin’.”
He helped her dress and held the blow-dryer for her while she dried her hair. Getting ready took significantly longer than she expected, even with his help. Even though she’d assured him she could make it to work on her own, he’d insisted on driving her and picking her up. He drove her to the store and helped her from his truck, and then he told her he’d be back in a little while with her lunch. She was mildly surprised, having expected him to drop her off and then pick her up that night after he was done.
“No, darlin’. I have to run home and change clothes, and then I’ll pick you up some lunch and bring it back to you. You check in around here and do anything that needs doing. Evelyn is staying until five, and Leah is closing the store at the usual time. Your store runs like a well-oiled machine. I’ll be picking you up at four o’clock.”
“Four o’clock? But—”
“You can come back to the ranch with me, or I can take you back to your place for supper, and then you can get another good night’s rest. I can stay with you again if you like, but one way or the other, Evelyn and Leah are giving you the boot at four o’clock.”
“Uh-oh. I have prescriptions I need to fill.”
“I’ll drop them off for you and pick them up later. Do you need something for pain right now?” She was at a loss at the prospect of him caring for her when she was so used to taking care of herself.
“No, I have acetaminophen in my desk drawer.”
“Good, you make sure and take some. I hate to see you hurting.
I’ll see you with lunch in a bit. Sandwiches okay?”
“Um, yeah,” she replied, feeling heat flood her face when he leaned down and kissed her cheek. He was even coming back to eat with her? Wow.
“See you in a little while. Don’t climb any ladders,” he called, looking back at her and giving her a cheeky grin as he walked away.
56
Of course, she did the mature thing and stuck her tongue out at him.
He chuckled and said, “Shouldn’t do that unless you’re willing to share.”
He returned at lunchtime in different clothes and freshly shaved with her prescriptions, a toasted ham and turkey sandwich made the way she liked it, and a large sweet tea. She was impressed.
“How are you feeling?”
“Groggy and a little achy,” she replied, thanking him as he opened the antibiotic and gave her a dose.
She looked at him wistfully, thinking that things had definitely changed between them since yesterday. She felt relaxed around him now.
“What is it, darlin’?”
I wish I could climb up in your lap and let you deal with the world for a little while, big cowboy.
She closed her eyes and shrugged. “I feel wrung out and tired.
Maybe lunch will perk me up a bit. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Let me give it some thought, and I’ll get back to you on that after you’re feeling better,” he said with a mischievous smile. “I may have to extract payment from your flesh.”
She did the appropriate thing for once and laughed, then dug into her lunch.
* * * *
Later that afternoon, Ash found her in the stockroom, directing traffic and giving instructions. Her crew stood around her while she assigned their tasks as he stood back and listened quietly.
He could tell her
“It stung like crazy when the warm water first touched it, but it feels better now.”
“You’ll need to let it dry completely before we can dress it. It might’ve been a good idea to not get it wet until later today.”
“I forgot to check the doctor’s instructions. I wanted a shower so bad.”
“We’ll make sure it’s dry before we cover it. Okay, you’re all done. Need anything else washed?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
“Maybe on another occasion, Ash. Thank you.”
55
“Want more coffee?”
“I’d love it. Milk and two sugars.”
“You got it, darlin’.”
He helped her dress and held the blow-dryer for her while she dried her hair. Getting ready took significantly longer than she expected, even with his help. Even though she’d assured him she could make it to work on her own, he’d insisted on driving her and picking her up. He drove her to the store and helped her from his truck, and then he told her he’d be back in a little while with her lunch. She was mildly surprised, having expected him to drop her off and then pick her up that night after he was done.
“No, darlin’. I have to run home and change clothes, and then I’ll pick you up some lunch and bring it back to you. You check in around here and do anything that needs doing. Evelyn is staying until five, and Leah is closing the store at the usual time. Your store runs like a well-oiled machine. I’ll be picking you up at four o’clock.”
“Four o’clock? But—”
“You can come back to the ranch with me, or I can take you back to your place for supper, and then you can get another good night’s rest. I can stay with you again if you like, but one way or the other, Evelyn and Leah are giving you the boot at four o’clock.”
“Uh-oh. I have prescriptions I need to fill.”
“I’ll drop them off for you and pick them up later. Do you need something for pain right now?” She was at a loss at the prospect of him caring for her when she was so used to taking care of herself.
“No, I have acetaminophen in my desk drawer.”
“Good, you make sure and take some. I hate to see you hurting.
I’ll see you with lunch in a bit. Sandwiches okay?”
“Um, yeah,” she replied, feeling heat flood her face when he leaned down and kissed her cheek. He was even coming back to eat with her? Wow.
“See you in a little while. Don’t climb any ladders,” he called, looking back at her and giving her a cheeky grin as he walked away.
56
Of course, she did the mature thing and stuck her tongue out at him.
He chuckled and said, “Shouldn’t do that unless you’re willing to share.”
He returned at lunchtime in different clothes and freshly shaved with her prescriptions, a toasted ham and turkey sandwich made the way she liked it, and a large sweet tea. She was impressed.
“How are you feeling?”
“Groggy and a little achy,” she replied, thanking him as he opened the antibiotic and gave her a dose.
She looked at him wistfully, thinking that things had definitely changed between them since yesterday. She felt relaxed around him now.
“What is it, darlin’?”
I wish I could climb up in your lap and let you deal with the world for a little while, big cowboy.
She closed her eyes and shrugged. “I feel wrung out and tired.
Maybe lunch will perk me up a bit. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Let me give it some thought, and I’ll get back to you on that after you’re feeling better,” he said with a mischievous smile. “I may have to extract payment from your flesh.”
She did the appropriate thing for once and laughed, then dug into her lunch.
* * * *
Later that afternoon, Ash found her in the stockroom, directing traffic and giving instructions. Her crew stood around her while she assigned their tasks as he stood back and listened quietly.
He could tell her