Page 29 of Tough Score

"It's for stability while you shower. It was another one of the things I picked up based on the email I got from your doctor. Since you can't submerge your incision, you can't take a bath, and Dr. Morgan stressed very heavily that falling on your knee at this delicate time in your recovery could end your career."

The weight of my words feels heavy between us. Heavier than any conversation we've had so far, but he doesn't say anything back, he just stares at the walker for a second longer than I would expect him to. Maybe mentioning a career-ending fall was a step too far, but he needs to understand how serious this is, if he didn't already know.

"It's not forever, Reeve. Don't think on it for too long."

He nods and then I walk around him toward the shower, turning it on so that the water can start warming up.

"I appreciate everything you're doing. I hope you know that. You didn't have to stay last night… but I'm glad you did."

"You're welcome. And anyway... I owe you," I say, returning to him once the shower gets warmer.

"You don't owe me anything. It was an accident."

I just shrug to keep the emotion from welling up in my eyes.

It's hard not to see him like this and not have guilt.

If he hadn't walked me out to my car, this wouldn't have happened to him. It would have been me instead and he'd be getting ready for today's home game.

"Do you want me to help you undress?"

A smirk creeps over Reeve's full lips. "Are you showering with me, Doc? Not that I mind if you want to watch. I've been traded to enough teams in my career that half the NHL has seen me naked at this point."

My belly flips with the idea of showering with Reeve... especially if he wasn't injured.

I clear my throat and shake away the mental picture of physical contact with a man like Reeve. It's been a while since the last time I was pushed up against a shower wall, and I'm definitely due.

"Oh darn, and here I thought I was special."

His eyes dart between mine. "You had it right the first time. You are special," he says.

I try not to squirm where I stand, showing evidence that his words affect me.

"Well even so, I'm not showering with you. I'm just going to be close by in case you start to slip. And I promise you, I'm a professional. But just to put your mind at ease, you're not the first patient I've seen naked."

His eyebrows raise in surprise. "Ouch Keely, that one dug deep. So, you mean to tell me I'm not the special one?" he says, gripping his shirt over his heart.

I roll my eyes. "Every one of my patients is my favorite."

I walk over, searching for a towel, and find a stack of folded towels under the sink and pull one out, dropping it onto the counter..

"Isn't that what all PT's say? Like when you ask your parents who their favorite child is?"

"Oh and I'm guessing you assume that you're the favorite in your family?" I ask.

He winces briefly at my question but recovers quickly like he didn't want me to see that and then covers it up with his charming smile. "Of course I'm my parent's favorite. They had me and then stopped when they knew they had made perfection. A second child would have been obsolete."

I snicker. "Lightning never strikes twice."

"Exactly, and I'm going to be your favorite, Keke. Just wait," He hobbles slowly toward the shower to get closer. "And by the way, I don't think any PT I've ever worked with has seen me naked, so I have to ask you... what's your number? And be careful what you say next. I might get jealous." he teases.

"My number? You mean the number of patients I've seen naked?" I ask.

He nods, reaching out to test the spray of the shower to test the temperature himself.

"I don't know how many. I never kept count, but I've seen patients naked plenty of times."

"Really, when?" he asks.

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