“Petey knocked me over and some before then,” she admitted, shivering in the cool air. She’d been cold all day.
Swearing, Rocky turned and flipped on the water to fill the tub. “We’re going to let you soak in the tub and warm up. How does that sound?”
“Good.” She turned her head to focus on him. He looked so concerned—with the cutest vertical line between his eyebrows. She reached forward to rub that away and yelped.
“Little girl,” he warned with a shake of his head.
“I keep using the wrong arm. Stupid, Melissa. Stupid, Melissa.”
Whack.
She stared at him in disbelief. “Did you just spank me?”
“No talking about yourself poorly. I won’t allow it. Of course, you reach with your right arm. It’s your dominant one. We’ll check with the doctor to see if you need a sling.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea. That would be easier,” she said, stepping out of her jeans when he pushed them down to her ankles. Somewhere in her brain, she realized he was undressing her. “I can do this.”
“I know you can, little girl, but it’s easier if I help.” Rocky helped her balance as he took off her shoe and sock before easing off the denim pant leg.
“But you’re going to see me naked,” she protested.
“I won’t look,” he promised and efficiently repeated the process on the other side.
“Oh, okay,” she agreed as he stripped off her panties.
He rose to unfasten her bra. After tossing it away, he ran a hand over her shoulder. “Let’s get that bandage off and seal off that area so we can wash everything else.”
Rocky winced as he pulled off the adhesive to reveal the bandage. “Little girl, this doesn’t look good.”
“Did I bust some of the stitches?” she asked, keeping her eyes away from the exposed boo boos. She didn’t want to see them. Melissa definitely hadn’t watched as they sewed it up.
“Yes. We’ll have to go to the doctor’s after your bath.”
“Maybe we could wait until after work tomorrow?” she suggested.
“No, Lissy. Sit here on the edge of the tub. Be careful. Let me clean that arm before we rebandage it.”
He was quick and almost pain-free. He’d just finished taping some plastic around her arm when the water reached a good place for her to get in. Rocky picked her up and gently lowered Melissa to sit in the tub.
She sighed with delight as he arranged her injured arm safely on a towel. Closing her eyes, she almost drifted to sleep as he washed her body. Almost. Even sick, she was aware of the washcloth moving over her body. She kept her eyes closed so he wouldn’t see that his touch excited her. Melissa also didn’t want to see any disappointment in his eyes at her less than perfect body.
“All clean, sweetheart. Do you feel better?”
She nodded and allowed herself to smile. Peeking up at him, she whispered, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I enjoy taking care of you. Now, five minutes to soak and then we head for the doctor’s office.”
“Oh, I don’t use my insurance. I just went to urgent care because Tami insisted. She actually told me she’d fire me if I didn’t go.”
“She sent that same message tonight when she heard you’d injured your arm again. She’s also given you the rest of this week to heal. Archer and Tim are covering your jobs.”
“That’s not fair,” Melissa said weakly. She tried to protest vigorously, but didn’t have the energy.
“Fair or not, she’s your boss and that’s what she decided.”
“I don’t even have a doctor.”
“You do now. Evidently, all the Littles go to Dr. Richards in this town. I’m very glad to know he takes care of everyone so well. Everyone recommended him on the group chat,” Rocky stated.