Page 86 of Whatever Lola Wants

He pressed a kiss to her head, careful to avoid the eight stitches that marched across her forehead and into her hairline. “Anybody would be,” he agreed.

“I hate feeling like this.”

“Like what, sweetheart?”

She laid her head back on his shoulder, fingers picking at the hem of the scrub top she still wore. She wondered idly what the hospital would charge her insurance for the scrubs. “Hurt. Annoyed. Helpless.”

He chuckled, his chest rumbling under her cheek. “You won’t hurt for long if you take care of yourself. And annoyance is perfectly understandable under the circumstances.”

She waited for him to address her third complaint, frowning when he stayed silent. “What about helpless?” she prompted.

“Oh, that? You’re just going to have to deal with that.”

That coaxed a reluctant smile from her. “You’re such a jerk.”

“Yep,” he agreed as the elevator doors slid open. He stepped up to her door and gave it three gentle taps with the toe of his boot.

She looked at him curiously. “What’re you doing?”

“Waiting for the door to open,” he said and before she could tell him it was the housekeeper’s year off, it did.

“You’re here.” Ginger beamed at them, holding the door wide so Simon could walk through. “How do you feel?”

“Like hammered ass,” Lola said honestly, ignoring Simon’s chuckle. “What’re you doing here?”

Ginger shut the door and trotted ahead into the living room. She patted the pillow propped against the arm of the sofa, and Simon laid her down gently.

Lola blinked, bemused, when Ginger covered her legs with a blanket. “Guys. I’m not an invalid. What is all this?”

“We’re taking care of you.”

Lola whipped around as she heard Anna’s voice coming down the hall, then winced as the movement set her head to throbbing again.

Anna stopped, her hands on her hips and an exasperated look on her pretty face. “Just shut up and let us, okay?”

Lola opened her mouth, then shut it again. Simon dropped a kiss on her head. “Wise choice,” he murmured. He straightened and turned to Anna. “Were you able to get to the store?”

Anna nodded. “The fridge is all stocked. And I made up a lasagna so you won’t have to cook tonight.”

“Thank you.”

A snort came from the direction of the hall, and Lola turned carefully as Grant walked up behind his fiancé. “You should thank me,” he put in, wrapping an arm around Anna. “I’m the one missing out on lasagna.”

Simon’s lips twitched. “Thanks, pal.”

“I’d say anytime, but I wouldn’t mean it.” Grant frowned down at Lola. “You look like you need a pain pill.”

“I’m fine,” she began, then gentle fingers gripped her chin as Simon tilted her face up for his perusal.

“Nope. Your head is hurting again. Along with everything else, I’ll bet.”

She watched him dug a prescription bottle out of his pocket with dismay. “I don’t want one,” she complained, hating the whine in her voice. “They make me fuzzy.”

He merely lifted an eyebrow and accepted the bottle of water Ginger passed him. “Then you’ll take a nap.”

Lola could actually feel her face slide into a pout. “I don’t want to take a nap.”

Simon’s face was sober, though his eyes danced when he held out the pill. “If you’re a very good girl and take your medicine, I’ll let you pick a movie to watch.”

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