Page 36 of Need Me
Brooke hadn’t had such an entertaining conversation in a long time. “Well, arm pit hair does trap bacteria that causes odor, so I can understand hispoint.”
“I no longer have any ofthat.”
Brooke grew concerned at his sigh of discomfort. “Robert, what time did you have thatdone?”
“I don’t know. Aroundnoon?”
Brooke frowned. “Most of the irritation should’ve gone away bynow.”
“Well, it hasn’t,” he practically growled. “I’m going to kill thoseguys.”
“Robert, I’m going to bring you a special cream and a couple of other things.” Brooke was in nurse mode now. “You might be having a severereaction.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that, Brooke. I’ll just call the doctor in themorning.”
“Robert, I’ll be there in half an hour.” Brooke hung up before he could argue and went tochange.
* * *
As he openedhis kitchen door, Robert hoped that his face wasn’t as red as his sensitive areas. “Hi,” he said with a sheepish smile. “Comein.”
Corky rushed to greet Brooke and then ran off to get atoy.
The concern in Brooke’s eyes surprised him. Should he be more worried than hewas?
She sat a plastic grocery bag on the counter. “Take off your T-shirt.”
Despite his discomfort, Robert couldn’t help wishing that she wanted him to undress for less clinical reasons. He complied and was startled by Brooke’sgasp.
“Robert! Lift yourarms!”
He did and the cooler air felt good to his enflamedarmpits.
Her nostrils flared and her eyes flashed dark fire. “You wait until I get ahold of those assholes. Did the waxing therapist do a test area beforestarting?”
Robert said, “No. Were they supposedto?”
“Yes. Anyone new to waxing should have them do a small test area first,” she replied. “Okay. Let’s go to thebathroom.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Excuseme?”
“We need the tub. I brought a calming oatmeal bath that’s good for treating sunburns. It’ll calm the irritationdown.”
She started through the kitchen, giving Robert little choice but to follow her. He moved gingerly since even his cotton boxer briefs botheredhim.
“Then I have a vitamin E cream for you to put on when you get out of the tub,” Brooke informed him as they came to thebathroom.
Sketch wasn’t in the tub at themoment.
Brooke turned on the water and waited until it was the correct temperature. “I’m just making it lukewarm. Hot water will irritate your pores and skin more.” She sprinkled in some of the oatmeal bath. “There. Let that fill up.” Her gaze lowered to his sweat shorts. “I suggest only boxers tonight. Your skin needs to breath and you want to keep it as cool as possible. Your pores are open and the risk of infection ishigher.”
The idea of his male parts becoming infected filled Robert with alarm. “But I’ll be okay if I do what you’resaying?”
Brooke gave him a reassuring smile. “Yes.”
He let out a relieved breath. “Good. I’ll follow my nurse’s orders to the letter then. You have a wonderful bed—bath side manor. What made you become anurse?”
“I remember Emily’s mother fighting cancer and I felt so helpless. I really wanted to help her and Emily. Then when Tyler’s sister Lizzie was killed in a bike accident I went with them to the hospital and saw a way where I could help. A place where I didn’t feel so helpless. I could do something, even if it was holding a relative as they cried. I decided there and then to go into the medicalprofession.”
