Page 6 of Catching the Captain

“How about we get you cleaned up first and then you can worry about being a good hostess. Where’s your first aid kit?”

“There are some Band-Aids in the bathroom.” She moves across the entryway to an open doorway and flips the light switch. Bending over, she rummages around inside the cabinet below the sink while I try not to check out her ass.Trybeing the operative word.

You shouldn’t be looking at Aurora Russo’s ass.I'm trying to be a gentleman, but it’s right there wrapped in running shorts—short running shorts.And don’t even think about her long, toned legs. Jesus.

She straightens up and my eyes dart elsewhere. “This is all I have.” She holds up peroxide, Band-Aids, and some Neosporin.

“I can work with that,” I say, taking the items from her.

“You don’t need to help me. I can manage on my own.”

“Rori, don’t argue with me. Just sit your ass down and let me clean you up.”

“Someone’s bossy.” She huffs, dropping onto the closed toilet lid.

“Do you have a washcloth?” I ask.

“In there.” She points to the vanity drawer.

Grabbing one of the white cloths, I soak it with warm water and wring out the excess. “This might hurt, but I’ll try to be gentle.”

Kneeling, I go to remove one of her sneakers and she draws her foot back.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Sparing you. My feet are sweaty and smelly.”

“Rori, I’ve been a hockey player all my life. I know all about sweaty and smelly things. I’m one of them.”

I take hold of her ankle and remove her sneakers and socks. Her feet aren’t injured at all, so I start with the outside of her calf and wash the dirt away. There are a few patches of surface scrapes, but for the most part, the skin on her lower leg is unharmed. It’s not until I move up to her knee that things get ugly. Wetting the cloth again, this time I add some soap before carefully dabbing the washcloth over each section of the cut. However, it’s not doing much good.

“What’s wrong?” she asks.

“There’s so much dirt and so many tiny pieces of gravel stuck in your cuts. I’m trying to figure out the best way to remove them.”

“Should I just shower them out? I can jump in there with my clothes on if that will help.”

“That’s a great idea. The constant stream of water should loosen them.” Rising to my feet, I cross the small room and turn on the shower. When I turn around, Rori is right in front of me.

“Can you help me get this off?” she asks, raising her arms up over her head.

Her request takes me by surprise. “Uh… sure.” My heart kicks into a gallop as I wonder what she’s wearing underneath.

Gripping the bottom of the loose tank top, I skim the material up her torso, carefully maneuvering it over her head. When I’m done, she’s standing in a black sports bra and her running shorts.

“Thank you.” Her eyes lower to the floor as if she’s embarrassed.

“No problem. Why don’t you get under the water and let it work its magic.” I peel back the curtain and she steps inside the walk-in shower.

She hisses, tensing up when the spray first makes contact with her wounds.

“It’s okay. It’ll hurt less in a minute,” I reassure her. Standing here while she showers is awkward for me and probably for her too. Just because she’s clothed doesn’t mean she wants me in here.

I grab the washcloth from the vanity and shove my hand into the shower. “Here.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m going to wait outside.”

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