Page 38 of With You

She snorted, tucking the stuffed animal under her arm as Karla rolled her out of the room. I’d already moved the car into the parking space for outgoing patients and Sam stiffened in the wheelchair when she spotted it.

“You want to explain to me why my car is not where I, the only person allowed behind the wheel, left it?”

“I wanted you to be comfortable. You aren’t cleared to drive and you always complain that my car isn’t as comfortable as yours. Which we both know is a lie.”

My BMW was about a thousand times more comfortable than the vintage beast she called Francine but she’d never admit it. She also said that she didn’t trust a ‘futuristic spaceship run by a computer.’ It was one of my favorite subjects to fight about with her.

I spun the keyring on my index finger and watched her eyes bounce between me, the car and the sling that was keeping her arm immobile. “Ugh, fine, you can drive this one time. But swear to God, Roe, if my mirrors and seat aren’t back in the position where I left them then I fully intend to screw with your chair.”

Damn, that was a good threat. I spent most of my day sitting in the chair she was referring to and because of that I’d bought one of the most expensive pieces of furniture I’d ever seen in my life as my desk chair. It had four different levers that controlled the height, arm rest and lumbar support. Then there was the heated, massaging cushion for when I’d been stagnant for too long and my lower back started to ache. I probably loved that chair as much as she loved this car.

“Scout’s honor, kitten. Now, let’s get you home.” I offered her my hand and she batted it away, climbing out of the chair herself. I managed to beat her to the car door and opened it with a flourish. Sam shook her head, careful of her injured arm as she lowered herself into the seat. I leaned over her, pulling the seatbelt across her body and placing a chaste kiss against her forehead when it clicked into place.

I gave a final wave to Karla as I ran around the back of the car to enter the driver’s side. “I was thinking since this is my only chance to drive this baby that I might take the scenic route home,” I said as I backed out of the spot carefully, refusing to admit that the rumbling of the engine beneath us was way more badass than my hands-free cruise control.

“Absolutely not.”

I dropped my hand to her thigh and squeezed playfully. Then to my utter fucking delight, she placed her own hand on top of mine and held on for the rest of the ride home.

22

SAM

“I made the assumption that you’d feel more comfortable at your place.” Roe unlocked my front door and held it open for me as I walked inside.

As I looked around the familiar walls and soft furniture, I wasn’t entirely sure his assumption was correct. A pang for Roe’s messy apartment across the hall went through me. I’d spent so much time with him at his that it felt as much like home as this place did. There was a stirring in my chest that had me thinking I would be happiest wherever he was. Roe dropped my overnight bag to the floor and gently held my right hand in his while he guided me inside with a palm against my lower back.

“The bed has fresh sheets and it’s all ready for you to get in.”

My legs followed him on instinct as his words sank in. He’d changed my sheets? When had he done that? My eyes took in my bed, the bed that I hadn’t slept in for weeks. My fluffy, purple comforter was folded neatly at the end of the bed and there was an insane number of pillows piled against the headboard. Way more pillows than I owned.

My nightstand was stacked high with glossy magazines and brand-new books that I’d added to the TBR list on my phone but hadn’t gotten around to purchasing. There was a pitcher of water with a clean glass next to it and a jar full of peanut M&Ms, my favorite.

“When did you have time to do all of this?”

Red flushed his cheeks and he rubbed the back of his neck as he looked around the room. “While Winnie was visiting you yesterday, I came here to make sure that everything was ready. I sent your book list to Benji and he got those and a few others he thought you might like.”

I flipped through the stack of magazines. “Horse and Cowboy, Motorcycle Man Today—hmm, seems like Benji found some good ones.”

“Okay, nope, I’m just going to take these.” Roe gathered the stack in his arms and left the room, then I heard the distinct thud of them hitting the bottom of the stainless-steel trash can in my kitchen. When he returned, he looked proud of himself, like he’d saved me from a torturous fate.

“Where would you like to set up? Are you tired? If you feel like watching TV, I can move everything to the den.”

I looked down at my sweatpants and plucked at the oversized flannel shirt I’d slid on to wear home. “I think I’d like to take a bath first, actually. I smell like hospital.”

Roe took me in from head to toe, his eyes lingering on my unbound breasts. I hadn’t bothered with a bra, they were uncomfortable when I didn’t have a hole in my arm, there was no way I was putting one on today.

“A bath,” his voice broke on the word and he cleared his throat before continuing. “Sure, yeah, I’m assuming you need help with that?”

I wiggled my arm minutely in the sling that had become a permanent part of my wardrobe. “I’d say that’s a given. Think you can stay professional, Nurse Ross?”

It had been a week since we’d touched each other in more than a strictly PG way. As much as I’d love for Roe’s hands to reacquaint themselves with my body, I was too exhausted and I wanted to be clean before my pain pill wore off. Of course, that didn’t mean I was too tired to tease him.

Roe’s eyes lit with challenge, “Absolutely, I have no problem bathing your naked, perfect body. And if I happen to take a few mental pictures…” he shrugged, adjusting the obvious erection behind his zipper. “Wait here, I’ll go get the water started.”

I sat down in the armchair and used my toes to take off my shoes. I hadn’t bothered with socks which I was thanking my past self for now. My eyes slid shut as the sounds of the water filling the tub started to lull me to sleep.

“Sam.” Fingers drifted through my hair and a thumb swept softly over my cheek.

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