Shelby grabbed his hand and let him lead her into the master bedroom.
“Let’s get a pair of your pajamas out.”
She dug through a bag and pulled out a long nightshirt and a pair of panties.
He started the shower and turned back to her. “Let’s get your hair up. Your wound has a waterproof bandage on it, but I’ll have to change it after. We’ll have to make sure to keep it as dry as possible.”
“You … you’re not going to stay in here while I shower, are you?” she asked.
As much as he wanted to, he didn’t want to push her too much, too fast. “If you think you can do it on your own, go ahead, but I’ll be right outside the door if you need me.”
****
She nodded and waited for him to leave before she started to pull off her clothes. The thought of him seeing her naked both excited her and freaked her out simultaneously. He was so perfect. How would he want someone like her? A little chubby dummy?
After pinning her hair on top of her head, she stepped into the shower. She tried to keep her injury out of the direct water, but the feel of wet heat on her body made her aches and pains go away. It didn’t take her long to wash her body, and she was a little stunned to see blood running down her legs, but then she remembered some had soaked into her jeans, and the nurse had only washed the wound and not her whole back.
She turned off the water, stepped out, and grabbed a towel from the shelves right next to the shower. The whole place was the most luxurious place she’d ever been in, and it made her feel like she didn’t belong.
Maybe she misread his intentions? Maybe he just felt sorry for her? God, if that were it, she’d be so embarrassed.
A knock on the door startled her.
“Honey, are you dressed so I can come in and change your bandage?”
She rushed to her clothes and started pulling on the panties, getting frustrated when they stuck to her still-wet skin. “Give me a minute.”
“All right,” he said.
Finally, she had her clothes on. “I’m dressed.”
He opened the door and looked her over before going to the closet to get something.
“Hey, baby. I need to change the bandage. Can you unbutton the top of the gown enough to let it drop down so I can get to it?”
She felt herself blush as she started to slide off the top of her gown. So, she let it catch on her upper arms and then crossed them to keep it up.
“That’s good.”
Shelby watched him carefully in the mirror as he pulled off the wet one. He dabbed the area to make sure it was dry before slathering on a bit of gel, which she assumed was antibiotic stuff. After, he opened the bandage and gently pressed it onto her shoulder.
He gripped her shoulders and looked at her in the mirror. “Are you still up for a movie?”
She nodded. “Yes, please. What’s the movie?”
“I’m letting you pick, honey.”
She grinned. “You won’t like the movies I like, so let’s pick the one you do.”
“It doesn’t matter if I like it. I enjoy being with you no matter what we do.”
“But you haven’t known me that long.”
“What I do know of you, I really like.” He pulled up the arms of the gown and waited until she buttoned it back up.
“Let’s go,” he said. “I’m not sure you’re going to last long. You already look tired.”
“I’d like to try.”
“All right.”
Shelby couldn’t believe how the day had started with fear, sadness, and desperation, but it was turning into the best day of her life.