There were no guarantees, but she had to do something positive. That was the only way she could get out of this house. So far she’d been here for nearly twenty-four hours and she’d had enough of the roller coaster of humiliation and desire to last her a lifetime. Between the bath, the hair and just now seeing him in all his shirtless, sweaty glory, she knew she needed to get some distance.
No, it wasn’t smart to try to leave, but if she could find something to do from home using a computer, surely she could stay by herself. She wasn’t an invalid; she just had problems getting dressed and bathing. If she worked from home, she wouldn’t have to worry about all that.
But even if Noah insisted she stay, she still felt she needed to pay her way somehow. Not to mention the fact she couldn’t just take a break from her income. Not only did she have bills to pay for herself, she needed to send some money back home so her parents’ phone could be turned back on.
She did have a tiny bit left in savings and she probably should keep it since her future was so unclear, but she couldn’t stand the thought of being out of touch.
After a few clicks, she’d taken money from her account and put it into her parents’, which she had access to. Then she sent an awkward, left-handed text to her brother so he could get the message to their mom and dad.
Callie did several searches, hoping with her teaching degree she could find something. Maybe online tutoring. That would be ideal.
She’d come to L.A. in the hopes of not using her teaching degree because she’d been so afraid she’d get stuck in a rut. At least as a receptionist, she’d known she wouldn’t feel guilty leaving that job when she caught her big break. Working with kids, she would’ve gotten attached and been worried about leaving midyear.
Thankfully, she’d worked part-time in a dentist’s office back home, so she’d had a little experience to get her this job with Noah.
“What are you doing?”
Callie jumped and turned in her chair. Now Mr. Sweaty Rippling Muscles stood just behind her and she hadn’t heard him come in. Lord, it was hard to focus when that chiseled, delectable body was staring back at her.
“Looking for an online job,” she told him, forcing her eyes to stay locked onto his.
“What the hell for?” he asked, taking his small white hand towel and mopping his forehead. “Is this your way of turning in your resignation?”
Callie came to her feet and winced. The soreness was so much worse today. But she didn’t think another intimate bath encounter was such a good idea.
“I didn’t figure you’d want a mummy for your receptionist,” she told him, easing back down onto the chair because it was much more comfortable than standing in pain. “Besides, I’m not sure I’ll be comfortable around too many people once this bandage comes off.”
“How much pain medication have you had?” he asked.
“Enough that I shouldn’t feel like this,” she told him. “But I guess it would be worse if I hadn’t taken those two pills.”
“Two?”
“One wasn’t cutting it and I just took another before I came to find you. It should kick in soon, I hope.”
“I had them in my bedroom.”
“I know. They were sitting on your dresser so I grabbed one.”
And forced herself not to stare at his bed and wonder…
Okay, so she’d stared and fantasized, but only for a few minutes.
The muscle in Noah’s jaw ticked. “You can’t take any more medication without asking me first. You only needed one.”
“You’re not the one in pain,” she retorted. “I am and I needed another. You’re not my mother.”
“No, I’m your doctor and I will flush those pills next time you pull a stunt like that.”
Callie had never seen him angry. Frustrated, agitated and annoyed, yes, but never this angry and never directed toward her. He was practically shaking with waves of fury.
“Okay, okay. Calm down,” she told him, holding her hand up. “I’m hoping when it kicks in I’ll feel like resting. I didn’t sleep too well last night.”
“Why didn’t you come get me?”
Callie laughed and leaned back against the seat. “What for? Just because I was up didn’t mean you had to be. Nothing you could’ve done.”
“You wouldn’t have been lonely.”