“Erin, when I get out of here, I’m going to stay with Rupert for a little while. He’s got a one-story house with a caretaker who helps him. I’m going to borrow her for a few weeks until the limp is gone.”
“A few weeks?” Erin wondered about the timeline.
“My hip’s bruised, not broken.”
“Good,” Smith said, looking relieved.
“I can help you,” Erin offered, not liking the fact that Tilly felt she had to leave her own home to be cared for.
“And you will. I hadn’t gotten to that yet.”
“Huh?”
Tilly sighed. “It’s a lot to ask, but I’m going to lean on you some. And to make it fair, I’m not charging you any rent until I’m back home.”
“No.”
Smith and Tilly stared at her.
“No, you will not give me a rent-free apartment. You’re my friend, Tilly. I’ll do whatever you need for free. You don’t charge friends for help.”
Tilly flushed and fiddled with her blanket. “Well, hell. Don’t get your panties in a twist over it. Fine. But you’ll use my kitchen and supplies for all that cooking stuff. I mean it. I want you to keep cooking meals for me and for the neighbor, the nurse’s aide. Rupert already arranged for Fiona to help me instead of him. I told him not to, but he says he only lets her do his PT work because she’s cute.” Tilly harrumphed.
Erin bit back a grin but noted Smith didn’t hide his.
“So, while I’m recuperating at Rupert’s, I want you two to hold own the fort. Smith, you keep fixing shit that breaks. Erin, you water my plants and keep my place dust-free. And you keep cooking, but this time I need you to deliver the meals. It’s a ways away in Queen Anne. Not far really, but you figure in the traffic and it’s a bitch.”
“It’s not a problem.”
“Well, it might be since this knucklehead has no wheels.” She shook her head at him. “I told you that driving like a maniac would be your undoing.”
“Please. I was hit by a drunk loser.”
“So you say.” Tilly’s eyes sparkled as she argued with Smith, and Erin could see a similar pleasure in her boyfriend as he crabbed with the old woman.
“Now Erin, I got to say a few things to the boy. Would you mind waiting outside? It won’t be but a minute or two. Nothing but handyman stuff that’d bore you. And don’t be fretting about me leaving my apartment. It’ll be more like a vacation. Rupert has a hot tub in his backyard.”
Erin didn’t mind giving them space. “No problem.” She leaned over to kiss Smith, knowing how much Tilly would love seeing her supposed matchmaking at work. Then she shocked Tilly by kissingheron the cheek. “Get better soon, and make sure you text me if you want me to make you something specific. Otherwise I’m planning the menus.”
Chapter Seventeen
“Okay, you old woman. What did you need to say to me that you couldn’t say in front of Erin?” Smith had been so worried for Tilly until he’d talked to her. No matter what the nurse had told him of Tilly’s condition, he’d needed to see her for himself.
“You have such a smart mouth for such a stupid man,” she muttered, sounding as cranky as she normally did. “Look, asswipe, I’m getting tired. So, I’ll keep this short. Do the Hall-o-ween thing. Make sure you introduce Erin to everybody at the McCallisters’ party. The girl needs more friends than an old biddy like me and a sex-starved fiend like you.”
“Really?” Was that how she saw him? Then again, she wasn’t totally wrong. He was sexually starved for Erin at all times. He grinned.
“Such a horndog,” she muttered, “When you get a chance, I need you to grab a bag and pack a few things for me. Try not to get too excited touching my undies.”
He rolled his eyes.
“But make sure to pack the clothes I like. You know the ones I wear all the time.”
He did. “You sure you don’t want Rupert or Erin or somebody to pack for you?”
“Nope. You. Erin’s gonna be busy cooking for me and Fiona.” She paused. “Rupert said Fiona’s young and a real looker. You interested?”
He snorted. “I have Erin. What do you think?”
