“Except to cover you up,” he mumbles.
I can’t help but grin at his discomfort as I take the blanket. “I’ve covered my front, now will you help?”
Keeping his head lowered, he takes a step closer and offers his bended arm. With one hand wrapped around his forearm, I’m able to wobble on one foot while shoving my cloak to the floor and wrapping up in the blanket. “Thanks, I’m decent now. But it looks like the couch has soaked up water from my cloak.”
He's cautious when he lifts his head although the relief in his eyes when his gaze runs over me seems to spark with something more. I suppose, like usual, my thicker curves are a turn off. A vague sense of disappointment steals my grin. My reaction though is not usual and I’m unsure what to do.
I touch the toes of my left foot to the floor and gasp at the stabbing pain. Dane’s expression immediately turns to concern. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t stand any more than you have to. Hang on.”
He lifts me easily and I struggle to do just that… hang on to both the blanket and to him when he moves from the room. There isn’t even time to protest before he lowers me gently onto a huge bed and steps back. Watching me, he’s still for a good minute then he shakes his head as though clearing cobwebs from his thoughts. “Let me look at your ankle and get it wrapped,” he says, his tone all business.
I’ve only been aware of this man for under half an hour. Still I feel I know him somehow. Maybe on some emotional level I haven’t discovered yet. Or perhaps it’s simply because fate has orchestrated our meeting for some reason. I make a face at that thought. Fate could have chosen a warmer night.
“What’s wrong?” he asks as he sits at the foot of the bed and carefully moves the blanket from my lower leg.
No need to make a list of things he already knows. “Other than the obvious, nothing.”
“Then why the sour face?” He blinks and gives a slight jerk of his head like he’s surprised at his question.
“Just thinking about how crazy all this…” I wave my hand between us then toward the huge window in the wall opposite the bed. “…is. Not how I’d planned the night to go.”
“Me either. But here we are. Let’s get this foot wrapped. Then get you warm. Are you hungry? I have questions.”
“I’m sure you do. I’ll be happy to answer them maybe over something hot to drink?”
“Coffee, tea, cider, or a hot toddy?”
The drink sounds the best although I don’t think adding alcohol to the mix right now is a good idea. “Cider?”
His lips twitch as though he knows what I was thinking. “Cider it is. This probably is going to hurt. Take a deep breath.”
He waits until I do and then nods before he gently lifts my foot to rest on his thigh while he wraps the stretchy brown bandage around my ankle. I’m not sure exactly what I’ve done to my ankle and bite my lower lip to keep from crying out from the pain. That distraction doesn’t stop a few stray tears. Every careful touch, every movement hurts like the devil.
“Sorry,” he says softly as he winds the last of the bandage to the front of my shin and tucks it under the other layers to secure the wrapping in place. “There’s a good deal of swelling and bruising. I hate to say this but we probably should put some ice on it.”
“As long as the cold is confined to my ankle, that’s okay.”
His grin is warm, at least it warms my heart and maybe a few other places in my body. After placing my foot on a pillow, he covers my leg and foot with the blanket then disappears through a doorway, returning a few moments later with a plastic zipper bag filled with crushed ice, a hoodie, and a pair of dark blue sweat pants.
He dumps the clothes next to me then with an apologetic glance, places the ice bag on top of the blanket covering my ankle. “Sorry, this isn’t going to help you warm up. If you need help with the clothes…” He pauses and swallows hard. “… we can figure that out after I bring you your cider. Okay?”
“That’s fine, Dane. Thank you for helping out a damsel in distress.”
He snorts a laugh. “Despite the circumstances, you hardly seem like a damsel. In distress or otherwise. I’d say more a competent and capable woman caught by surprise. I’ll go get that cider. You relax.”
While he’s gone I manage to slip into the hoodie. It’s a tad tight over my boobs, but keeping the zipper lowered a bit morethan is proper gives me the room I need. Pretty sure I won’t be able to maneuver the cuffed leg opening over my swollen ankle by myself, I don’t even attempt the pants.
Dane returns with a tray that he sets on the bedside table. Along with steaming mugs of cider, he’s added some cheese, crackers, and fruit. “Nice spread,” I say.
“Didn’t know if you’d be hungry. I can fix something more substantial if you want.”
“No, this is fabulous. What kind of cheese?”
“I’m a simple guy. Sharp cheddar and Monterey jack.”
“Perfect. My favorites, too.”
He hands me a mug. The aroma of cinnamon and apples, mixed with a hint of caramel, rises and I inhale deeply. “Smells like heaven.”
