“Do you need a special doorbell?”
Bea blinks in confusion. And I feel like a damn idiot for blurting it out that way. “I mean,” I amend, “I’ve been knocking whenever I come over. But I didn’t think. Would it be better to have something that alerts you on your phone? I can ask Tyler to find an app.”
She smiles, and some of my worry eases. “You don’t need to do that.”
As I walk inside the apartment with her, I persist, “Would it help?”
Bea turns to face me. “It’s okay, Indy. Most of the time, I can hear the door just fine. I was just changing, so it was harder to hear—” Her mouth clamps shut. Splotches of pink rise high on her cheeks.
And my imagination tears off down a road it’s not supposed to be on.
A road that leads me past Bea nearly-naked in her bedroom, wriggling into the stretchy pants that cling to her slender legs and pert little ass. Pulling on her bra, adjusting it so her small but perfectly shaped breasts are supported, her narrow waist and flat belly on full display…
Then I catch the outline of nipples beneath her long-sleeved shirt, and my wandering thoughts come to a screeching halt.
Isshe wearing a bra?
Or is it just bare skin under there?
Eden found clothes for Bea that she thought would fit, based on the height and weight recorded in the hospital records, but maybe she didn’t think of buying bras. Or maybe the ones she got didn’t fit.
Now that I’m thinking about it, I can’t seem to make myself stop.
What color are Bea’s nipples? Pale pink? A deep rose? Are they small, like the rest of her? Or?—
No.
This isnotokay.
I’m here to check on Bea. Not to fantasize about her naked body.
Silently commanding my body to heel, I duck around the island and start unloading the bags. “If you need anything, just tell me. An app. A different charger. One of those remote speakers. I know you’re not working out yet, but maybe one of those special clips?—”
“Indy.” Bea hops onto the stool and leans across the counter. Her eyebrows arch up. “Were you researching cochlear implants?”
My face warms. “Some. I wanted to make sure you have everything you need. Since we couldn’t exactly go back to your apartment.”
She stares at me. Her gaze softens. “That was really nice of you.”
“I guess.” Her gratitude makes me feel all itchy inside. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Okay…” Bea throws me a puzzled look. Then she scans the assortment of food I’m setting out on the island. “What’s all this for?”
“For you to cook with. Well. Not foryouto cook with yet. You’re still supposed to be resting.”
“It’s been three—no, nearly four—days. I think I could manage to cook.”
“Maybe, but it would be safer if you didn’t.”
Bea grabs one of the tomatoes and turns it around in her hand, inspecting it. “I guess I’m confused, then. Why buy all this food? It looks great, and I could definitely make some recipes with it, but if I’m not supposed to be cooking…”
I pull out my phone and open the browser app, showing her a spaghetti Bolognese recipe I found earlier. “In another couple days, you can cook yourself. But I was thinking in the meantime, maybe I could help you. I’m not good at cooking, obviously, but if you just sit there and tell me what to do, I think I can muddle through.”
She looks at the recipe for a few seconds. “You want tocookwith me?”
I take the phone back and shove it quickly into my pocket. Warmth creeps up the back of my neck. “If you’d rather I didn’t, that’s okay.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.” She places her hand over my prosthetic before I can hide it behind the counter. “I was justsurprised. But… if you’re up for cooking…” A tentative smile lifts her lips. “That would be nice.”
