His car pulled up, and the valet hopped out with his keys. After helping Carli get inside, he wrestled the crutches into the back and settled in his own seat.
“I’d like to take you back to my place, if that’s all right.”
She shook her head. “You don’t have to take care of me, Blake. Sounds like you’ve done enough doctoring for one day.”
“I’ll feel better having someone next to you at night who has some medical training. Especially with that bump on your head.”
“You could stay at my place.”
“I could, but you only have a full-size bed while I have a king. More room so I don’t accidentally bump your ankle. Plus, I have that big whirlpool tub. You’re going to have a few aches and pains from being tossed around. I saw your car. Thought I was going to have a stroke when you weren’t nearby.”
Her smile and the hand she rested on his arm lifted some of the weight he’d been feeling. “Fine. Take me to your place. But you need to let me use your phone to text Mercedes.”
“I’ll call her and let her know what happened. Just relax.”
He used his Bluetooth to make the call. Mercedes was understandably alarmed but seemed to feel better knowing Blake would be with her. She promised to text Carli’s parents and give them the news.
When they got to his place, he insisted on carrying Carli into the elevator and then his apartment. He’d get the crutches later, once she was settled.
“Oh, look at my hair. It’s so sticky. Do you mind if I take a shower and wash it out?”
The idea of her in his shower both excited and scared him.
“Let me put a stool in it for you to sit on, and I’ll wash it for you. I don’t want you getting dizzy or slipping because you accidentally put pressure on the foot.”
Carli blushed but allowed him to help her undress and sit on the bench. Luckily, he had a hand-held spray nozzle, so she didn’t have to move. The sounds coming from her throat when he scrubbed her head had him summoning all the control he could muster. The idea of joining her blasted through his mind until he reminded himself she was injured. Time enough later to play water games. He didn’t plan on letting her go anywhere, ever.
Ever? Yeah, thinking he might have lost her had finally sunk in. This wasn’t just another girlfriend. This woman meant something to him. Something special.
“Stay seated until I get you a towel.” At the look on her face, he asked, “Are you getting what I’m saying? I should be attempting to sign, but I’m so slow.” As he’d been told earlier this evening by Phil.
“I’m getting most of it. Don’t worry. I’ll ask if I don’t understand something.”
As he swathed her in a large fluffy towel, she finger combed her hair. He used a smaller towel to pat her curls until they stopped dripping.
Picking her up, he carried her into his bedroom and placed her carefully on the comforter.
“I’ve got a warm flannel shirt you can wear…Oh, wait. That got lost somehow.”
Her eyes gleamed with mischief. “That’s too bad.”
He sat on the edge of the bed and pressed in for a kiss. “That’s okay. I like you better without it.”
Chapter twenty-two
“Thankyou,” Carli said as Blake helped her out of his low-slung car. It had been a week since the accident, and she was finally putting a tiny bit of pressure on her foot, but it still wouldn’t hold all her weight for long without pain.
“Do you want me to carry you in?” His grin was adorable, and the dimples amplified the effect. The one that had her nerves on alert and aching for his touch.
“I can manage, though your arm would be helpful.”
Sliding his arm around her waist, he held her close. Yup, that’s what she needed and what she’d had since the accident. The sprain on her right foot hadn’t allowed her to drive, and Blake hadn’t wanted her using the T with her crutches. He’d given her a choice. Either he picked her up for work every day—and he started work at seven, meaning she needed to be ready by no later than six to beat the traffic—or she could stay with him and sleep a little later. The non-morning person that she was had chosen the latter. He’d confessed it was his preference, too, because he got a few extra minutes curled up next to her.
As they entered his brother’s house, her gaze took in everything and everyone. With her processors damaged, she was relying on her other senses more fully. She’d put in an old hearing aid to prevent being surprised by any people approaching or other loud noises, but it didn’t actually help her hear voices. She had an appointment with the audiologist on Monday. The ability to have complete quiet when she wanted was freeing in a way, yet she’d also gotten used to the auditory access the CIs gave her.
Annie bounced up to them as they walked in and immediately hugged Carli.
“I’m so happy you came for dinner. Come into the living room.” It was good to see Annie excited. She’d mentioned things between her and Harrison had been quite tense lately.
