“Unless you’d rather have a suppository?”
“That’s not funny,” Mikayla snipped, but her eyes looked scared rather than irritated.
“I’m not joking.” I tugged the last thread through and knotted it, taking care to apply antibiotic ointment before bandaging the area. “I know you don’t love needles. If your stomach is that queasy…”
“A shot then,” she interrupted before I could offer any further explanation. “Please,” she added as I moved toward the back of the room.
I rifled through the cabinet until I found the tetanus vaccine and searched for an anti-nausea medication. I plucked the vial,syringes, and needles from their spots and prepped each one. “I’ll find something for you to wear once your stomach calms down.”
“I changed my mind…” She eyed the items in my hands, and tears began to well up in her eyes again.
I wiped the alcohol pad horizontally across her arm. “Tetanus is deadly. This one isn’t optional.” I administered it quickly and without warning, then covered the spot with a Band-Aid. I knew she wouldn’t like where the other shot was going, but it would relieve her symptoms immediately.
“I’m sorry I just barged in here and didn’t…”
“It’s fine, sweetheart. Don’t worry about it.” I lifted the blanket up and rolled her slightly to the side to pinpoint the large muscle in her backside, then repeated the action with the alcohol pad. “Big pinch, big sting. Just breathe.”
“Sam…” She wiggled her butt as if trying to distract me for a moment, but I pressed my free hand lightly on her lower back to keep her in place.
I inserted the needle quickly and she whimpered. I hated causing her additional pain and took care to push the fluid slowly so it wouldn’t sting as much. Once all the liquid was in, I withdrew the needle and helped her sit back up.
“I’ll be right back.” I patted her shoulder before disposing of the syringe. “There’s a bathroom in the hall if you need it. Had one added a while ago.” I rushed out before she could reply, trying to shake off the memories that were invading my mind. I smacked my hand into my bedroom door to open it, wishing I had a punching bag to release some of my agitation. I should have contacted Mickie, especially after she lost her Gran. My sudden anger was at myself for dropping the ball more than once.
The wake and funeral had been brief, and she barely stayed in town—no more than two or three days. But my ex-wife Crystalhad clung to me like a cheap cologne sticks to skin, and I missed the opportunity to reconnect with Mikayla. Crystal and I had gotten embroiled in a confrontation as if Mikayla had come home to pursue me rather than bury her dear grandmother.
A thought popped into my head, one that never occurred to me before. Had Crystal found that letter and ripped it to pieces? That night she’d been waiting for me at home wearing nothing but a tiny negligee and a smile. We’d been casually dating, and I foolishly asked her to be my girlfriend that weekend. She would have had access to Mickie’s letter.
Crystal acted like I planned on having sex on top of the coffin at the wake, instead of supporting my longtime friend. Six months after the funeral, we were divorced.
“Hey, I found some clothes for you, sweetheart. Do you need help getting them on?”
Mikayla blushed adorably. She shifted slightly, bunching the blanket up and off her legs. “Yes, please. I managed to clean myself up. Brushed my teeth, gargled with mouthwash but my arm is so sore.”
The way she sat, her long auburn hair draped loosely over her shoulders, caught my eye in a way it never had before. Shades of cinnamon and blond shimmered through the strands, softening her edges. She was still bratty as hell, but now she was a woman too, and I was seeing her in a whole new light.
I swallowed hard, trying to think about dark, cold things to avoid an inappropriate reaction, but I found myself growing hard. She squeaked when one of my fingers accidentally tickled her thigh, and I hurriedly tied a loop in the string to tighten the pants. “Sorry. I’m trying to be a gentleman and not look.” The shirt was next, and I watched as she let the blanket fall away from her shoulders. I had a very hard time focusing on just her face, but I managed to guide her arms through each hole without jostling the injured one. I smoothed the shirt down, but then shesuddenly moved, and my hands brushed completely across her breasts and nipples.
I dropped my hands to my sides, ready to apologize, but she suddenly wrapped her legs around me to pull me closer and kissed me squarely on the mouth.
“Mickie—” I protested but she ignored me. I was surprised by her sudden affection, she’d never kissed me before. And even if she’d once thought herself in love with me, enough years without any contact had passed, that I didn’t think she thought of me that way anymore.
“Mikayla,” she corrected, licking a long line down my neck and back up. She sucked on my lower lip before darting her tongue in and out of my mouth.
I kissed her back, my mind spinning and my heart torn. “Not now,” I whispered, even though every part of me wanted more. She had a head injury and stitches, and I didn’t want to hurt her physically or otherwise.
She seemed to misunderstand me because a look of rage flickered across her features, and she slammed her feet to the floor. “Fine. I’m tired anyway.”
“Go lie on the couch. I’ll wake you up in two hours in case you have a concussion. It’s better to play it safe.”
“Whatever.” She pursed her lips at me and rolled her eyes.
It seemed like typical bratty behavior, but I let her off the hook this time. She’d had a hell of a night, and I would have plenty of time to correct her attitude tomorrow if need be.
“Don’t push me, sweetheart. You’re stuck here until they clear the roads. I’d hate for you to stand up the whole time to avoid sitting on a warm bottom.” I tossed a threat in her direction to see how it landed.
“Fucking try it,” she stated firmly. “I’m not a little girl anymore.” She shot me a look and then left the room, no doubtto do what I had told her to. Damn, her eyes sure tempted me to give her hell right now.
I followed her out to the living room and handed her another blanket as she settled into the cushions. She said nothing as I helped wrap the warm fuzzy blankets around her. “If you weren’t injured, babygirl, I’d flip you right across my thighs where you belong. Then I’d remind you that I won’t tolerate your bratting.”
