Reaching into my shower, I turn the taps to allow it to warm up before taking his bandaged hand. “It’s just surgical tape holding it on. Only hurts when it pulls hair. I have some and can re-bandage it after if you want.”
“Go ahead.”
I pull off the tape, and Rhett watches. When I lift the gauze, I flinch. It’s so red and puffy.
“You should get this looked at, Rhett. Are you up to date on your tetanus? This looks like it could be infected.”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll go to the emergency at the hospital tomorrow. Or is there a walk-in clinic here?”
“I can call my doctor and see if he’ll see you. He’s a good friend.”
Rhett nods and moves towards the shower, stepping in and promptly sitting on the bench.
“Are you okay?”
“Just exhausted, Dee. Hand me some soap?”
After passing him the bar, I take the shower nozzle down, and he turns for me to wet his hair. There’s always something intimate about helping someone bathe. Whether it’s a part of foreplay or because someone you love is sick, it’s a vulnerability that always squeezes my heart.
Rhett lets me help. No pushback this time as his damp lashes cling to his cheeks, and my heart aches for him to let me have this anytime, not just when he needs help.
After shutting off the water, I pass him a towel while I pull out the tape and gauze to cover his hand.
“How come you have all that stuff? Seems a little overkill for a first aid kit.”
“Well, it would be overkill if you didn’t have to change your own dressings after surgery. When I had the surgery to remove the cancer, I had to watch the incision.”
“Your scar,” he whispers, and I nod.
“Yeah. I overdid it the first few days and needed to go back to make sure I didn’t damage the inside stuff. I got good at bandaging it myself.”
Rhett steps closer and offers me his wounded hand. It probably doesn’t need a bandage, but just in case it pops open overnight or something, we’ll be safe. It’s easy to do, and he’s bandaged in a few minutes.
“Diamond…” Rhett starts, but when his tender gaze meets mine, I shake my head and cup his cheek with my palm.
“It’s okay, cowboy,” I whisper. “My dad helped. I wasn’t alone.”
We stand there for a moment, an unspoken understanding between us. Rhett leans in and presses the sweetest kiss of my life to my lips.
“Thank you. For everything.”
“I’ll do it every day if you need it, Rhett.” I kiss him back and linger in his space. His hand flexes on my naked hip, and I step back. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“Yeah. That’s probably a good idea.”
Rhett is still sleeping deeply at 6 A.M., and after slipping out of bed, I hush Tater and take her to the backyard for a pee.
“I hope your dad has dog food in the truck for you. If not, I can cook you some pasta.”
Slipping into a pair of shoes, I run out to his truck and root around until I find a bag of kibble and two bowls. Once inside, I place a bowl of food and water on the floor and get the coffee going. By 7:30, Rhett is still snoring, and it’s obvious he needs the rest.
I had already arranged for Morgan to go in for me this morning at The Thirsty Cow, but I don’t know if Rhett has any responsibilities, so I call Hunter.
“Good morning, Mr. Handsome,” I quip, and I’m rewarded with laughter.
“Good morning, Dee. Everything okay?”
“Yes, just checking in to see if you were aware Rhett was hurt at the rodeo yesterday.”
