“There’s a teddy bear in the other room I can grab for you,” she teases, earning a smile from me.
“No need, beautiful. I’ve got something better than a teddy bear,” I insist, taking her hand and holding it tight. Not because I truly need the comfort, and not because Lance’s beady little eyes are shooting daggers at me. I take her hand simply for the fact it’s an opportunity to hold it. “Ready, Dr. Williams.”
I watch as he puts six stitches in my leg, closing the wound up nicely. He actually did a good job, if you ask me. Looks clean and straight, and I won’t have a jagged scar across my shin. “All done?”
“Yes,” he replies, removing his gloves and tossing them in the trash. “We’ll cover it for you, and you’ll want to keep it dry for forty-eight hours. Wrap it in Saran Wrap when you shower and try not to let water pour on it or down your leg. After that, you can remove the cover and wash it with clean water two times a day but no scrubbing or submerging it in water like tubs or pools. Take pain reliever as needed. Watch for redness or infection around the wound. Return in seven to ten days to have the stitches removed.” He spoke monotone, as if he was reciting instructions he read from a handbook.
“Thanks, Dr. Williams. You did a great job. You’ve got a real gentle hand,” I compliment with a smile.
He just stares at me, trying to gauge my sincerity, I’m sure. There’s not much of it in my statement. I mean, the guy did a good job, but he’s still a douche. “You should take the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours off work.”
“Nope,” I reply, as Oaklee pushes the footrest back in, so I can lower my legs. “I’ll be fine. I’ll keep it clean, but I need to work tomorrow.”
“It’s Saturday,” he states unnecessarily. I’m well aware of what day of the week it is. We’re pushing to finish up a state job before layoff season hits. Lance just stares at me for several seconds, and I can tell he’s ready to argue. Why? Simply because this is something I want, and he can deny it.
“Listen, I’ve had stitches before. I know what to do and not to do. I’ll be fine at work.”
He sighs. “If you notice any changes in the wound site or you develop a fever, get it checked out right away.”
I nod. “I will. Besides, I have a personal nurse to help take care of me.”
I don’t look her way, but I can imagine the blush on her face.
“I’ll finish this paperwork and take it to the front,” Lance states before basically hightailing it out of the room like his ass was on fire.
“That was fun,” I say the moment the door is closed.
“You were goading him.”
I shrug. “Maybe, but everything I said was true.”
She steps over and covers my stitches with a bandage. “So, you have a nurse coming over to take care of you?”
“Well, not officially, but there’s someone I’m hoping wants the task.”
When the bandage is secured and she rolls my pant leg down, she stands up between my legs and asks, “What does this job entail?”
I can’t help but grin. “Sponge baths and hand jobs.”
She barks out a laugh, just as I expected. “Oh my God.”
“What? I’m serious. I’m injured and won’t be able to do it myself.”
She shakes her head and presses her lips to mine. Then, she removes her second set of latex gloves and tosses them in the trash with the rest of the used materials from my stitches. “Come on, Romeo. I have work to do.”
“You do,” I agree, getting up from the table and walking to the door. “Wanna stop by later?”
“Yes. I’ll bring dinner.”
“And then we can get to the sponge baths and hand jobs.”
Shaking her head, she presses her lips to mine and turns the knob. “I’ll see you after work. Grab the workman’s comp paperwork at the counter.”
“I will,” I reply, watching as she walks toward the back of the clinic, my eyes glued to her ass every step she makes. Just as I go to turn and head to the front, Lance steps out of the room across the hall. His eyes are full of tension as he stares me down.
I could stand here and glare back all day long, but I won’t make it any more difficult on Oaklee than I’m sure I already have. Instead, I throw him a friendly wave and head for the front reception area.
Lance walks into the office and hands Becky my paperwork. “Have a nice day,” he says to me, even though I know he doesn’t mean it.
