Tilting my head to the side, I add, “Now it’s your turn; I want to hear about you and Rafe.”
And so she tells me about meeting him that first night I arrived in Riddle Hill, and her initial attraction to him; at that my hands curl into fists, which fortunately Sophie doesn’t notice. But after she describes his behavior in the water with her, and later at the wedding shower, I can’t help it. Ipound my fists on the arms of the chair. “That weasel! Now I wish I’d done more than break his nose!”
“Are you trying to tell me Rafe looks worse than you do?”
When I nod, she chuckles. “I don’t think we’ll be hearing from that creep again.”
“But what about your friend’s wedding?”
Sophie shakes her head. “I called Pru last night to tell her I couldn’t deal with Rafe at her wedding, and she told me not to worry. Rafe had already texted Vreeland to apologize and let him know he wouldn’t be able to make it after all. I guess he’s going out of town for a while. Problem solved.”
Sophie beams at me like a young girl, and I don’t have the heart to tell her Rafe will be back, when he’s good and ready; he’ll make me pay for breaking his nose.
After lunch, Sophie leaves to run some errands and go to the laundromat. I nap until dinnertime, which we eat on the tray tables again. “You need to drink every drop of that bone broth.”
I shake my head, staring at the enormous plate of food: salmon with fresh lemon sauce, fried potatoes, fruit salad, and a steaming bowl of bone broth. “I may be a werewolf, but there’s a limit to my appetite.”
“Every drop, or I’ll spoon feed you.” Sophie crosses her arms.
“I’d like to see you try,” I attempt a smirk, but my split lip is so sore all I can manage is a grimace.
Sophie sets aside her tray, perches on the arm of my chair, and picks up a spoon. I begin to perspire, beads of sweat dotting my brow. Mongrels and moonbeams! I’mnot sure I’ll be able to swallow anything with her luscious body leaning over me like this. I snatch the spoon from her outstretched hand. “I think I can manage.”
“That’s the spirit,” she grins, sliding off my chair and returning to her meal.
After dinner, I climb to my feet and slowly stretch my limbs. “I guess I’d better change out my bandages.”
“I went to your flat and packed a bag for you; Rob let me in.” Sophie hovers behind me as I shuffle in my flipflops over to my former bedroom.
I push open the door, pausing on the threshold. Rather than the chaos I’m expecting, I’m surprised to find the room as orderly as I left it, the Feng Shui still intact. The only change I notice, and a very good one at that, is the mattress now rests on a simple, black bedframe; I’m relieved to be able to sleep on an actual bed rather than on the floor. “The bedframe finally arrived, I see.”
“Yeah,” says Sophie wryly. “If Leslie T. Barker had arrived when he was supposed to instead of several days early, he wouldn’t have had to sleep on the floor.”
“Leslie T. Barker was quite anxious for a fresh start… He still is.”
Sophie looks up at me, her cheeks flushing pink. We stare at each other, not saying a word, until I wobble slightly.
Gah! This helplessness is crushing what’s left of my male ego.
Sophie grips my arm. “I left a clean towel, bowl of water, and antibiotic ointment on the dresser, along witha fresh package of bandages. Why don’t you change, and then call me when you need me to replace the dressings on your back.”
“Er… what’s the best way, do you think?” I ask, my throat going dry at the thought of Sophie seeing my gruesome injuries… and tending to them.
Sophie inclines her head at the bed. “I think it’ll be easier if you’re lying on your stomach with your shirt off. If you need help with the backs of your legs, maybe wear a pair of shorts.”
“Got it,” I croak through dry lips, waiting until Sophie closes the door behind her before sagging onto the bed.
Could this get any more awkward? What was Doc thinking when he suggested Sophie should be my nurse… and what was I thinking when I agreed?
Gritting my teeth, I manage to peel off my clothes and change into a pair of running shorts. Then I proceed to replace the bandages on my battered, bruised torso, arms, and the fronts of my legs; I’ll need Sophie’s help with the rest. I poke my head out of the bedroom to let her know I’m ready and then shuffle back to the bed, stretching out on my stomach.
“O-oh, Teddy!” cries Sophie with a soft whimper. “You’re so… wounded.”
I knew it; this was a horrible idea. I start to rise from the bed with a grunt. “You shouldn’t have to deal with this, Sophie. Leave the dressings for now; you can take me to Doc’s clinic tomorrow.”
“No!” Sophie crosses the room and sorts out the supplies on top of the dresser. “I volunteered for this, andI can do it.” She adds more softly, “I just didn’t realize how badly you were injured.”
“If you’re sure…”
