“If my knees weren’t throbbing, I might fall asleep before the pizza got here.”
“I’ll make you something to drink and get you a couple Tylenol. Where do you keep them?”
“Kitchen cabinet next to the sink. And you don’t need to do that.”
“It’s no problem, Emma. You need someone to take care of you tonight.”
He went into the kitchen and poured her a soda, grabbed the pills, and drew in a couple of long breaths, reminding himself that he was there on a mercy mission. But damn, did she have to look so sexy with her hair spread out across the back of the sofa, her cheeks soft and pink, and her eyes so trusting?
If she only knew the nefarious thoughts going through his head, she’d toss him out on his ass.
He came back out with the drink and the Tylenol. “I also fixed some ice packs for your knees. It’ll help to keep the swelling down.”
She took the pills and swallowed them with her drink, then set the glass on the side table. “You think of everything. If you hadn’t been here, I’d have driven myself home and likely crawled right into bed to drown my sorrows.”
He pulled the blanket aside and gently laid the ice packs on top of her knees. “I don’t know. Even though you’re a vet, you’re still a doctor. I think you know the importance of taking care of injuries right away.”
“Maybe. Right now I just feel like a stupid girl.”
He laughed. “You’re not the first person to trip and fall, you know.”
Her direct gaze gut-punched him. “I realize that. I still feel like a moron.”
He replaced the blanket, then leaned over and got close. “Prettiest moron I’ve ever seen.”
Her gaze caught and held his. He waited, knowing this was a really bad idea, but Emma did something to him. Maybe he was offering comfort, and maybe what he was doing was purely for his own selfish reasons.
Either way, she didn’t look scared, or pissed off.
Just . . . curious. Maybe even a little inviting.
He drew in closer.
And then the doorbell rang.
Like a pin in a balloon, the moment burst. Emma blinked, then offered up a shaky breath.
“Pizza guy.”
“Yeah.” He pushed up and went to the front door, mentally cussing out the pizza guy for having really shitty timing.
They ate, though Emma only nibbled on a couple of pieces. It was obvious her accident was wearing on her as her lids started to droop down.
“You need to go to bed.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re tired, and rest is the best thing for you. Do you have to work tomorrow?”
She laughed. “When you’re the single owner of a business, it’s not like someone else can go in for you.”
“Come on.” He pushed the recliner to a sitting position and helped her stand.
She winced. He looped an arm around her waist and led her toward her bedroom.
“You’re going to be sore tomorrow.”
“I know. I’ll make it.”
“You could always reschedule your appointments and take the day off.”
“I don’t think so. People are counting on me, and I have a reputation I’m trying to build. I’ll tough it out.”
He pulled back her covers, and she climbed into bed. He grabbed her extra pillow so she could slide it under her legs, propping up her knees. When he pulled the blanket up, he laid his hand over hers and her gaze met his.
“Would you like me to stay here tonight? Make sure you’re okay?”
“No. I’m fine, Luke, really. You’ve done more than enough already. But I appreciate it, more than you know.”
“Okay.” On impulse, he bent and brushed a kiss across her lips.
He pulled back, searched her face, her chocolate brown eyes melting him, making him want to do a hell of a lot more than just kiss her.
And the way she looked up at him was an invitation.
But she was hurt, and vulnerable, and tonight was hands-off, no matter how much her eyes said yes.
He stood. “I’m going to go get your car so you’ll have it for work tomorrow. I’ll lock the front door on my way out.”
She reached for his hand, her eyes partially closed. “Thank you, Luke. You’re my hero.”
He was nobody’s hero. Especially not hers. Not with the kinds of thoughts he was having about her right now.
“Night, Emma.”
Chapter 11
THE PAST FEW days had been brutal. Emma had come home, fed the dogs, and fallen into bed in a pained, exhausted stupor.
Her knees had finally started to form scabs, but they still ached, and being on her feet all day hadn’t helped any, though it was probably good for her to keep moving. It was just at night when she got home and finally sat down that the stiffness settled in. And since she was sore and tender, she’d been missing her regular workouts, which made her tired and grumpy.
At least she hadn’t had trouble sleeping. She was going to bed early and getting plenty of sleep, making it easy to get up in the morning.
Luke had called her the day after the accident to check on her. She’d been busy and hadn’t had much time, but enough to thank him again for taking such good care of her and to tell him she was doing fine.
She didn’t know what to make of him, so unused to a man who would look out for her the way he had.
Maybe most men were like that, and she’d just drawn the short end of the stick on her first long-term relationship, making her reluctant to ever enter another. Perhaps she was missing out. Reluctant to talk about men and relationships with friends or, God forbid, her mother, who would either push her toward Luke or worry incessantly about her because of what she’d been through with Vaughn, she had no idea what a normal man/woman relationship was like. Was Luke a typical guy, or was he an anomaly?
She decided she might broach the topic at her girls’ night out with Jane and Chelsea. They decided to forgo their typical dinner at Bert’s and, at Chelsea’s suggestion, were trying out one of the new all-you-can-eat buffets that had recently opened.
“I don’t know,” Jane said, as they pushed their trays around the different stations. “I had kind of set my mind on Bert’s biscuits and gravy tonight.”
Chelsea rolled her eyes and hip-checked Jane. “I don’t know how the hell you stay so thin, given your atrocious diet.”
“That’s easy,” Jane said with a smug smile. “Two kids, one in sports, one in dance, and a very active sex life.”
“You suck, and you’re only saying that because you know I currently have no sex life.”
“And whose fault is that?” Emma asked as they reached their table and set down their trays. “Chelsea, you’re gorgeous. I’d kill for red hair like yours. And your body? Please. I mean, I know I’m a heterosexual female, but geez. You’re built.”
Chelsea laughed. “Well, thanks. But it’s like men are afraid of me. It’s not like I’m throwing out don’t-approach-me signals. I’m very, very available, if you know what I mean.”
Jane picked up a carrot. “So you’re saying you’re advertising your wares like a slut, but no one’s buying?”
Emma nearly choked on her iced tea. “Jane. I don’t think that’s what she meant at all.”
But Chelsea just laughed. “Well, yeah, kind of like that. I mean, it’s been a very long dry spell. Men just don’t notice me.” She shrugged.
Emma shook her head. “Men are blind sometimes. Or stupid.”
“Definitely stupid if they aren’t noticing you, Chelse.”
“Y’all are good for my ego. We should go out more often.”
“I would, but it might interfere with all that sex I’m having.”