Chapter 23 #2
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.
Becky turns around and smiles. “Well, he seems a little grumpier than he was earlier. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
I give her an innocent grin. “Of course not.”
She chuckles and types on her keyboard. “I bet you don’t.” She looks at the screen before taking a quick glance at me. “I might be stepping out of line here, but I just want to say, we all like Oaklee. She’s a great nurse and a sweetheart.”
I nod, catching her meaning. She’s referring to whatever this is between Oaklee and me. I’m sure everyone in town is talking, and I could not give two shits. “Agreed.”
“And she seems…happy. Your little gifts make her smile a lot.”
My heart is doing a little jig in my chest at her words. “I’m glad.”
“Anyway, I just thought I’d mention that. Here are your discharge papers and the stuff you need for work. I have a few availabilities for suture removal next Friday, or I can do next Saturday morning.”
“Honestly, do I have to do that in the office?”
She grins and glances over her shoulder. “Technically, no. Anyone with a medical degree can remove them,” she says, answering my unasked question.
“Good to know. I’ll call you if I need an appointment.”
“Sounds good, Cade. Take care,” she says, handing over my paperwork and sending me on my way.
I step outside and head for my truck, everything that’s transpired in the last thirty minutes spinning in my head.
I officially met the asshole ex, even if I had to get injured to do it.
But if you take him and our exchanges out of the equation, I got to see Oaklee in her element.
She’s everything Becky said, but so much more.
Her caring and calm demeanor is only part of what makes her a great nurse.
As I climb into my truck, I think back on the conversation we had about the future she wanted and gave up.
Well, fuck him.
It’s not too late.
I can vividly see her holding a newborn baby, caring for expecting mothers before and after delivery. Yeah, I did a little research on midwives, and it’s a perfect fit for Oaklee’s nurturing and caring personality.
Of course, I’m man enough to admit that’s not the only vision I see.
That baby?
It’s hers with her dark hair and eyes, gazing up at her with so much love and trust.
And me?
I’m standing right there too, looking on in awe, my chest so full it fucking hurts.
What does that mean?
I have an idea, but now isn’t the time to dive into it.
Right now, I need to head home and change my clothes.
I should shower, but the idea of having a certain nurse provide a little assistance later outweighs the need to shower now.
I also need to put my leg up and rest, because as much as I try to pretend it doesn’t, my leg kinda throbs.
Not bad or anything, and not the wound itself, since ol’ Doc Lance numbed it before he stitched me up.
I fire off a text to my foreman, letting him know I was taken care of and will be back to work in the morning. Then, I pull out of the parking spot and head for home, Oaklee on my mind the entire way.