Chapter 17 Diamond
seventeen
Diamond
I told myself I wouldn’t rush out right away, but I never listen, and I’m already down the steps before he closes the truck door.
“What can I bring in for you? Just a bag?” Rhett’s eyes carry the exhaustion and pain I know well, and it scares me how much I want to wrap him up in this moment and protect him from anything that takes his smile away. My hand goes to his cheek, and he leans into my touch.
“Just the duffle in the back.” He says in a voice so road weary, I wish I could shoulder some of the exhaustion for him.
Tater wags in front of me, and I bend to pet her before grabbing his bag from the back. “Come on, girl.”
Rhett follows me inside, and Tater makes herself at home immediately, jumping on the couch with a doggy smile.
“Is it okay for her to be on the furniture?”
“Of course. I could never tell her no and ask her to jump down. Look at that face.”
Rhett gives a half smile to Tater before turning back to me.
“I didn’t stop except to let Tater stretch her legs and pee. It was a slow drive and I…I’m not prepared for how much this actually hurts.”
He lifts his hand, and while there’s no seeping of blood through the bandage, I know how much a throbbing pain can rob you of literally everything.
“Are you hungry? You should eat something to keep yourself healthy.”
“If it’s not too much trouble. I’m starving. It’s hard to eat and drive with one hand.”
He sits to take off his boots, and I allow him a few seconds on his own before I gently kneel at his feet and push his hands away. After tugging off one boot, his hand lands on my neck, and I glance up before tugging off his second boot.
He says nothing, but he swallows and nods in thanks before following me to the kitchen. After putting a pot of water on the stove, I gather the ingredients I ran out to get earlier. Just in case.
I sneak a glance at Rhett when I place a glass of water in front of him and those eyes…fuck. They don’t miss a thing.
“You’re making pastina? The dish I said I’d show you how to make?”
“Yeah. You said it was your favourite, and I looked it up.”
Rhett stares at me before reaching for his water. The glass shakes as he brings it to his lips, and I turn back to the pot on the stove. After adding the pasta and stirring, Rhett speaks behind me.
“If you use chicken broth instead of water, it’s a richer flavour.”
“See? Still teaching me.” I smile at him over my shoulder. “I’ll remember that for next time.”
After draining the pasta, I add it back to the pot and crack the egg into the warm pasta. It cooks quickly, and I add the grated fresh parmesan, stirring until it melts, and I have a consistency the recipe describes as ‘creamy.’
It barely takes ten minutes to cook, and after scooping a bowl full, I place it in front of Rhett.
“Do you have any more painkillers? Eat and then take them if you do. It’s easier on the stomach.”
“Just something over the counter. I didn’t see a doctor or anything.” He lifts the spoon and takes a mouthful. “Mmm, Dee, this is good and exactly what I needed. Thank you.”
Tasting the dish straight from the pot, I nod. “This is pretty good. Not bad for my first time, then?”
He grins around another spoonful. “Nope. You’re a natural, but now what am I supposed to cook for you when I move in?”
I know Rhett enjoys it and wants to cook for me, but his tone rattles me. Like he has an underlying panic now to come up with something else that maybe he didn’t want to make.
“Well, you don’t have to cook me anything. I can do it for you. You’ll be busy with moving, and you’re down a hand. Let me help you.”
“You have a life, Diamond. You run a business, and you’re busy. I don’t expect you to drop everything for me because I have a cut on my hand.”
He shovels another spoonful of pasta into his mouth with more aggression than my spoon deserves.
“No, you’re right. I’m busy, but you know what I have time for?
” My spoon clatters against the bowl, and Rhett looks up.
“You. I will always have time for you, and I will always want to make your life easier because I care. That’s just how I am, and I hope you don’t have some stupid macho attitude over it because…
” I trail off, almost admitting I’m stupidly in love with the man already.
“No,” he whispers as he shakes his head and stares into his empty bowl. “I’m just not used to someone doing those things.”
It takes me a minute to pick up on what he’s saying.
“People who care about you don’t help?”
His laugh is sad. “People who said they cared never did. I’m used to being alone and just…doing it all, Diamond. This is… a lot.”
Jesus Christ. I thought the way my ex treated me was bad, but this man has been a doormat for too long if someone offering to cook for him is over the top.
“Rhett…please, let me do this.”
He nods once, and relief washes over me. “Do you want more to eat?”
“No, thank you.”
“So polite, cowboy. Can you sit while I clean up here for a few minutes?”
“Sure. I’m guessing you won’t let me do anything anyway.”
I growl playfully, and his eyes widen. “No. Sit the fuck there and look pretty.”
Not that it will take me long to clean up. I’ll leave the pot in the sink for tomorrow, and Rhett can take leftovers home if he wants.
“Okay, let me get your bag, and I have pills you can take downstairs.”
“I can carry my bag. I have one good hand, you know.”
“I know, but”—I grab his bag before he does—“you’re my guest.”
“Is that what I am?”
“You’re more than that, Rhett. Way more, but you’re not ready to hear it.
So follow me downstairs with Tater and let yourself be cared for.
Please.” My gaze meets Rhett’s, and I jut my chin out.
My characteristic stubborn streak will either break me or be my best asset for the next few days. “Don’t argue with me.”
“So feisty,” he murmurs and dusts his knuckles across my cheek. “Okay.”
He follows me quietly, and Tater bounds down the stairs in front of us, happy as a clam to find another sofa to lie on in my sitting area.
“Where’s your dad?”
“He went to Calgary for an agricultural show. Something about hybrid tomatoes, and I stopped listening after that.”
After tossing his bag on my bed, I turn and pull his shirt up. He smirks, but raises his arms and allows me to remove his shirt.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, you need a shower, and removing clothes is the preferred way to prepare for it.”
“Diamond.” He grabs my wrist with his good hand when I attempt to unzip him. “You can help, but I’m not letting you treat me like I’m not capable of anything. I can take my clothes off.”
“You could, but isn’t it more fun when I do it?”
Rhett shakes his head. A small smile on his lips. “It definitely is, but let me have some independence, okay?”
I back away with my hands up and watch as he removes his jeans just fine on his own. Before he removes his boxers, he glances at me, watching.
“I’m not gonna look away, cowboy. You’re doing great, by the way,” I tease.
He dips his thumbs under the elastic band and slides his briefs down before tossing them onto the pile of his clothes. Realizing I’m still clothed, I make quick work of removing my clothes, and I’m hyperaware of Rhett’s gaze on me.
This isn’t supposed to be about sex. Not tonight, but the way he’s looking at me says my plans might change.
“Did they tell you to keep the wound dry or to take off the bandage at night? Anything?”
“They said to keep it on as protection, but I could shower like normal.”
It’s only a few steps to my bathroom, and following a naked Rhett feels a little surreal. Like we’ve been here hundreds of times when it’s only been once.
“Can you take it off for me?” he asks.
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.”
“Yeah, I heard talk. He had a no-score, but I didn’t know he was hurt. That makes sense. The man is a beast of a rider. For a no score, something had to go terribly wrong. Is he okay?”
“He’s exhausted and still asleep. His hand should get looked at. I think it’s already infected. Does he…is there anything he’s supposed to be doing at the training facility today?”
“No. Tomorrow, a few bull riders are scheduled to show up, and he’s supposed to get the keys to his house, I think. I’ll call Griff and see what his work schedule is. Jamieson is already on board for his teaching time. Leave it with me, Dee. Let him know to take it easy, and we’ll get it sorted.”
“See, that’s why I love you, Hunter. You’re only tough on the outside. Such a softie.”
He huffs a laugh. “Yeah, well, keep that to yourself. I have a reputation to keep.” He clears his throat. “Can I ask if you’re okay? Did he come to you?”
“I offered, and he showed up, and I’m…I’m hopeful, Hunter. I like him. You know that.”
“I do, and I’m trying hard not to stick my nose in, but I care about you. I don’t like it when you’re hurting.”
“Softie,” I whisper as I swipe at my eyes. “I know the stakes, and if it goes wrong…”
“You’ll come to me and Gabe. Always. But I have a feeling when that man gets his head out of his ass, things will change.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Gabe says I’m right more than I’m wrong these days, if that helps.”
We both laugh, and even though he can’t see me, I smile. “It does. Thanks, Hunter.”
“Love you, Diamond.”
Hunter doesn’t voice his feelings with me often. He prefers hugs and gestures of kindness. Hearing him say he loves me is always special and a gift I’ll never tire of.
“Love you too, Mr. Handsome. Now get to work.”
After ending the call, I check on Rhett, who has now turned onto his side and clutches one of my pillows to his body.
I set a glass of water and more pain pills on the bedside table. After silencing his phone, I send a text to it telling him where I am.
Upstairs, Tater peers out the front window, and I rummage in her dog bag for the leash. She bounces over once she sees it.
“Let’s go for a walk, girl. I need to clear my head.”