CHAPTER SIX
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Ryder
“WHAT? I’M NOT TELLING YOU where I live. Who asks that?” Vesper jumped for her keys; fever bright in her eyes and congestion loud in her breathing.
Poor woman was sick as hell, yet she’d stayed and helped tend to two dogs who had no one else. The fact she hadn’t flogged me off or told me to return tomorrow increased my respect for her a thousand-fold.
And with respect came desire and affection.
I’d lusted after this woman for months. I’d grown hard over her jokes and ached for our stupid flirtation. But now, I felt something else. Something deeper and more meaningful. I wanted to take care of her the same way she took care of her patients.
And if that meant making her angry, so be it.
Keeping the keys out of her reach, I grunted, “The guy who plans on driving you home to keep you safe is asking.”
“Well, too bad. I’m not telling. Besides, I don’t need a damn chauffeur.”
“You do when you’re sick as a dog—no pun intended.” I kissed one of the Chiweenies on his tiny head. “You’re not sick, little pup. Not anymore.” Making eye contact with her again, I added, “They’re on the mend because of you. The least I can do is return the favour.”
“Don’t worry about it. You paid me.” Jumping for her keys, she sneezed loudly, bending over with a groan.
Goddammit, I’d suspected she was sick the moment I’d seen her but my selfishness to get the dogs sorted meant I hadn’t seen how bad she’d deteriorated.
As we’d worked side by side, fixing the two mistreated Chiweenies (still hated that name, by the way) she steadily grew worse.
She hadn’t even noticed her business partner pop her head in while we were elbows deep in dirty bath water to say she was heading home and to lock up.
I’d nodded but Vesper had been a freaking automaton washing the pooch and doing her best to swallow and blink through red eyes.
I knew the feeling when the flu hit out of the blue.
And I remembered my mother looking after me when I swore I didn’t need looking after.
I didn’t know if Vesper had anyone but if she was like me and alone, there was no way in hell I was leaving her until she’d been taken care of.
Wait, she might have a boyfriend.
I’d already tried to assess that annoying question last time but still had no answer. Surely, she wouldn’t joke with me if she did? It would be past inappropriate and waltzing into cheating territory.
And Vesper was not a cheater. I didn’t know how I knew that, but I did.
Tucking her keys into my back pocket, I asked, “Do you live alone?”
Her eyes bugged. “Oh my God, your questions just get creepier and creepier.”
“I’m not asking if you’re alone in order to cut you into tiny pieces. I’m asking if there is a boyfriend I can call to get you instead. ”
Don’t have a guy.
Don’t already share that bangin’ body with someone.
I didn’t mind some competition, but at the same time, I wasn’t a home wrecker.
She rubbed her temples with another groan. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no, I don’t have a boyfriend.”
Shit, that just made me hard again.
“Flat mate? Friend? Sister? Anyone you live with?”
“Nope.” She sighed heavily. “Just me, myself, and I. And already this—” She wiggled her finger between me, her, and the Chiweenies “—is a crowd.”
Holding out her hand, she muttered, “Please, just give me the keys and let me go home. I need to go home.”
“I agree with the need to go home part, but you’re not driving.” Grabbing her handbag that’d fallen to the floor in another sneezing fit, I strode toward the exit. “Come along, Cinderella, you’ve expired and it’s time to get the pumpkin back in the garden.”
She trotted after me, holding her head. “Wait, did you just call me a pumpkin?”
“Will it make you easier to get into the car?”
“By being called a vegetable?” She crossed her arms. “No chance.”
“How about if I call you Darling or Snookums or Princess Puppy Ruler. Will that make you drop down your need to do everything yourself and let me drive you home?”
She froze. “I don’t have a pathological need to do everything myself, you know.”
“Good.” I huffed. “Then you’ll let me drive and quit arguing.”
She threw up her hands. “There truly is no winning with you, is there?”
I grinned. “Nope.”
Glowering, she muttered, “In that case, I guess I don’t have a choice.” Pushing on the exit, she stalked into the cooler night air. Summer had us in a hot grip but the nights were nippy—perfect for sex on a rug in front of a fire or cuddling under blankets.
My cock stiffened at the thought. Then deflated remembering how sick she was. I’d made progress and invited myself to her house (was that classified as a date or not?) but there would be no getting lucky tonight. Not that I really wanted to kiss her when she was ill.
My eyes tracked to her full peach lips where she’d licked and nibbled as she did her best to breathe.
Her plump glistening mouth—
Nope , no way did I want to kiss her.
I didn’t do germs.
But you could…
…just this once.
Fuck, who was I kidding? I would kill to fucking kiss her.
Tearing my eyes away, I made sure to lock up seeing as she’d forgotten in her flu state, and after fumbling with two dogs, her handbag, and finding the right key, I followed her to a dinged-up Honda Accord and opened the back door to put the puppies on the back seat.
I was exhausted.
Shit, how did women juggle so much crap and not get totally frustrated?
Vesper craned her neck to look at the Chiweenies through the window. “Wait, you’re not bringing them with us, are you?”
“It’s cold and they’re still damp from their bath. I’m not gonna leave them in my car.”
“But—”
I closed the back door; quickly glancing to make sure my ride (a vintage Mustang—yeah baby) was safe in her practice’s parking lot. I’d get a cab back to it later once Sleeping Beauty here was in bed.
Instantly, images of her in sexy lingerie with spread legs attacked my cock.
Christ, don’t think about her in bed.
Clearing my throat, I forced myself to visualise flannel pyjamas and flu medicine. “I’ll deal with it when we get to your place, okay?”
She grumbled under her breath but allowed me to open the passenger door and wait until she’d thrown herself inside.
I hated that she was sick, but I also couldn’t stop the victory bounce in my step as I got behind the wheel and drove her home.