Chapter Eight
“How did this happen?” Justice couldn’t believe all the blood. There were spots everywhere in the house, some large and some small, especially in the bedroom where Keller had successfully stitched the wound on Jinx’s leg closed in order to save his life.
“I guess that’s what we’ll find out.” Freedom blew tendrils of hair out of her face that had come undone from the high messy bun.
Justice dipped the red-stained rag into the bucket of hot, soapy water. “Time for fresh water.” She stood up from the kitchen floor, took the bucket over to the sink, and emptied it. She watched the crimson water swirl around the stainless steel and go down the drain.
Turning the faucet handle, she refilled the bucket with hot water and squirts of soap. The thick yellow gloves she wore made her hands slick with sweat.
Kneeling back onto the floor, she continued scrubbing the dried blood.
“Did you tell Daddy?” Justice asked.
“Yes. He said he can’t come home right now.” Freedom dropped her sponge into the bucket. “He wanted me to tell you to look after Jinx.”
“Why? I’m not a nurse,” Justice shrieked.
“Look, I don’t have any clue why Daddy selected you to take care of Jinx but that’s what I was asked to relay to you. Daddy said he’ll be home in a few days.”
Justice nibbled the corner of her lips, soaking in the odd request. “I have no clue how to take care of him.”
“The first order of business is to give him a sponge bath,” Doc Lafferty said as he walked into the kitchen. A smear of blood looked stark against his white shirt. “The man has been through the wringer, and he shouldn’t be made to lay there covered in blood.”
Freedom and Justice made eye contact a mere second before she stood. “H-how is he now?”
“He’s a fighter. He’s lost a lot of blood, but Keller saved his life. Now that he’s out of the woods I’d like to go home, take a shower and crawl into bed. Think you ladies can take over his care from here?”
Justice wanted to scream, “No!” but instead, she nodded. “What do we do?”
“I left clean bandages. Change them in six hours. Make sure he takes the antibiotic and pain meds. Remember, pain is much easier to control when you get control of it before it starts. Reapply the cream when you change the bandage. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.” He looked weary as he went to grab his jacket from the hook. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning. Call me if you see any symptoms of infection.”
After the doc left, Justice stood there staring at the closed door for the longest time. She heard Freedom snicker. She swiveled on her socked feet. “Do you think this is funny?”
“Yes, a tad I do. You better go grab what you’ll need to give Jinx a bath.” Freedom wagged her brows.
Justice’s body warmed. Although she might have fantasized a few times about Jinx and his body, knowing she’d be touching his bare skin made her inner thighs tremble. She forced herself to keep her thoughts from showing. “That seems a bit…invasive.”
“Relax, sis. I don’t think Doc Lafferty was asking you to give him the full spa treatment.” She bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing again. “Unless you have a hankering to—”
“Stop. Right. There!” Justice gave her head a gentle shake. “Will you go in there with me?” Justice pleaded.
“Sorry, Justice. I was Keller’s emergency nurse. I need a break and some sleep myself.” Freedom pushed up from the floor, dropped her gloves into the water, and gave Justice a supportive smile. “It could be worse. I could think of a lot worse places and cowboys you could put your hands on. See you in the morning.”
Alone with her ramped thoughts, Justice tried giving herself an internal pep talk. You can do this. It’s only a sponge bath. Nothing sexual about it.
Yet, when she walked into the bedroom, holding a pan full of water against her chest and a basket of toiletries, she’d lost all nerve. He had his eyes closed and she was grateful for the moment to gather her thoughts. He looked massive in the bed. He was shirtless, his jeans were gone, and the corner of the sheet was tossed over his lap. Blood and dirt stained his skin. The bandage was stark white against his golden body.
Setting the bucket and basket on the nightstand, when she turned back around his eyes were open and planted on her in question.
Swallowing against the constriction in her throat, she found the words to say, “Doc Lafferty said we needed to get you cleaned up.” Remembering how they’d swam in the water together made her skin heat.
“We?” The word was said with a deep husky tone.
“Well, just me.” She rubbed her palms together. They were like prunes after wearing gloves for hours.
He looked a bit awkward. “With all due respect, I can give myself a bath.”
Couldn’t he just make this easier?
“I know this is odd, a little anyway, but I think it’s best you lie still.” She thought he looked tired and disheveled. Although she didn’t know him very well, looking at him now, she realized how close to death he had been. Men had suffered far less of a traumatic injury and had died on the ranch. “I promise I’ll make this as quick and as painless as possible.”
He didn’t say a word, but just continued to stare at her. The pain meds had probably kicked in.
She dipped the soft washcloth into the water and wrung out the excess. Squirting a few drops of lavender soap onto the cotton made the body wash soapy. She contemplated where she should start and decided to go the most logical route: head to toes.
*****
At first, Jinx had thought he was dreaming because in what reality would Justice be giving him a bath?
But sure enough. Here she was, getting the washcloth all nice and sudsy.
She leaned over him and he caught her fragrance—a sweet cotton candy scent with a hint of orange. The pain medicine Doc had given him was mighty potent and he was a bit groggy, but that didn’t stop parts of him from responding. He was grateful the sheet covered that part of him. If this wasn’t humiliating enough that he needed Justice to wash him like he was a baby, if she were witness to how attractive he found her he’d never live it down.
As she washed his face—as gently as if she were polishing thin glass—pieces of her hair had come loose from the bun and had landed on his chest. Her firm breasts rubbed his shoulder, pressing against his solid muscle. He had to admit, the heat from the washcloth felt pleasant, but the closeness of her body was pure pleasure. He’d even forgotten about the pain in his leg.
She pulled back to rinse the cloth and he watched the water flow over her fingers and knuckles. She had nice hands. An image of her hands exploring his body took over every cell in his mind.
How could he even be thinking of sex at a time like this?
Easily. Justice was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes upon and her scent drove him wild. She caught him staring and he didn’t bother turning away or pretending he hadn’t been ogling her. His brain waves were relaxed as the medicine took effect.
"What happened out there?" she asked.
"Misdemeanor caught me. Luckily, I twisted just in time before he got my stomach."
She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth as she gently wiped his chest with the washcloth. Her touch was soft and caring. “You’re a very lucky man,” she said.
“I’m not sure luck had anything to do with it. If I were lucky, the bull wouldn’t have escaped through the gate in the first place.” He stared at her profile, examining her cute nose and the plumpness of her lips.
She tilted her chin, bringing her gaze to his. “Yes? Is there something wrong?” She seemed to take extra care with his stomach.
“Sorry that I’m staring, ma’am.”
“I’ve noticed that you do that often,” she said softly.
He shrugged his shoulder against the bed. What lucidity was left of his mind warned him to keep his thoughts to himself, but he’d never been a good listener. “I’m sure I’m not the first or the last.”
She moved the damp cotton over his stomach and to the edge of the sheet. A ragged breath caught his chest. She winced. “Did I hurt you?”
“It depends on how you define hurt,” he chuckled. Her cheeks flushed red as she avoided his gaze while rinsing the washcloth. “I’m glad I didn’t argue about you washing me too hard.”
“You’re quite the flirt. You have a lot of energy and spunk for a man who just about lost his life,” she said tartly.
"Give me a break. Almost dying shows you it's time to stop being shy."
She breathed deeply. "I never thought you were the shy type."
“It’s what you do to me. You make my palms sweat.”
The corners of her mouth lifted. “How are you feeling? Pretty good?” She started cleaning his non-injured leg.
“I feel pretty damn amazing.” He followed her hand as she moved the washcloth down his leg. He whistled through his teeth. “You’re good at this. You missed your calling.”
“My calling?” She laughed. “Bathing people is my calling?”
“Nursing people. It was worth getting gored to have this compensation.”
“As flattered as I am, I’m sure you’d rather have not come face-to-face with Misdemeanor.”
He blinked. “Has anyone ever told you that you look like a goddess?” He should have shut up, but he couldn’t control his tongue.
“No, they haven’t.” She kept her gaze on his leg.
“They should have and often.”
She’d moved her attention to his injured leg. Her cheeks were flushed. Her bottom lip quivered. He’d never been more turned on.
“When I was a kid my mom would kiss my boo-boos,” he muttered.
She brought her gaze up, humor turning her eyes to diamonds. “Yeah? Are you asking for me to kiss your leg?”
“Nah.” He chuckled, feeling very good. “I want you to kiss my lips.”
She dropped the stained rag into the water. “And why should I do that?”
“What if I don’t make it? I’d be a happy dying man knowing I got a kiss from the woman I have a hankering for.”
She stared back at him, but now there were two of her, and he couldn’t focus on either.
He saw her move, guessing getting as far away from his high ass as possible, but instead, she leaned over him, their gazes locking. “You need some rest,” she said in a whisper. Then she kissed him, not a lingering, romantic kiss but a quick tormenting peck. “Sleep tight.”
Then she was gone, and he fell into the awaiting arms of sleep.