73. Riley
SEVENTY-THREE
I”m sohappy to be out of the hospital that I walk into Gabriel”s house with a huge smile. I even hug Andre and the rest of the staff.
”Oh, no. I should”ve brought the beautiful bouquet Gabriel sent to the hospital room,” I cry. ”I totally forgot. I hope they give it to another patient. You should”ve seen it, it was so gorgeous.”
Andre shakes his head. ”Don”t worry. He”s already arranged for another to be sent here, I”m sure.”
Andre winks and I giggle.
Gabriel stands back, scowling. He”d procured a wheelchair to get me from the car to the front door, but I”d rolled my eyes and walked in on my own two legs.
”Maybe I”ll take a swim,” I say, walking toward the door that leads to the pool.
”Maybe you”ll get into bed and rest,” Gabriel says.
The staff scurries away, probably sensing a spat is brewing. Instead, I walk to Gabriel and put my arms over his shoulders. ”Don”t you think that some sunshine will be good for me? Vitamin D?”
His nostrils flare. ”Maybe a bit of late afternoon sun would be beneficial. But I don”t think you should swim.”
I lean up and press my lips to his. ”You heard the doctor. He said light exercise is fine.”
”He said no hot tubs and no sitting around in wet bathing suits.”
”Fine,” I sigh. ”But dry bathing suits are okay, which means I can read a book and lie in the sun.”
”I guess.”
He takes my hand and we walk upstairs.
”Why are you extra grumpy today?” I ask as we head into the bedroom. ”I thought you”d be happier that I”m out of the hospital.”
He circles my waist with his arm and pulls me close. ”I”m sorry. There”s just a lot going on. But I”m ecstatic you”re home.”
I stand on my tiptoes so I can kiss his lips. It”s been days since we”ve had a proper kiss, and it”s like I”m starved for his mouth. I”m swiping my tongue over his bottom lip when he breaks away.
He cradles my face in his hands. ”Riley, I”m sorry to do this, but I have to get to my lawyer”s office today. There”s an issue with a development I”ve invested in. I was hoping I wouldn”t have to leave you tonight, but?—”
”No, it”s okay.” I try to hide my hurt. ”I”m going to take a long, hot shower and lie outside. I feel like I”ve been cooped up for days.”
”If you need anything, Andre will be here. And I”ve instructed the staff about your medication schedule. Oh, and I”ve hired a nutritionist for you. They”ll be here tomorrow.”
I walk away from Gabriel and flop dramatically on the bed. ”Sweetie, I don”t need a nutritionist.”
”Yeah, you do. You need to eat better. Pizza and crap from the vending machine at work doesn”t cut it. You need to boost your immune system.”
Part of me warms from the thought that he cares so much that he”s gone to all this trouble. But it seems like overkill. I”m not going to argue with him now. ”We”ll talk about it later. Will you be home for dinner?”
”Absolutely. Wouldn”t miss it for anything.”
Gabriel comes to the bed and crawls on top of me, caging me with his arms. ”I love you.”
I study his handsome face. His eyes look tired. ”I love you, too.”
He kisses me softly and leaves. For a moment I think about climbing into bed — even though I”ve been lying around the hospital, snoozing and watching TV for three days — I”m still not a hundred percent.
But then I think about how gross I feel and go into the bathroom.
I moan as the rainfall shower spray hits me, and moan again when I smell the expensive body wash that Gabriel”s bought. I lather up my entire body twice, reveling in the sensation.
I even think about masturbating, but hold off. The doctor said that I should ”avoid any action down there for a couple of weeks.” He”s also given me an antibiotic to take after sex.
My hand is about to slide over my pussy. No, I probably shouldn”t. I”m horny as hell, though, and the feeling of Gabriel”s mouth is still imprinted on my lips.
With a frustrated little grunt, I decide to lather up my hair instead. The last thing I want is the infection to return — and the doctor said to be careful about the kind of lube, soap, and lotion I use down there.
Once I”ve washed all of the hospital funk off, I towel-dry my hair, throw on a bikini and a cover-up, and head down to the pool with a book.
Andre scurries out with the largest water bottle I”ve ever seen.
”Gabriel wanted you to have this, so you”d hydrate.” He sets it on the table next to me.
I pick it up and grunt. ”This thing is like a brick. It practically has its own area code.”
Andre smiles. ”He”s worried about you.”
”I know, but it”s a little much.”
He shakes his head. ”I”ve never seen him so worked up. He called me from the hospital and the panic in his voice...”
That tugs at my heart. I unscrew the cap of the water jug and take a sip. ”I”ll be a good girl and drink my water.”
”You”d better, because he”ll have my head if you don”t.”
We grin at each other. I know Gabriel wouldn”t do anything to Andre, since he”s a trusted confidante. I”d learned a while back that Andre is more than an assistant. He has a law degree and an MBA.
”Thank you,” I call out to him as he walks off.
As I settle into my chair, I consider whether I should call my editor. Screw that. I”ve been in the hospital with a serious infection. I”d gotten a text telling me to take this week, and possibly next week, off.
So I”m going to aggressively relax, just like Gabriel wants. He”s getting a bit too protective, with the nutritionist idea, but we”ll discuss it later.
For now, I”m going to read my romance novel and soak up the rays. My eyes skim a chapter, but I can”t concentrate. The bright sunshine and the heat are lulling me to sleep. It feels so damned good out here.
The medicine definitely is making me sleepy. I”m about to shut my eyes when the glass door to the house slides open.
”Heyyyy, beautiful. Welcome home.”
A woman strolls toward me in a semi-sheer black sundress and black chunky sandals. She”s wearing a wide-brimmed black hat and dark sunglasses.
It”s Catherine, and I”m not sure how I should feel about her sudden arrival.