Chapter Twelve
Adrienne
Damn. My entire body hurts .
Not to mention, my backside is tender and I’m sure there’s a nice little goose egg on the back of my head. But nothing is broken, thankfully, and while there’s nothing more embarrassing than falling in front of a hot guy, I suppose all in all, it could have been a lot worse.
I take a few minutes to use the toilet, and just as I’m flushing, I hear the door open. I secure the button and zipper on my jeans before sliding open the lock on the stall door and stepping out. I stop in my tracks when I find Caden standing there, leaning against the door as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“Um, you know this is the ladies’ restroom, right?”
He gives me that cocky smile. “Not my first ladies’ restroom, sugar.”
I can’t help but snort as I make my way to the sink to wash my hands. “I bet not.”
As I dry my hands using the hand dryer, I turn to point my wet ass at the heat and find him approaching. He runs his hands up my arms, letting them rest at my neck. “Are you all right?” His words are thick with concern.
“Yes. My ass is sore, but thankfully no one will be able to see that at the wedding.”
His eyes remain steadfast. “If you’re not feeling up to it on Saturday, you don’t have to go.”
“Of course I’m going,” I insist, tossing the paper towel into the trash can.
He sighs, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. This time, however, it doesn’t feel so much like the caress I’m used to. This time, they’re full of worry and apprehension. “That scared the shit out of me.”
I can’t help but grin. “I don’t recommend it.”
“The only time I like to see you fall is over the edge when I’m making you come.”
Blood swooshes through my veins, and I can feel my nipples pebble. “Now that you mention it, that just so happens to be my favorite way to fall.”
He grins. “You’re sure you’re good?”
“Yes, Dad, I’m fine. Come on, I need to get back to work.” Before he can reply, I walk past him and open the door. I ignore the tinge of discomfort in my back and neck, as well as the eyes on me as I return to my post. “Sorry, everyone. Who needs a drink?”
“Why don’t you sit down?” Caden asks, joining me behind the bar.
I exhale deeply and close my eyes for a brief moment. “I’m good, Caden,” I state pointedly, leveling him with a look relaying my annoyance.
He holds up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, but if you need anything, just ask. Jasper is in the kitchen until he gets it closed down, and then he’ll come relieve you.”
I shake my head, but the slightest pain erupts behind my eyes, so I stop moving immediately. “That’s not necessary,” I reply, though something tells me I’m wasting my breath.
I jump into my work, grabbing a bus bin and heading over to clear the recently vacated pub table. Once I have that clean and the bin behind the counter, I go to check on the last couple of tables in the bar. They’ve both finished their food, so I grab their baskets, offer refills, and then return to the bar to print their checks after they decline more drinks.
Finally, the kitchen is closing and the only patrons left are those having a few drinks while they watch the game. Every move I make, I can feel Caden’s gaze following me. My head is really starting to pound with a headache, but there’s no way I’m going to complain about it. The last thing I want is to be sent home because I slipped on a little water on the floor. I’ve fallen harder on the ice in the middle of winter and still managed to work just fine.
I head over to the end of the bar where Caden seems to have camped out for the night. “You can go home,” I tell him, leaning across the bar and giving him a generous glimpse of cleavage.
“I will. When you do.”
Sighing, I stand up straight and level him with a look. “I’m a big girl, Caden. I don’t need a babysitter.”
His eyes trail down my chest before returning to my face. “I’m well aware you’re a big girl, Adrienne. I’ve had my hands—and my mouth—all over you.”
My cheeks heat up at the memories. “Well, then, you can head home. No reason for you to hang around, hovering.”
“I’m not hovering. I’m hanging out with a friend. There’s a difference.”
My eyes narrow a bit, but before I can say a word, we’re interrupted by Jasper’s arrival behind the bar. “All right, Adrienne, I’m sending you home for the night. Walker and Garreth are both aware of your fall, and both agreed you should go home and rest. We’ll pay you for your full shift, and we’ll need you to fill out an accident report when you come in Thursday, and if you start to feel any symptoms from your fall, you’re to go to urgent care immediately. Any treatment will fall under workman’s comp, so you don’t have to worry about paying for anything.”
My shoulders sag. “I really am okay, Jasper, but I appreciate the concern.”
His eyes soften. “Go on home. I got this.”
My eyebrows shoot for the heavens. “You’re working behind the bar?”
He nods once. “Not my first time, though I do prefer the kitchen. I can handle the last hour, no problem.”
With a resolved exhale, I turn and grab my bag from beneath the bar. “This really isn’t necessary,” I say, trying once more. It’s after nine, and the bar closes at ten, so it’s not like it would kill me to stay a little longer.
“It is. Go home and rest. Call Walker in the morning and let him know how you’re feeling,” Jasper states.
I pull up the employee timesheet program in the system and sign out. Just as I make my way to the end of the bar to head out, I hear, “Here. Take this.” Jasper’s holding the tip jar and pulls the contents out and hands it over. “I’ll leave an envelope with Numbers for the rest of what you’ve earned tonight.”
I want to argue with him, insisting he keep anything else earned tonight, since he’ll be the one serving them, but the look on his face has me zipping my lips. “Thank you.”
As I move through the bar toward the bar entrance, I feel a presence behind me. I don’t have to turn around to know Caden is there, following me out. Once we’re outside in the June night air, I finally stop and turn to face him. “You don’t have to follow me.”
“Of course I do.”
I sigh dramatically and roll my eyes, “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“Nope.”
“Fine, then let’s go,” I say, turning and walking to my car. Turning the ignition, I roll down the windows to allow the hot, stale air to exit, and back out of my parking spot. I can’t help but notice Caden isn’t standing there anymore, but he makes his presence known within a few seconds when his SUV pulls out behind me as I head for home.
I can’t ignore the way the beams from his headlights cause me to squint and my head to pound just a little more. I’m certain it’s just a headache, so the faster I get home to take some pain reliever, the better I’ll be.
Pulling into my parking lot, I stop in one of my assigned spaces, noting my tail parks in the spot directly beside me. He climbs out and is at my door within a few moments. I admit the gesture, the concern, is nice. When was the last time someone cared about my health or wanted to help if I was feeling discomfort?
When was the last time I let someone?
I move past him, ignoring the fact he’s there and make my way to my door. Once I have my key releasing the lock, I step inside, leaving enough space for Caden to follow. The moment the door is closed, I hear, “What do you need?”
Opening my mouth, I’m prepared to tell him “nothing” but that’s not what comes out. The worry reflecting in his eyes causes me to stop with the platitude answer and reply with honesty. “I could use some Tylenol.”
He nods, the corner of his mouth curling into a grin. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it? Where do you keep your pain reliever?”
“There’s some in the medicine cabinet in the half bath,” I reply, pointing to the doorway behind him.
“All right, how about you head upstairs and take a hot shower. I’ll make you some tea and get the medicine ready, and when you’re done, I’ll help you get settled so you can relax.”
My eyebrows draw up in question. “You know how to make tea?”
“Of course I do. I assume you have some tea bags, don’t you?”
I shrug. “Honestly, I don’t know,” I reply with a chuckle. “If I do, they’re in the first cabinet with the coffee grounds and spices.”
“All right, Adrienne, you head up and shower. I’ll see what I can do down here,” he replies, lightly clapping his hands together and getting to work.
With a quick little glance back at the man making himself at home in my kitchen, I head upstairs to do as he suggested. I’m anxious to get in the shower, hoping the hot water will do wonders to relieve the ache I feel in my body. The longer I’m up and moving, the more my body starts to protest.
Reaching my bedroom, I carefully strip off my clothes, dropping them on the floor to deal with later. I go to the bathroom and turn on the water. It takes almost a solid minute before the temperature turns hot enough, and while it’s heating, I pull my hair up in a high ponytail so it doesn’t get wet. Lord knows it’ll take forever to dry, and I don’t have the patience or energy to deal with that tonight. The moment the water is hot, I adjust the temperature setting and step inside.
The water is pure heaven.
It borders on too hot but does wonders on my sore muscles. I don’t know how long I stand here, just letting the water run over my body, but it’s absolutely blissful. Like better than sex and multiple orgasms, just don’t tell Caden I said that. He’d use his magical cock to prove me wrong, and I just don’t have the energy right now to give it a try.
When the water starts to turn cold, I shut off the valve and grab a towel. I quickly run it across my body, grateful my back doesn’t protest too much when I bend over to dry my legs. With my towel wrapped around my body, I flip off the light and fan and return to my bedroom.
Where I find Caden.
He’s watching me, but this time, it’s different. His gaze isn’t full of lust and desire. He’s not looking at me like he’s ready to eat me alive. He’s…concerned, and frankly, it throws me a little off-kilter. “How do you feel?”
“Like a million bucks,” I state with a smile, even though that’s not entirely accurate.
He snorts and reaches for a bottle of water sitting beside a steaming mug of tea on my nightstand. As he hands over the beverage, he holds out his other hand, which contains two small tablets. “Ibuprofen.”
I nod and reach for the pain reliever. I swallow the tablets down with a healthy drink of water and return the bottle to the nightstand. As I do, I brush past him, the man who’s still standing in very close proximity to where I am. I catch the scent of his cologne or woodsy soap or whatever bodywash he uses, and it sends tingles through my veins.
Then, just as quickly as his nearness is felt, his disappearance follows. I turn and watch as he moves to my dresser and starts pulling open drawers. He finds my pajamas, which consist of mostly shorts and tank tops, and starts digging. He’s careful about it, trying not to make a mess of the contents in the drawer, and eventually comes up with one of my large T-shirts. It’s oversized on purpose, roomy and comfortable when I need it, usually when I’m on my period. But instead of pairing it with shorts or sweatpants, he finds a basic pair of cotton panties.
“Here,” he says, holding up the shirt to help me put it on.
With my gaze locked on his, I drop the towel and raise my arms. He slides the shirt down, making sure my arms and neck are in the correct holes. His fingers brush against my bare skin, but it’s not sexual. It’s…comforting.
When the shirt falls into place, he holds up the pair of panties he found. “Want me to help you? I’m usually much better at removing them, but I could give this a shot,” he teases, the corner of his mouth curling up in a smirk.
“I think I can handle this part, cowboy,” I tell him, snatching the panties from his hand and shimmying them up my legs into place. “Thank you.”
“The internet says to avoid TV because of the flashing lights and whatnot, but you could try some soft music if you need background noise,” he says, suddenly looking a little uncomfortable.
My mouth falls open in surprise. Did he research medical issues associated with my fall?
As if reading my mind, he gives me a sheepish grin and confirms, “I might have looked up head injuries. I don’t think you have a concussion, but I’m not a doctor. Just in case, I think we should follow the concussion protocol.”
“Protocol?”
He nods. “I’ll wake you up every couple of hours. You don’t feel like vomiting, do you?”
I shake my head, more out of shock than in answer.
“Okay, that’s good. If you start to feel nauseous, we’re going to urgent care, okay?”
I continue to stare at the man before me. We’ve known each other a few months, mostly because we have mutual friends, but it’s only been a matter of days since we first slept together.
Is that accurate?
A quick check of the math confirms it. It’s literally been three days. Seventy-two hours. Less than, really. Yet, he’s showing me more care and concern than anyone has in a very long time. Well, that’s not true. My immediate family has been very concerned, but when was the last time a lover has done that?
Ever?
I thought someone did at one time, a lifetime ago, but that turned out to be a bunch of crap. Friends too. They were torn between the mess, pulled in multiple directions like some sort of human tug-of-war game. That’s when I needed a change. I knew my life would never be the same again, and a change of scenery was in order. Not to mention a new outlook on life. Sex was fun, and there were plenty of guys out there who were looking for no-strings sex.
Caden takes my television remote and finds one of the XM music stations. It’s a soft rock channel, and he makes sure the volume is turned down low. I climb into bed and reach for the tea, taking a small, tentative sip. The warm liquid sooths my soul, and before I know it the entire mug is empty.
Replacing it on the nightstand, I snuggle into my bed and curl onto my side. “Do you need anything?” Caden asks gently.
“No, I’m okay.”
He nods, making sure the bathroom light is off before returning to my bedroom. “Sweet dreams, Adrienne.”
I exhale, exhaustion suddenly gripping hold and refusing to let go. “Night, Caden.”
Listening to the sound of his retreating footfalls on the steps, I close my eyes. I can hear him moving about downstairs, and despite the fact I haven’t known him very long, I do trust Caden. I know he’s not doing anything malicious to my place, and there’s no denying the look of worry he’s carried in his eyes since the moment I fell at the bar. He’s here because he’s worried, and even though I should insist I’m fine and send him home, knowing he’s down there is a bit of a comfort.
I release a deep breath and feel myself completely relax for what feels like the first time in forever, the sounds of Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles lull me into a deep sleep.