CHAPTER 51
Evander
I brush my teeth and look at myself in the mirror. I look like a wild man.
With the plastic liner taped over my already waterproof dressing, I take the fastest shower in the history of the world. At least it removes the top layer of grime, since I’m not going anywhere smelling like a bear fresh out of hibernation, even if I look like one.
Especially to see Phoebe. I worry she may have forgotten that I always practice impeccable hygiene.
That’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear myself utter. Even in the privacy of my own brain.
I’m living in interesting times.
The nurse who was just in here—Ginny is her name—said she’s leaving a hospital gown and fuzzy socks for me on the bedside table. She also casually mentioned Phoebe’s hospital room number.
I get the feeling she wanted me to know.
I finish showering, dry off, and cover myself with the towel as I make a mad dash to the hospital gown. It’s right where Ginny said it would be, and when I grab it, a condom falls out from the folded cotton.
“What the…?”
I pick it up and stare at the foil packet in my hand, laughing. This is interesting. I never once found a condom stashed in my hospital gown this past spring, when I was here for my leg surgery.
Maybe this is a new form of hospitality provided by the staff at Sweetbriar Regional Medical Center. Like a chocolate on the pillow.
I toss it to the bed, lash myself in the flimsy gown, and run out the door. The hall is clear, so I make a break for it.
I slip into Phoebe’s door and close it behind me. The room’s empty. Then I hear the shower running and feel a smile break out on my face.
As I crack open the bathroom door, I hope to hell I don’t have the wrong room.
Luckily, I can see her moving behind the nearly transparent shower curtain. I squeeze in and close and lock the door behind me. I don’t want to startle her. But I want to see her. I can’t wait another second.
“Phoebe.”
She yelps in surprise, throws open the curtain, and scowls at me. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.
“What are you doing?”
“I missed you. I haven’t stared at your boobs for a whole 24 hours.”
I watch her shoulders drop and a little smile appears on her lips. “Hop in, Van.”
Only Phoebe. Even as a joke. Anyone else would already be severely wounded.
I’ve broken all my rules for her. I’ve let my guard drop.
I’m the SEAL who specialized in close-quarter combat and methods of entry. Yet all this girl had to do was take me by the hand and tell me to stand back while she kicked down every wall I’ve ever managed to build around myself.
And here I am, standing in a hospital gown with a second-degree burn and my ass hanging out, and I’ve never been happier.
I untie the strings and get under the water with her, immediately clasping her to the front of my body and holding her tight. Her cheek presses against my chest.
Letting my eyes close, I breathe her in. Her skin is slick and warm, and I sense the tension in my muscles unwind because she’s back in my arms.
Now I can do it. I can finally be sure that Phoebe is alive and well.
“What’cha been up to, Phoebs?”
She snorts with laughter. “I was about to wash my hair. Don’t get your burn wet.”
“I’m a very compliant patient.”
She snorts again because she knows better. “Hey, Evander, I could be wrong, but I think what we’re doing is a HIPAA violation.”
I laugh out loud. “Some kind of violation, I hope.”
“About that.” She lifts her cheek and looks up at me. “I had to get a new birth control prescription. The doctor told me not to have unprotected sex for a week, which will be enough time for my cycle to reset.”
“That explains a lot.”
“Huh?” Her brows crinkle.
“The birth control fairy left a condom on the nightstand in my room.”
“Ginny!” She shakes her head. “Lord love a duck! You know, I’ve always tried to believe people mean well and they just want to be helpful.”
“How’s that working out for you?”
She shakes her head. “But this is a small town, and everyone can be very up-in-your-business.”
“This is true.”
I lean down to kiss her as the hot water streaks down our bodies. Her arms reach around my back and her mouth opens to me.
But then she stops. And separates from me. Water is running between us now. I see it streaming off her absolutely stunning body, supple and strong, creamy-peach skin with a few faint freckles scattered on her chest.
I don’t think I’ve noticed those before now. I say a prayer of thanks to the good lighting gods because what I’m looking at…
“I worry I won’t hold your interest now that we’re home.”
My eyes race from her spectacular tits to her face. “What?”
She nibbles on her bottom lip and then looks at me with doubt shadowing her eyes. “I worry that what you liked about me out there won’t seem so special here.”
“Baby, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Have you suddenly become a different person now that we’re home?”
“Of course not.”
“Okay, then have I?”
She shrugs. “You still seem to enjoy staring at my boobs.”
“Exactly.” I give her a tender kiss. “Phoebe, my sweet, funny girlfriend, please listen to what I’m about to say, okay?”
She nods.
“You were right. We’ve done everything completely back asswards. And I’m not just talking about skipping the dating and jumping right into the hot sex.”
“It was pretty hot.”
“It sure as fuck was.”
I run my hand down her wet hair. In my heart, I know that nothing will ever lessen this woman’s beauty—inside and out—in my eyes.
“What I’m talking about is how we’ve already gone through hell together. I’ve seen who you are in the absolute worst of circumstances, and you’ve seen me—grumpy, blunt, stubborn, persnickety, temperamental, control-freak me.”
“You occasionally enjoy a cigar. You forgot that.”
“True.” I can see she’s been crying. She’s been through so much, and I don’t know if it’s all right for me to think this, but who cares? I’m so fucking proud of her.
“What were you saying, Evander?”
“Right. I was saying that usually, you try to get to know someone when you’re dressed in a suit and your hair’s trimmed and you’ve had a manicure and you choose a nice place for dinner and then maybe the next weekend you go to a ballgame or a concert or enjoy a stay at the beach and then you have to remind yourself to slow your roll because you don’t really know the first thing about them… .”
“Sounds like you’ve done this a few times.”
“…because you’ve only seen them under the best of circumstances. But do you know what I saw in you these last few days, Phoebe?”
She shakes her head.
“I saw courage and determination, sweetheart. I saw loyalty, patience, and humor. You made me laugh my ass off in the middle of a deadly blizzard! Think about that for a minute. I’ve never laughed like that in my life.”
She gives me a quick nod. Her lips tremble.
“And here’s the part that gets me—I’d already decided I’d never find a woman like that, anywhere on earth, let alone one who’s wrapped up in a perfect, beautiful, freckle-faced, ball-busting package of carnal delights who also happens to be my neighbor.”
She laughs. “So you’re saying that you like my freckles, Evander?”
I have to pause a moment because something suddenly squeezes my throat and stings the back of my eyes.
After a big breath, I answer her. “I love your freckles. I love everything about you. I love you, Phoebe Travis. And that will never change.”
She raises her soft hand to my face. My eyes close at the tenderness of her touch. “I love you, Evander. I always have and always will. And it’s a very good thing we’re clear on that. Do you know why?”
I nod as I open my eyes.
I do know.
Because I’ve been thinking the same thing.