Chapter 6
A soaked Nicky laughed, a husky sound full of mirth, not anger. “Well, that will teach me to wake a sleeping soldier.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was you and just reacted.”
“Not your fault. I noticed you sneaking out so thought I’d check on you since you’d been gone a while. When I found you asleep in the tub, I worried you might drown.”
Worried? About me? The very idea almost made me snort. “I’m fine. Leg was acting up so I came out to give it a hot soak.”
“Does it hurt often?” she asked, making no move to get out of the tub despite being fully dressed. And wet. So very wet, and not in a good way.
“Every day.”
“That must be difficult.”
I rolled my shoulders. “Some days are tougher than others.”
“I should get back inside in case Zaza wakes,” she stated, struggling to exit the tub while bogged down with soggy clothes.
“Here, let me give you a hand.” I put my hands on her waist. A thick layer of fabric insulated me from her skin and yet I found myself acutely aware of her.
Quickly and easily, I hoisted her over the side and frowned as she immediately shivered.
“You need to get changed before you end up sick,” I stated, heaving myself from the tub.
I’d not thought much about the fact I only wore shorts but she noticed.
Her gaze locked onto my chest—which I kept toned with daily pushups—and my body tightened in a place that would be noticeable.
I snatched my robe and threw it on, tying the sash before grabbing my towel and wrapping it around her head and upper shoulders.
“Let’s get you inside.” I shoved my feet into my footwear as she took a few steps in the thick snow—which clung to her water-laden boots—and almost pitched headfirst into the snow.
Yeah, that wouldn’t do.
“Don’t scream,” I warned.
“Wh—” The word cut off mid*breath as I scooped her into my arms and carried her in the direction of the chalet door.
“I can walk,” she stated while trembling in my arms—from the cold obviously, not because she was overcome with lust in response to my broken body.
“I know you can, but the last thing you need is to trip and land in some snow while soaked. You’re cold enough as is.”
“Are you always this nurturing?”
I snorted. “Hardly.”
“Yet you keep taking care of me.”
“Wouldn’t have to if you didn’t get into constant trouble.” I regretted saying it the moment it slipped past my lips.
Her head ducked. “He always said I was useless.”
Now I felt even more like a heel. “Hardly useless. That dinner was pretty damned epic.”
“Cooking is easy.”
“Not for me and many others. Maybe that’s what you should apply to do. You know, become a chef or something in a restaurant.”
“I don’t have formal training.”
“Not all places require it. Whip something up in your interview and wow them.”
“You’re too kind. I’m only an okay cook.”
“That stew was the best I ever ate. And that bread…” I groaned. “I am hoping you have enough ingredients to make another tomorrow.”
Her laughter warmed me inside and in places she thankfully couldn’t see. “I can do that. And since you’re so appreciative, maybe some torta tenerina.”
“Can’t say I know what that is, but if you’re making it, I’m betting it’s going to be scrumptious.”
“Torta tenerina is a fudgy chocolate cake, similar I think to what you’d call a brownie. I think you’ll like it.”
A chuckle escaped me. “I’m sure I will. That is, if Percy doesn’t beat me to it.”
“Your lizard is quite smart and tame,” she commented as I reached the door.
“Yeah. I think Percy belonged to someone before finding me, but no one I spoke to in town seemed to know anything.”
“I wonder what breed Percy is. I’ve never seen a lizard like that before. Little salamanders yes, but one that size…”
“Definitely not native to the area,” I agreed.
We entered the warm chalet, and I set her—with reluctance—on her feet.
“Thank you,” she murmured, her cheeks rosy from the cold.
“Get out of those clothes and warm up,” I ordered and was proud that I managed to keep my mind from picturing her stripped.
“Yes, sir,” she quipped as she bent to unlace her boots and failed.
The icy wet knots wouldn’t cooperate.
“Let me.” I knelt in front of her and worked the laces.
“Helping me again,” she sighed.
“Only because you’re making more bread.”
“You’re a rare type of man, Bruce.”
“Much better than me out there.”
“Not that I’ve met,” was her soft reply.
I caught the hint. “The guy who hit you is the rarity,” I growled.
“I wouldn’t be so sure. My husband and his friends all held the firm belief that a woman should know her place.”
“Let me guess, that place is barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, walking a few paces behind, keeping quiet unless spoken to.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you hook up with a fucker like that?”
“Because I didn’t know any better at the time.”
A glance upward showed her looking away from me. “Shitty childhood?” A common reason some people accepted abuse.
“Not really. I mean, I grew up without a father. He left before I was born but my mother was great. We were poor but happy until she died. I was a teen when I went to live with my Nonna.”
“The one who taught you how to cook.”
“Yes. She cared for me but was very strict. I left soon as I graduated school and got accepted into a university.”
“Then dropped out when you got pregnant.”
“What? No. Zaza came much later. I ceased my studies because of Joseph.”
So that was the fucker’s name. “Joseph being the guy you’re hiding from.”
She bit her lip and nodded.
I glanced back at her boot. The lace was undone enough I could slide her foot free. “Has he always hit you?”
“No. Not at first, at least. When we initially met, he was utterly charming. He swept me off my feet. Showered me with attention. And I was so desperate for love, I soaked it all up. We had a whirlwind courtship and were married within six weeks.”
I whistled. “Damn, he moved fast.”
“At the time, only nineteen and with little experience of life, I thought it romantic. In the beginning, he was a good husband. Moody, yes, with certain firm ideas on what role his wife should play, but I didn’t mind.”
“What happened to change that?” I asked as I slid the second boot off.
“His father.” A flat reply.
I would have liked to ask more, but with her feet free of the boots her shivering couldn’t be ignored.
“Go get changed.”
Her head ducked. “I can’t.”
“You have to. You’re shaking like a leaf in those wet clothes.”
“It’s my only outfit. When I ran, I had only minutes to grab some items.”
“And you prioritized the kid.” Of course she did. “I’ll loan you some clothes. It will be too big, but we can hang your stuff by the stove to dry. I’ll grab it while you dry yourself.”
“Okay.” She entered the bathroom and closed the door softly, prompting me to glance at the mattress by the woodstove. I almost smiled at the sight of Zaza lying on her side, arm looped around Percy.
I went upstairs, ignoring the twinge in my leg. I grabbed a few things, then took a second to strip off the robe and wet shorts to toss on trackpants and a shirt.
I headed back down the stairs and gave a light tap on the bathroom door. “You okay in there?”
“Yes. I managed a tepid shower which helped a bit,” she stated. The tank would have begun cooling soon as we lost power.
“I’ve got the clothes.”
The door cracked open. “Thank you.” She snatched the fabric and drew it into the bathroom.
While she changed, I hit the kitchen and put on the kettle, leaving the whistle part up so it wouldn’t wake the sleeping kid and lizard.
It had begun to steam by the time Nicky emerged from the bedroom, wearing my oversized t-shirt that hit her almost to the knee and socks that almost met the hem.
She looked lost in the voluminous fabric and sexy as fuck.
I turned away and pulled the moka pot from the burner. “Coffee?”
“Ooh, yes.”
I knew she meant the drink, but damn, there was a sound I wouldn’t mind hearing for another reason.
The dark brew steamed as I poured it in a mug. I turned and handed it to Nicky with a warning. “Careful you don’t burn yourself.”
“More likely I’ll melt. I swear my insides are frozen solid,” she grumbled as she took a sip and closed her eyes with a sigh. “That’s nice.”
“Sorry, I don’t have anything stronger to really warm your belly.”
“That’s okay. I don’t drink.”
“I’ve been trying not to.” I admitted my weakness by accident. What was it about her that had me revealing private parts of myself?
She eyed me over the rim of her cup. “Does alcohol help with the pain of your injury?”
“No. I didn’t start actually drinking too much until my wife left me for my therapist.”
Nicky blinked. “That must have been a shock.”
“Just a little. They took my dog too.” That emerged on a much more bitter note.
“Now, that’s just cruel,” she huffed. “Bad enough she betrayed you, she didn’t have to leave you with nothing.”
Her vehement reply took me by surprise. “I got the house.”
“Would you have traded it for your dog?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I rest my case.”
“You going to try and get some assets when you divorce?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I won’t be divorcing.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going back?” I exclaimed.
“No. However, I can’t afford a lawyer.”
“Pretty sure you can get your husband to pay for it.”
“Which leads me to the second reason, which is, I have to stay far away from Joseph. He can’t ever know where I am.”
“You’re worried he’ll hurt you.”
“More like he’ll kill me.” She said it matter-of-factly and I didn’t doubt her claim. The black eye kind of confirmed what kind of asshole she was married to.
“Does he know where you’ve gone?”
She shook her head. “No one ever suspected I’d dare to leave. I told you I didn’t plan. Just acted. Grabbed some cash from his office and then took a bus to the train station. Zaza and I boarded the first train.”
“You rented a car, though, after that trip. That requires a credit card,” I pointed out.
“I bought it—cash—to avoid leaving a trail.”
That raised my brow. “How much money did you take?”
“Enough.” She lifted her chin. “I know stealing is wrong, but I figured I was owed something. While what I took might seem a lot to most folks, to someone like Joseph, it was a mere pittance.”
“Not saying you didn’t deserve it, just surprised there was that much lying around.”
Before she could answer, a rustle drew my attention and I saw Percy stumbling towards me.
“Hungry again?” I asked.
Percy didn’t point to its belly, but to my surprise reached its arms in my direction.
“That’s new. I wonder what Percy wants?”
“I think your lizard wants to be held.”
Hunh. Okay then. I snared and snuggled the reptile against me and frowned at the cold radiating from Percy’s flesh. Odd, seeing as how the room remained toasty warm.
“Percy is very attached to you,” Nicky remarked.
“Yeah. Weird because we only just met yesterday.” And I wasn’t the kind of guy people went to for comfort.
“I should get to bed. Zaza is an early riser.” Nicky grimaced.
“See you in the morning,” I said as I headed back upstairs.
Alone. Well not quite. It was me and my lizard.
I’ll admit, I’d have preferred to snuggle the woman downstairs.
A foolish desire that would never come to pass.
I’d sworn off relationships. I wasn’t about to saddle a woman with a broken excuse for a man.
To my surprise, despite the chilly lizard spooned against my chest, I didn’t have a nightmare.
I did, however, wake biting back a scream.