“Oh!” she exclaimed, pushing her chair back and standing up. “That reminds me—I have something for you!”
He watched with interest as she retrieved her tote bag from the kitchen and carried it out to the patio. Reaching inside, she drew out a box and put it on the table in front of him.
“It’s a waterproof protector for your cast,” she said, smiling. “This way, you won’t have to use a trash bag with duct tape.”
She leaned over his shoulder as he read the instructions on the back, and Jamie reacted instantly. She smelled incredible. Her hair fell forward and brushed against the side of his face and neck. He needed only to turn his head to press his mouth against her cheek. Frowning, he forced himself to focus on the box.
“See?” she said, pointing to a picture diagram. “This bag will fit over your cast and form an airtight vacuum seal to keep water out. And there’s no tape involved, so it won’t be like ripping off a Band-Aid every time you use it.”
“Can I swim with it?” he asked.
Opening the box, he pulled out the blue, rubbery cover and examined it, while Rachel reviewed the instructions.
“This says you can swim with it,” she said doubtfully. “But I’m not sure I’d want to take the chance.”
He tipped his head back and grinned up at her. “Then why did you buy it? It’s either going to work, or it’s not, whether I’m in the shower or the pool.”
Rachel stood up, gathering the rest of the breakfast dishes from the table. “Okay. I’ll just bring these into the house and go change into a swimsuit, and then I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time,” Jamie said as she retreated indoors. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter Seven
Rachel returned thirty minutes later to find Jamie had changed into a pair of swim trunks, patterned in varying shades of blue that reminded her of rippling water. He had removed his shirt, and was relaxing under the umbrella in one of the chaises. For a moment, Rachel just stood in the doorway to the patio and stared at him.
He had been shirtless that first day she’d returned home, when she’d found herself literally speechless at the sight of him. Even relaxed as he was now, the sheer physicality of him was impressive. He had one arm bent beneath his head, and Rachel swallowed hard at the sight of his bicep. Despite the long weeks he’d spent in a hospital, his skin was a warm, golden color and the muscles in his chest and abs were more than evident. She didn’t doubt even with his injury, he’d found a way to work out and stay in shape. She crossed the patio to the empty chaise and set her tote bag on the ground between their chairs.
Jamie cracked one eye open and peered at her, and that sliver of bright blue was enough to cause Rachel to blush all over.
“You have too many clothes on,” he observed. His voice was gravelly with sleep.
Rachel kicked off her sandals and perched on the edge of the recliner, but chose to keep her white linen cover-up on. Although it was lightweight and sheer, it came down to her knees and had long, billowy sleeves. There was no need to keep wearing it, since she was in the shade, but no way was she going to remove her only protection from Jamie’s sharp gaze.
She’d spent too much time debating over whether to wear the one-piece Speedo, or the bikini. She’d finally decided the Speedo might make her seem less confident about her body, so had reluctantly opted for the bikini. She kept herself in good shape, but the small signs of her age were there, for those who cared to look closely. And she had a suspicion Jamie missed nothing.
He pushed himself higher on his chaise, and adjusted the backrest so he was no longer reclining. Reaching down, he retrieved the latex cast protector from where it lay on the ground between them, and held it out to Rachel.
“Okay, let’s check this thing out,” he said. “I can usually get a trash bag over my foot, because it’s loose, but I think I’m going to need your help getting this on.”
Rachel took the protector from his hands, and told herself it did not resemble an enormous, blue condom. Only, it sort of did. Standing up, she moved to the foot of his chaise and looked doubtfully at his leg.
“Are you sure?”
“Definitely.” He raised his leg off the recliner and waggled his toes at her. “See? No worries.”
“Okay.” Taking the protector in her hands, she worked it over the bottom portion over his foot. Jamie tried to help by holding his leg up and away from the chair. Rachel pulled the latex over his knee, and then realized she was quickly running out of cast. Any further, and her fingers would encounter the warm, golden skin of his thigh.