“Why don’t you rest, love?” Archer asked her. He walked to the sink along one wall and wet a cloth then he came back and gently washed her face.
Ooh, that felt really nice. She hadn’t been able to shower. The nurse had offered to help her shower, but she felt a bit weird about that.
Issy would be here soon. He’d help her.
God, she missed him.
She wrapped her arms awkwardly around Bumbly. She felt her snuggly being pressed to her face.
“I’m just going to say goodbye to Kent then I’ll be back, okay?”
Anxiety filled her at the idea of being alone but she nodded. “Okay.”
Archer walked out of the room behind his brother’s boss. Kent turned to him as he shut the door.
Kent frowned in concern. “She’s okay?”
Archer shook his head. “It’s going to take her a while to recover.”
Kent nodded. “The fire marshal is looking into the fire. But might take a while until they figure it out. You’ll call me if you need anything.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Thank you for everything. I’m sure I’ll see you again sometime.” When he visited Caley and Issy. God, how was he going to do that?
“Oh, I’m sure of that. You know, I could use someone with your skills working for me.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You need a psychiatrist?”
“For everyone on the ranch. Have you ever thought of targeting your services to people in the lifestyle? A lot need some help, yet don’t want to go to a vanilla therapist. So to speak.”
It had been something he’d toyed with.
“Anyway, give it a thought. The offer is there.”
“I can’t move to Sanctuary.”
“Why?”
“Well…it’s in the middle of nowhere. I prefer the city.”
Kent rubbed his chin with his finger. “Ahh, that’s the excuse you’re going with.”
“It’s not an excuse.”
“No? Is that really the reason? Or is it because you can’t be around Caley without letting your feelings for her show?”
“Do you blame me? How torturous do you think it would be to see them every day? To always want what I can’t have?”
“And I’m telling you maybe you can have it. If you’re brave enough to ask.”
“It wouldn’t work. Even if Issy and Caley agreed to that, I’m not…I can’t give her what she needs.”
“What? A man that loves and adores her? That would do anything for her?”
“I’m not a Daddy Dom,” he hissed.
Kent grinned. “You’re not? Huh, that’s not what I’ve seen.”