Right?
“To answer your questions, I have been eating. And bathing.”
“Not the point,” I said.
“I figured it would ease your mind to know your tasks aren’t going unfulfilled.”
“And again, not the point,” I said.
“What is the point?”
“The point is I am your nurse. You’re paying me a great deal of money to stay here so I can help you with tasks like those. And you won’t let me. So here we are.”
“Looming a hospital over my head so I’ll come eat a dinner you laboriously prepared for me. Surrounded by flowers you’re ordering with your own money.”
I eyed him carefully as I took another bite of food.
“You’re not paying for them with my money. So the only other source of money you have is yours. Now why would a nurse do something like that?” Hayden asked.
“To get you to stop feeling sorry for yourself,” I said flatly.
“Have you ever been trapped in one of these things? Reduced to nothing but a soggy vegetable unable to shower without leaning against a wall for support.”
“Could be better. You could be showering with me,” I said.
His eyes flashed with something dark as I reached for my orange juice.
“And yes, I have been in a wheelchair,” I said. “But I didn’t see it as being trapped.”
“What happened?”
“Do you care?”
“What if I told you I did?”
“I wouldn’t believe you,” I said.
“Then give me the chance to prove you wrong.”
“You first,” I said plainly.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” he asked. “And to let you know, I might just take you up on that showering suggestion you offered earlier. After all, you are my nurse.”
My eyes connected back with his as I crossed my leg over my knee. I smirked and shook my head as I tried to suppress a giggle. Whatever got him out of that damn room was fine by me. He was joking around and opening up, which was exactly what I’d wanted.
But I couldn’t deny the heat that slid up my back at the idea of seeing him wet.
“Why were you in a wheelchair?” Hayden asked.
“Track and field. Back in high school. I was a pole vaulter.”
“Wow. Impressive.”
“I know. It’s fascinating how women can actually do things,” I said.
“Not what I meant, but I enjoy your sarcasm.”
“Do you now?”