I still had fears, but Bailey’s grateful smile made them fade into the distance, where I hoped they would stay.
Chapter 22 - Bailey
It was late when they finally got me stitched up at the hospital, and Will arranged for the kids to spend the night at Eli’s. When we got into his apartment, I started to go to my own room, exhausted beyond belief from the long, strange day. Despite it being the worst one of my life, I was filled with relief that Will forgave me for not telling him about Rick right away. It seemed I still had a job and a place to live, and the way he’d stayed close to me while we waited for my turn to see a doctor, I was pretty sure he wasn’t mad at me at all. Quite the opposite.
He tugged gently on my arm and redirected me toward his suite. “Curl up anywhere,” he said, heading into the bathroom.
I fell into an armchair near the window. A second later, I heard the water rushing and was too comfy in the big, squishy armchair with a view out over the nighttime city skyline to want to question him. I let my vision go blurry as I looked out at the lights on the other high rises surrounding us, and barely noticed him hustle past me, then back into the bathroom a few minutes later.
“Come on in,” he called, sticking his head out. His hair was pushed off his brow and some suds clung to the edge of his t-shirt. He looked incredibly proud of himself.
I hoisted myself out of the chair to find he’d filled up his huge bathtub with bubbles he’d swiped from the kids’ bathroom. I recognized the apple scent and that and the steamy warmth filled me with a sense of comfort. I really felt like I was home. Will had set up his laptop on a folding table, and I saw that an episode of Mississippi Moguls was queued up on the screen.
“Relax, get loose. Take as long as you’d like. I’ll be right outside if you need anything.”
I wanted to hug him for the thoughtful gesture, but could only stare at him in wonder at his kindness. “I could have taken a bath in my own tub,” I said.
“Sure, but you shouldn’t be alone with your head injury,” he told me.
I knew the doctor had released me without any such precautions, but the tub looked so inviting that I started to pull my top off, eager to get out of the blood-streaked thing and never see it again. Will hurried out of the room, leaving the door cracked a little.
I eased into the mountain of suds and let out a long sigh as the hot water enveloped me. I dunked completely under to soak my hair, then rested against the rounded edge, up to my chin in sweet-smelling bubbles. I wasn’t sure how I went from possibly being murdered to this level of pampering and the next thing I knew I was sobbing like a ninny, the tears gushing out of my eyes and leaving little holes in the thick layer of bubbles. This time it wasn’t hopeless crying, but instead felt cathartic, like the last bits of Rick’s evil were leaving me. It was over. I was finally, truly free of him. The storm of tears only lasted a few minutes and, when it was done, I dunked my head again to rinse them away. I felt relaxed and refreshed at the same time.
There was a soft knock on the door. “Just me,” Will said needlessly, entering with his eyes front and center and holding a tray. He set it down on the edge of the tub. “Whiskey and herbal tea,” he said, waving his hand over the crystal decanter and small, ceramic teapot. “I wasn’t sure which you’d need more.”
I smiled at the gesture. Next to the drinks was a bowl of raspberries and blueberries and a thick slice of lemon cake. “Thank you,” I said, once again surprised by how sweet he was.
It filled me with a warmth that had nothing to do with the hot water in the tub. There was no way he was doing this just because I was his kids’ nanny. At least, I hoped not. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I was in an especially hopeful mood.
“Are you hungry for real food?” he asked, still facing resolutely away from me. “I can make you a ham sandwich, or there’s leftover lasagna I could heat up.”
“This is fine,” I said, smiling up at him even though he wouldn’t look at me to know it. “It’s perfect.”
“Let me know if you need anything else.” He leaned over to start the video and then backed out of the room again.
“No, stay,” I said. “It’s more fun when we nitpick everyone together. And look, Alison’s bringing home her potbelly piglet in this one.” When he hesitated, I made a splash with my toe in his direction. “I’m up to my chin in bubbles. It’s perfectly okay.”
He finally glanced down at me and Alison’s pig made a shrill sound from the laptop. “I guess I want to see what happens with that.” He pulled in his desk chair from the bedroom and settled in, crossing his long legs out in front of him and pouring himself a glass of whiskey. “Dell isn’t going to like it one bit if it keeps up that racket.”
“Another animal hater,” I said, shaking my head in mock dismay.
I reached for the teapot and he hurried to pour me a cup. Then he held out the slice of cake for me to take a bite. For an animal hater, he sure was good with humans.
He shook his head. “I don’t hate them,” he said. “They’re just massive pains in the ass, so I don’t ever want them around.”
That cracked me up and tiny lemon cake crumbs sprayed over my bubble blanket. I swished them away, leaving an open spot over my stomach. His eyes darkened at the sight of my bare skin and he jerked them back to the screen. I pulled more suds around myself, not wanting him to leave. Besides being fun and making me laugh, his big, strong presence was a comfort. I knew I was safe now, but I was still pretty shaken and found I liked it better when he was around.
“Your little dog isn’t so bad,” he said seriously. “I really don’t want you to think I hate him.”
“I know you don’t,” I assured him. “No one as sweet as you could ever hate another living thing.” I wished I could reach for his hand but knew if I dislodged more bubbles, he might get spooked and flee.
His cheeks reddened at my compliment, and he shrugged it off. He frowned and his eyes met mine, holding them in their steady gaze. “I’m not being sweet, Bailey. I—” he stopped abruptly when a loud fight broke out on the screen.
Normally, I loved when my favorite reality stars brought the drama, but I was dying to know what he was about to say. When the hubbub onscreen wound down, the moment was over. We went back to easy chitchat, with him feeding me the berries and holding my teacup to my lips like I was an invalid. I didn’t hate it, and in fact, I felt so utterly safe and cared for by him, I never wanted to leave the tub.
My shriveled toes and fingers felt otherwise, though, and the water was beginning to get uncomfortably cool. Will caught me inspecting the pale prunes my fingertips had become and stood up to leave. I felt a brief moment of panic, almost as strong as the moment I knew I couldn’t break out of Rick’s grasp. I didn’t want Will out of my sight.
“Don’t go,” I said, sounding more desperate than I meant. I forced a weak smile. “Just close your eyes and hand me a robe.”