“Hey, sorry about that. I was in the shower.” He continues to dry his hair as he walks away, leaving the doorway open for me.
I know this man bared his chest on a daily basis as a lifeguard—part of the job. But this peek-a-boo glimpse is so very tantalizing. I hold up the bag of food as I step in. “I brought take out.”
“That’s perfect, considering I haven’t made it to the grocery store yet. I’d planned to order a pizza.” He hangs the towel around his neck, which does a marginal job of hiding his bare chest.
And I’m standing here, staring like a smitten kitten, no doubt. I’ve treated plenty of well-built athletes and thought nothing of it. But Nick’s somehow different for me. The more I get to know him, the more I appreciate the man inside that finely tuned bod. But the sight of him still takes my breath away. Just when I make peace with the idea of us being just friends, he goes and does something like answer the door without his shirt on.
My voice finally engages. “Then I’m glad I stopped at the Turtle Tide. I got an extra order of the hushpuppies for you.”
His smile spreads and warms me from the inside out. “You remembered.”
Wow. I really love making him smile like that. “How could I forget after the way you kept talking about them?”
He points toward the kitchen. “Make yourself at home. I’ll go put a shirt on.”
I study him from behind as he walks away. His physique is undeniably impressive, with muscles rippling beneath sun-kissed skin and a toned body that exudes strength and confidence. But what I’ve noticed more lately is how he moves with grace and purpose, as if he’s constantly on alert. Maybe that’s the lifeguard in him.
And the more time we spend together, the more I’ve observed a gentleness in his eyes when he looks at me and a warmth in his smile that draws me closer to him.
I guess I could not stop in as often. Bandit’s recovery is going well, and Nick’s a pro at handling him. But then, I’d only see Bandit when Nick brings him in for therapy. Another option would be to take Bandit home—yeah, I may have told Nick a little fib there—and bring him to work with me during the day. But with my increasing patient load, I don’t think that would be feasible until Bandit’s doing better. Besides, I enjoy hanging out with them in the evenings when I’m not tied up with a house visit.
I busy myself with unloading the bag and pulling out plates from his cabinet. I know where everything in his kitchen lives now, too. Another sign that I’ve gotten sucked in by this comfortable arrangement we’ve managed.
“Did you remember the dipping sauce?”
I’m so engrossed in the debate going on in my head that his question startles me. The plastic box I’m holding goes flying, sending fried dough balls all over the counter, but the little sauce container makes a splat on his kitchen floor.
“I’m sorry.” I scramble to corral the hushpuppies.
Nick walks over and stills my hands with his. “Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll take care of dinner.”
His clean showered scent floods my senses. Can’t I just stand near him a while longer and inhale his spicy, soapy smell? I suppose I’d better do something, or else he’ll think I’m daft.
I point to the orange splat on his floor. “I spilled your sauce.”
He follows my gaze with the most adorable pout, then rustles his hand into the bag holding the rest of the food. His expression resembles that of a kid at Christmas as he holds out another one. “Dinner is saved!”
“Thank goodness. I really didn’t want to drive back to the restaurant.”
He studies me for a moment. “Would you actually have done that?”
“Would you eat the hushpuppies without the sauce?”
He purses his lips and shakes his head. “Probably not.”
“Then there’s your answer.” I give him a coy smile.
One side of his mouth slides up, which points to the twinkle in his eyes. “I think I’m impressed.”
I spot a rogue hushpuppy on the floor and bend over to pick it up. “I know somebody else who will love this.”
Bandit’s entire body wiggles with excitement as I walk closer. I break off a piece and hold it out to him. He sniffs once beforeinhaling the chunk. “There you go, buddy. I knew you’d like that.”
Nick sets two plates filled with fried shrimp, french fries, coleslaw, and more of those hushpuppies on the coffee table. “I deducted that one from your share.”
I kind of snort and giggle at once. “Don’t I get a say since I’m the one who so thoughtfully brought them for you to begin with?”
“You just said it yourself. They’re for me.” He sits with the smuggest smile I have ever seen.
