“Thank you kindly, ma’am.”
Sometimes he had a slight accent. She loved it mingled with his lyrical, deep voice.
He inhaled deeply and smiled. “Whatever you used for my blindfold is soft and smells nice. It smells like springtime. Like you.”
“It’s my shirt,” she admitted. They’d been close enough he’d picked up her scent and thought she smelled like springtime? Her stomach gave a happy hop.
“I like it. Very smart plan to use your shirt. Appreciate ya.” His hand was still hanging in the air, waiting for her to clasp it with her own.
She’d already asked a lot of him, doing hydrotherapy blindfolded. The least she could do was lead him around. She hurried to slide out of her shorts and dropped them on the chair.
Wrapping her hand around his, she squeezed his hand softly. “Thank you,” she murmured, meaning it deeply but not able to express how deeply. Not yet.
“You’re welcome.”
He threaded their fingers together. Their clasped hands felt comfortable and thrilling at the same time. She stepped in closer, her free arm brushing his side and setting off heat and a longing for a man’s touch that she thought she’d buried. Chase’s touch felt unique and exhilarating.
“We start with the steam bath?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am. It’ll be the door that is glass and looks steamed over.”
“All right.” She led him in that direction.
Glancing down as she swung open the door and the hot, steamy air rushed out, she looked at the ugly scars on her chest and was even more grateful Chase couldn’t see right now. He might be gaping at the scars on her chest or notice how pronounced her limp was becoming.
Yet if Chase was half as impressive and kind as he appeared right now … he might not care about either.
Chapter
Four
Chase had never experiencedhydrotherapy like this. Not being able to see should’ve been annoying, but if it made Lizzy more comfortable, it didn’t bother him. His other senses were heightened and every time she took his hand to lead him to a new spot or brushed against him with her soft but firm curves, his heart threatened to pound out of his chest.
He’d never felt suave or flirtatious around women, but with Lizzy he was comfortable, flirtatious, and confident. There was also a sense of protectiveness that went beyond the instinctive feeling of wanting to keep her physically safe. He wanted to protect and help her emotionally as well. He knew she’d taken a knife to the chest from a deranged father a month ago. She had obvious emotional scarring from that and from whatever made her limp slightly. He wanted to strengthen her and would go to battle if anyone dared make a snide comment or look strangely at her.
They sat in the steam room until sweat poured down his face, chest, and back. Even his arms and legs were covered with moisture. They talked about her children’s center as they sat there sweating. She explained that her research project forher master’s in social work had been providing respite care for children and she’d been awarded a grant to do just that upon graduation. Her house had started as a small rental space in an older office building. Now she had a large, renovated home for the children with an apartment upstairs for her and a fenced yard for the children to play in.
Impressive.
“It’s been fifteen minutes according to my Apple watch,” she announced. “And I can’t take the heat anymore!”
Her voice pitched up with that unique excitement that Chase was beginning to see was all Lizzy. Despite being injured emotionally and physically, she had a zest for life and a flair that he appreciated. It reminded him of his Army buddies who joked no matter how bleak the battle zone.
Chase chuckled and lifted his hand to her. “Lead me to the cold plunge, ma’am.”
“Those words still sound awful. I shiver just thinking about it.”
“I promise it’ll feel great after this. Are you not sweating buckets?”
“I am. Thank heavens you can’t see me.”
“Sorry you have to seeme,” he teased.
“That is actually not a burden, my friend. I’m obsessed with your chest muscles.”
Chase laughed and puffed out his chest.
“Oh my! You are a work of art.” She also laughed. “Don’t let it go to your head, though. I’m naturally effusive.”
