Page 77 of Colton On Guard

Finally, with Genna buckled carefully into the passenger side, Parker headed home. Since he didn’t have a wheelchair, he stopped at a drugstore on the way and purchased an inexpensive portable one. After he’d loaded it into the rear of his truck and got back in, Genna shook her head.

“I plan on using crutches,” she said. “I have some in the garage at my parents’ house. I think you can return the chair. I don’t need it.”

“Crutches will be impossible to handle with a broken arm,” he pointed out. “You can’t hold on.”

She stared at him for a few seconds. “I didn’t even think about that. I guess I don’t have a choice but to use the chair.”

Since he was driving, he couldn’t give in to impulse and kiss her. He promised himself he’d make up for that once they got home.

After pulling up in front of the house, he asked Genna to wait in the truck while he got her chair. Though she nodded, her grimace told him she was unhappy with the situation. Opening her door, he bowed low.

“Your throne awaits, my lady,” he said in his best British accent.

Though she shook her head, her frown turned into a smile. When he gently lifted her out of the truck and into the wheelchair, she clung to him a millisecond too long. Which he didn’t mind at all.

Then he pushed her through the garage and into the house.

Once inside, both Revis and JB greeted her, tails wagging. She spent time with them both, crooning endearments. JB appeared beside herself and, after Genna invited her, the tiny dog jumped into her lap and snuggled into Genna. “She thoughtI was going to die,” Genna said, her eyes shiny. “She didn’t leave my side.”

“She’s a good girl,” Parker replied. “Her barking is what alerted me to the possibility that there was some kind of trouble.”

She nodded. “I’m just glad all that’s over and Ann is in police custody.”

“Me, too.” He pushed her over toward the couch. “Do you want to lie here or should I take you into your bedroom?”

“Neither.” She hesitated. “I have another favor to ask. I really need to take a shower. I don’t feel clean. Will you help me?”

Due to her condition, he tried like hell not to imagine her naked, water sluicing down her body. But the sensual images wouldn’t stop and his body immediately reacted.

“I’ll help you,” he offered. “I know you have to keep that cast dry.”

“And my foot, too,” she said. “They wrapped my ankle inside this boot. I’ll need you to help me wrap both of those in plastic.”

“Are you hurting at all?” he asked.

“No.” She didn’t even have to think about it. “I’m guessing whatever pain medication they gave me at the hospital is still working, because I feel fine.”

Luckily, the main shower had a place where she could sit. He pushed her wheelchair inside and carefully helped her to undress.

Then he wrapped her arm, using several plastic bags and a rubber band, hoping like hell he didn’t inadvertently hurt her. Moving on to the foot, he knelt in front of her wheelchair and carefully undid the Velcro straps.

After he wrapped her foot so the bandage wouldn’t get wet, he helped her from the chair to the shower ledge. He then turned on the water, waiting until the temperature seemed perfect beforeturning the showerhead on her. He placed a couple of towels nearby, within easy reach, and then beat a fast exit.

“Call me if you need anything or when you’re done,” he said, closing the door behind him.

Though he suspected there was no way she could have missed his arousal, he hoped she understood that he’d never do anything that could hurt her. She’d been through a lot. And he’d do whatever it took to make sure she healed. Including resisting his ever-present desire for her.

Waiting for her to finish her shower, he finally admitted how terrified he’d been at the prospect of losing her. Seeing her lying on that ledge on the side of the mountain, unable to discern the extent of her injuries, the thought of losing her had nearly brought him to his knees.

Even now, with her hurt and needing to heal, he couldn’t bear the concept of inadvertently doing something wrong.

He heard the water turn off. Though he tried not to, he pictured her toweling herself off. He kind of wished she’d asked him to help her, even though he knew doing so would only make him rock-hard again.

“Parker?”

Blinking, he shook off his thoughts and went to help her get dressed. She’d asked for a soft T-shirt and a pair of terry-cloth shorts, telling him they were her version of pajamas.

A short time later, Eli arrived at the house, bearing gifts. “A pizza from Pizza World,” he said, handing the box to Parker. “And a decent bottle of red wine to go with it.”