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Mindy

“It’s always time for bed.” The one part of the day that I hate. And that’s not just because I’m stuck in bed most of the day.

“I’m going to go get ready for bed. Be right back.”

Every night is exactly the same. He runs into the bathroom. While I wash my face off with one of the wipes Cordelia picked out. The balancing act that ensues would be hysterical if I wasn’t living through it.

My torment begins when Maddox walks out of the bathroom. It’s the worst form of torment because no one else knows I’m suffering.

Maybe I need a date. Or to find some willing guy and have a torrid affair that burns out in a few weeks, but is beautiful while it lasts.

The problem is that none of them would be Maddox.

He steps out of the bathroom, and I close my eyes.

But there’s no way to stop the image of him from forming behind my eyelids. This shouldn’t be sexy. He’s a man caring for a woman. That’s it. There’s nothing sexual about it.

Then why do I want to pant like a dog when he steps out in those low-strung pajama bottoms and a white t-shirt that I can barely see the ripple of his muscles in?

My brain is way too adept at filling in the blanks.

“Do you have everything you need?”

Obviously, I don’t or I wouldn’t be over here acting like a teenage girl with zero control over her hormones towards a man that’s taking care of me like he would his snakes. “I’m fine, thank you.”

He leans over and pulls up my blanket, making sure to cover my shoulders.

Like every night, I hold my breath, waiting for him to kiss my cheek or even my lips. But he never does. He walks over to the couch, pulls a blanket over himself and says the words I’ve begun to hate. “Good night, Beautiful.”

“Good night, Maddox.” I’ve got to get out of here before I lose my mind or maul the man in front of me.

***

“So, what’s with this guy?” Winnie fluffs my pillows.

She doesn’t sit still well. Normally, I don’t either. “Which one?” There have literally been a dozen of them coming in and out of my space all day. Most just ask if they can do anything for me or get me anything. It’s weird.

“Oh, don’t play dumb with me. Maddox, your boss. The sexy guy who looks like a mafia don. Is he, by the way? Because yummy.”

“Winnie!”

“What? I’m just saying what everyone is thinking.”

“How should I know? I’m not exactly up on mafia dons.”

“You should be, they’re FINE! Though most of them are taken.”

“Have I told you that you’re a nut lately?” I needed to smile today.

“Not in the last five minutes. What color do you want for your toes? I’d vote for fire engine red or sultry scarlet, but knowing you, you’re going to say blush or cotton candy.”

Scarlet is so not me. “Cotton candy sounds cute. But you don’t need to do my toes.”

“Don’t even. You’ve got hot men in here all the time. You can’t be having ugly toes showing.”

“Now, you sound like my mom.”

Winnie puts her hands on her hips. “Take that back right now. Or I’m going to paint your toes eggplant. Or puce.”

“Puce is pretty.”

Winnie pouts.

“But even so, you’re nothing like my mother.” Mom and Winnie are polar opposites. Mom loves money. Winnie has billions, but you’d never know.

“Fine, you're forgiven. Now dish.”

“There’s nothing to tell you. Maddox is my boss. He loves snakes. Literally his collection is better than most zoos that I’ve been to. He plays an above-average game of chess. And he’s kinda sweet.”

“Kinda sweet? How so?”

This is embarrassing. “Occasionally, he’ll order dinner and invite me to join him.”

“Occasionally?”

Well, every night since I was hurt, but that shouldn’t count. “You’re awfully nosy.”

“And you’re very pink. I guess we know the answer to that question.”

What am I going to say? Yes, I’m extremely attracted to my boss, and every time he asks me to eat with him, I wish it was a date. “He’s a nice guy. There aren’t very many of those around.”

Winnie snorts. “That man isn’t nice. He’s deadly, fine, and rich. All three of those usually make a man into a jerk. Maddox Locke is an anomaly. And if you don’t see him for what he is, send him my way.”

WHAT? “We’re part of a spinsters' club.”

“Yeah. Not a nun’s club.”

I sputter. “You know laughing hurts, right?”

“Deal with it. Laughter is the best medicine. Now, if you don’t wanna talk about the hot guy, are any of his friends available?”

***

“Hey, Beautiful.”

See, stuff like that is what gives Winnie ideas.

“I brought dinner. Fettuccine alfredo with sundried tomatoes and chicken cutlets.” Maddox sets the platters down on the table and starts to cut mine up.

“That smells amazing.” Don’t think about what Winnie said. You’re coworkers and nothing else. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. That’s laughable, but I’ll keep lying to myself.

“Tonight, I thought we might try checkers.” He brings over a board.

“That sounds good.”

“I won’t say that I don’t plan on taking advantage of your weakened state to win a game, because I totally do.”

A giggle escapes.

We get down to the business of playing and eating.

“King me.” I move my chip to the other side of the board.

“This isn’t looking good for me.”

Sorry. I grin at him.

“Since I’m losing miserably, at least tell me something about yourself.” He sets down his water and leans forward.

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Where have you traveled?”

That’s an easy question. “Everywhere. If my mom’s new boyfriend didn’t take us somewhere on school breaks, I went with my friends. Through the years I have seen every major monument and all the big cities.

“Do you like traveling?”

That’s a big question. “I don’t hate it. Traveling is good for a holiday, but I wouldn’t want to live a nomadic life. What about you?”

“I’ve traveled a fair bit, but this will always be my home. That sounds cheesy, right?”

Having a home never sounds cheesy. “Not at all.” What I wouldn’t give to have a home. But that’s an impossible dream right now.

A yawn escapes.

“And now it’s time for you to go to bed.”

“I’m already in bed.” I yawn again.

“Now you need to sleep and let your body heal.”

That's all I do. But he’s frustratingly right.

Oh, no.

Winnie braided my hair. There’s no way I can balance long enough to take them out, let alone reach up with my ribs the way they are. “Um. I need some help.”

“What do you need me to do?”

This is so embarrassing. “Take out my braids.” I’m going to kill Winnie. “I’m sorry. Winnie forgot to take them out. And if I sleep in them, I’ll end up with a migraine.” It’s happened a few too many times.

“Sure. No problem. I can take them out for you.” Maddox walks over to the bed and sits down next to me. “Why don’t you lie your head down?”

I tip my head to the side and sink into the soft pillow.

“Do you know I haven’t done anyone’s hair since my grandmother died?” He picks up one braid and pulls the rubber band out gently. “Having her hair brushed was one of the things that would calm her down when she was having a hard day. Sometimes I’d brush it for an hour until she fell asleep.”

Wow. He was just a child when that happened.

Maddox slowly untwines the hair, careful not to pull any out. “I didn’t think I’d ever miss doing that, but when she died…”

“Losing her had to be hard.”

“It was. Have you ever lost anyone?”

“No.” I don’t know whether to be thankful that I never met any of my grandparents or sad that I don’t miss them.

Maddox’s fingers thread through the hair by my scalp, relaxing it from where the braid tightened it down. It’s almost like a little massage. I could get used to this. That’s not good. I’ve got to get out of here!