Page 35 of Whatever Lola Wants (Odyssey #2)

“I feel ridiculous with you carrying me,” Lola groused, feeling like a recalcitrant child and doing her best to act like one.

Simon merely raised a brow and lifted her out of the back of the car. “ Shut up.”

“Don’t tell me to shut up,” she fired back, grasping onto the rudeness of his response like a lifeline; finally, something concrete to bitch about.

Simon stared resolutely ahead as he carried her across the sidewalk to her building. “ Your leg is too sore to walk. You tried at the hospital and fell into the damn wall.”

Just because he was right was no reason to give in. “ So ? I’m a grown woman, and I’ll fall into walls if I want to.”

His harsh exhale was exasperated. “ Are you even listening to yourself?”

“No.” She gave up and laid her head on his shoulder. She managed a smile for Chet when he rushed to open the door for them, and could only be grateful that Simon didn’t pause to chat.

When the elevator doors closed them in, she tilted her head back to see his face. “ I’m sorry.”

He looked down at her, amusement in his gleaming gold eyes. “ For what? Being grumpy, or being a brat about it?”

“I guess being a brat. I can’t help being grumpy.”

He pressed a kiss to her head, careful to avoid the eight stitches that marched across her forehead and into her hairline. “ Anybody would be,” he agreed.

“I hate feeling like this.”

“Like what, sweetheart?”

She laid her head back on his shoulder, fingers picking at the hem of the scrub top she still wore. She wondered idly what the hospital would charge her insurance for the scrubs. “ Hurt . Annoyed . Helpless .”

He chuckled, his chest rumbling under her cheek. “ You won’t hurt for long if you take care of yourself. And annoyance is perfectly understandable under the circumstances.”

She waited for him to address her third complaint, frowning when he stayed silent. “ What about helpless?” she prompted.

“Oh, that? You’re just going to have to deal with that.”

That coaxed a reluctant smile from her. “ You’re such a jerk.”

“Yep,” he agreed as the elevator doors slid open. He stepped up to her door and gave it three gentle taps with the toe of his boot.

She looked at him curiously. “ What’re you doing?”

“Waiting for the door to open,” he said and before she could tell him it was the housekeeper’s year off, it did.

“You’re here.” Ginger beamed at them, holding the door wide so Simon could walk through. “ How do you feel?”

“Like hammered ass,” Lola said honestly, ignoring Simon’s chuckle. “ What’re you doing here?”

Ginger shut the door and trotted ahead into the living room. She patted the pillow propped against the arm of the sofa, and Simon laid her down gently.

Lola blinked, bemused, when Ginger covered her legs with a blanket. “ Guys . I’m not an invalid. What is all this?”

“We’re taking care of you.”

Lola whipped around as she heard Anna’s voice coming down the hall, then winced as the movement set her head to throbbing again.

Anna stopped, her hands on her hips and an exasperated look on her pretty face. “ Just shut up and let us, okay?”

Lola opened her mouth, then shut it again. Simon dropped a kiss on her head. “ Wise choice,” he murmured. He straightened and turned to Anna . “ Were you able to get to the store?”

Anna nodded. “ The fridge is all stocked. And I made up a lasagna so you won’t have to cook tonight.”

“Thank you.”

A snort came from the direction of the hall, and Lola turned carefully as Grant walked up behind his fiancé. “ You should thank me,” he put in, wrapping an arm around Anna . “ I’m the one missing out on lasagna.”

Simon’s lips twitched. “ Thanks , pal.”

“I’d say anytime, but I wouldn’t mean it.” Grant frowned down at Lola . “ You look like you need a pain pill.”

“I’m fine,” she began, then gentle fingers gripped her chin as Simon tilted her face up for his perusal.

“Nope. Your head is hurting again. Along with everything else, I’ll bet.”

She watched him dug a prescription bottle out of his pocket with dismay. “ I don’t want one,” she complained, hating the whine in her voice. “ They make me fuzzy.”

He merely lifted an eyebrow and accepted the bottle of water Ginger passed him. “ Then you’ll take a nap.”

Lola could actually feel her face slide into a pout. “ I don’t want to take a nap.”

Simon’s face was sober, though his eyes danced when he held out the pill. “ If you’re a very good girl and take your medicine, I’ll let you pick a movie to watch.”

“It’s my television,” she groused, then sighed in resignation. Knowing he’d stand there for hours if need be, she snatched the pill and popped it in her mouth. She glared at him over the water bottle. “ Happy now?”

He crouched in front of her to stroke his knuckles over her cheek. “ Yes . I don’t like you in pain.”

All her bluster died at the naked concern on his face. “ I’m a terrible patient.”

He laid his hand on her cheek. “ Yes , you are. Now , do you want something to eat?”

Some of the aches and pains were already fading now that she was still. “ I’m not really hungry.”

“It’ll keep.”

Grant cleared his throat. “ Well , you look like you have things handled here. We should go.”

“But…” Anna broke off when Grant nudged her. She was watching Simon with a frown. “ Are you sure you don’t need us to stay?”

He shifted to look up at her. “ I’ve got it.”

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “ Okay , then.”

“I’m going to head out too,” Ginger said. “ But I’m right across the hall if you need anything.”

“Thank you.” Now he rose and crossed to Ginger . “ And thank you for coming to get me last night.”

She gave him a sweet smile. “ It was my pleasure.”

He chuckled at that. “ Mine too, actually. I’ve never seen Michael befuddled before.”

Ginger blushed, and Grant raised an eyebrow. “ That sounds like a story.”

“You can get it from him later,” Anna said. “ Feel better, Lo .”

“Thanks,” she managed, smiling as the three of them headed for the door.

“See?” She heard Anna say to Ginger . “ You talked to Simon without blushing. I told you it would be fine.”

“Why would she blush talking to Simon ?” Grant wondered, and Lola choked back a laugh as the door closed on Anna’s response.

She folded her lips together and tried to look innocent when Simon sent her an arch look. “ You been talking out of turn, sweetheart?”

“Not me,” she said with what she hoped was a wide eyed, guileless look. She cleared her throat when it became clear he wasn’t buying it. “ Ginger might’ve said something to Anna about not being able to face you again.”

She caught the twitch of his lips before he sobered. “ Uh -huh. You remember what I said would happen if word got around about that?”

She stifled a giggle. The pain meds were kicking in, making her feel a little loopy, but that was no reason to be reckless. “ I remember. I didn’t say a word.”

He strode back over to the couch to lean down. “ Doesn’t matter who says it, sweetheart. It gets out, and your ass is mine.”

Maybe it was the meds, but for some reason she couldn’t seem to drum up any dread at the prospect.

Before she could analyze that reaction, he was scooping her up.

He shifted her easily in his arms and took her place, stretching his long legs down the length of the sofa and settled her on his lap.

He reached for the remote on the coffee table and pointed it at the TV . “ What movie do you want to watch?”

She settled against his chest, letting her sore muscles relax against him. He smelled good, and the beat of his heart under her cheek was oddly comforting. “ Something funny. And romantic. And sexy.”

His chuckle rumbled in her ear. “ That’s a tall order.”

“The Princess Bride ,” she decided. “ And don’t give me any shit about it.”

“Why would I give you shit?” he wondered. “ That’s a great movie.”

She peered up at him. “ You like The Princess Bride ?”

“What’s not to like? It has fencing, pirates, kidnapping, giants, rodents of unusual size, the pit of despair, and a pretty princess.”

“Huh.”

He looked at her. “ What ?”

“Most guys would say this is a girl movie.”

“It is a girl movie. So ?”

“So it doesn’t threaten your masculinity to watch this with me?” she teased.

“Please.” He scrolled through until he found it, then laid the remote aside. “ My masculinity is steel. I could be getting a pedicure and a facial while watching this movie, and it wouldn’t have so much as a dent.”

“That’s oddly specific,” she said suspiciously.

“Watch the movie,” he ordered, and with a sigh, she obeyed.

She fell asleep before Buttercup’s rescue, her breathing deep and even. He let the movie run and watched her sleep.

She’d scared the crap out of him. He could admit it now, with her soft and warm and alive in his arms. From the moment Ginger had told him what happened, he’d been gripped by fear that had yet to fade.

He’d been able to shove it to the background to do what needed doing, but now that there was nothing to handle, no details to see to, he could feel it surging back.

She was lucky. The doctor who’d discharged her this morning had been certain the concussion she’d suffered wasn’t severe, and though the bruise on her thigh was deep and highly uncomfortable, it too would heal with time.

She’d apparently hit her leg on the door handle on the inside of the door, and her head on the window above it.

Ginger had told him the impact had cracked the window, and it had been smeared with blood.

He knew the accident had made the local news, and photos of the crumpled car had been posted online.

He deliberately avoided them, knowing if he saw them, the rage in him would stir to life again.

He didn’t want that. Lola needed his care, not his anger, though as soon as he was able, he was going to hit the gym for a hard sparring match to purge the fear.