I grinned as I took my pills from my stunning nurse. I was off the pain meds and only on a low-level steroid for inflammation. I was going off those too, dammit. But you had to lower your dose slowly, or all kinds of screwy shit could go down.

I was going to be drug free by the end of the week.

I'd told my doctor I was done and he hadn't fought me on it. Not this time.

I'd told him I was done with the chair too.

I eyed my cane from across the room. Soon. I would be using it soon.

I'd starting rubbing magnesium oil on my leg twice a day. It stung a little but I could tell it was helping. I looked forward to having Tabby help me with a thorough thigh massage.

Top to bottom.

Off-duty of course. Or right before five o’clock. It was safer that way. Because I knew the feeling of her fingers on my thigh would make me hard.

Hell, everything she did made me hard. Always had. The girl just had to breath and I was a drooling animal focused on one thing.

Getting my hands on her.

Speaking of which... Tabby leaned forward and I got a glimpse of her creamy cleavage. She poured me some more freshly squeezed orange juice. Organic too. She'd given my mom a list of stuff she'd learned about in her nutrition class at nursing school.

The two of them were like the food police since I'd come home.

Something about pesticides being full of fluoride, and fluoride pulling calcium from your bones and making muscles and tendons weaker. That was definitely not what I needed at the moment. Or what anyone needed really.

But especially, a two hundred pound guy with thigh muscles that were slowly knitting themselves back together. So I listened, and I let them fuss over me. I appreciated it too.

She was a smart cookie, my Tabby.

Smart and delicious.

I resisted the urge to grab her and tug her onto my lap. I could hold her and then tug her top down. Those tits of hers would keep me entertained the rest of the day alone. The rest of her body would take care of at night.

I sighed and let her go about her business instead. She was keeping her promise to stay on as my aid until I was better, and I was doing my best to keep my end of the bargain.

No funny business.

As for the other stuff- well, I hadn't exactly agreed her not to get her a car.

I heard the truck outside and grinned. The fact that Lyle worked at the dealership had definitely made it an easy transaction.

A top of the line, mid-sized SUV, with all the bells and whistles, and at cost. Dark green, to compliment the color of her hazel eyes.

I owed Lyle a solid for this, that was for sure.

I just hoped she liked it.

"Come on, let's go outside."

Tabby gave me a questioning look and I just winked. I shook my head when she held out my jacket. Being around her had me hot and bothered enough.

I could use the cool down to be honest.

She followed me out the sliding doors to the street just as the service center was towing her car away. She ran out and stopped, staring after it. I cringed as the tailpipe fell off, hitting the street with a rattle. Then the truck turned the corner and it was gone.

"Wait- that's my car!"

"Not anymore."

She looked at me, adorably confused. Then understanding dawned. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me.

"What did you do, Gabriel?"

Uh oh. She’d never called me by my full name before. I guess it meant I was in trouble.

And I was definitely going to be in trouble for this. But I didn't give a damn. She could glare at me all she wanted. I just wanted her safe.

I grinned at her.

"Took care of my assets."

"Your- assets? Are you implying that I am- an asset?"

"Yes. I am."

Her little mouth opened and closed like a fish. But I had her where I wanted her. The car was on the way to the junkyard where it belonged. The damn thing didn't run anyway.

Now she had to take the new car.

I was grinning foolishly when Lyle got out of his car.

"Hey Lyle."

"Looking good, G-man! Now that you are out of that chair, it's time to get wild, right?" Lyle punched my shoulder and smiled sheepishly at Tabby. "Hi Tabby."

She nodded at him, clearly not impressed.

"So here you go, man. The keys to your new ride."

I gestured to Tabby.

"Give them to the lady."

He smiled wide and handed them to Tabby, who took them with a scowl on her face.

"Nice. You guys finally get together?"

I laughed as he wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"He had it bad for you in high school. In case you didn't notice the big guy salivating all over the place every time you were around.”

She threw her hands up, but I noticed she was trying not to laugh.

"So he keeps telling me."

"Yeah well, all’s well that ends well, right?"

"Whatever you guys say. I'm going inside." She pointed at me. "Do not stay out here in the cold!"

Lyle was grinning as he shouted after her.

"Don't you want to see your new ride?"

She made a dismissive hand gesture and we both laughed. She was sort of a curmudgeon sometimes. But a sexy one. And I liked getting under her skin.

I liked it a lot.

"So, let's grab some beers soon."

I took Lyle's outstretched hand and grinned.

"Sure thing, man. And thanks."

"Anything for love, man. You two... I like it."

I laughed and waved him off. I had to get inside. I knew my woman would be pissed if I stood outside any longer without my jacket.

A few hours later and we'd played gin rummy and five-card stud. I couldn't help playing strip poker in my mind. So far I'd undressed her mentally at least twice. I'd even done two full sets of my PT exercises.

"Uh oh."

Tabby looked up as she shuffled the cards and smiled at me. She was still tiffed about my high-handedness with the car, but I could tell she was pleased too. It would take her a while to get used to me.

She wasn't used to being taken care of. But that was okay. We had plenty of time for her to get used to being my woman. I'd make sure of it.

I grinned at her and scooted closer, taking the cards from her hands.

"Guess what?"

She cocked an eyebrow at me.

"What is it now? A houseboat?"

I let out a bark of laughter. Even when she was cranky, she was the cutest damn thing I'd ever seen. My cute little lady.

"No. It's playtime."

"What?"

I grinned at her and slid my hand up her leg.

"It's after five, sweetheart."