Recovery

My brows wrinkle as I look back at her. I’ve been here a few days now and I try my best not to lie around like some freeloader. Yet today, my body just feels like shit.

“Come on,” she says when I don’t move. “Sit up. It’s raining out. I’ve seen you wincing a few times. Your body is reacting to the weather.”

I lift up into a sitting position and a smile comes to her lips. She places the basket down on the couch and the popcorn in my lap. Reaching for my T-shirt, she pulls it over my head.

“Do you mind if I turn to the game? I mean, if you’re watching this that’s okay.” She nods at the Christmas movie I put on, thinking she would want to watch it.

I drowned the sound out a long time ago. Her request for the game is welcomed. I give a shrug and hand over the remote.

“I wasn’t watching this,” I reply.

“Great,” she says.

Turning to a football game, her face lights up. Damn, this girl is after my heart. If I had a thing for her before, I’m in love now. She’s into football, she can cook her ass off, and she’s smart and funny as hell.

She’s a lethal combination. If I had my shit together I would totally go for her this time around. My face compresses with that thought. I still don’t know what I’m going to do and my debts to her are only adding up.

She’s given me food, shelter, and clothes. She went crazy with buying me clothes. I’m learning Allison does everything big.

“Do you want anything else?” she asks, nodding at the popcorn in my lap.

“Nah, I’m fine,” I say.

She settles in beside me. Reaching for the oil inside of her basket. She pours some into her palms and she warms it in her hands. Shifting to her knees, she moves closer.

“Okay, now to work on these muscles,” She says. “Turn to me, give me your back.”

Her hands feel like heaven as they touch my shoulders and she begins to rub the oil in. I inhale a deep breath and allow the tension to release. Her slim fingers massage and dig out the knots and kinks.

“That feels amazing.” I groan.

“You’re stiff from not moving around much. You don’t want to overdo it, but you need to get these muscles loose whenever you can.” She replies.

I grunt as she hits a particularly tight spot. My neck rolls on my shoulders and my eyes close. I breathe through the massage, basking in her working her magic.

“Touchdown! That’s what I’m talking about!” She cheers at the TV screen.

“So I take it you’re into football?” I chuckle.

“Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

“A girl after my own heart.”

She falls silent behind me, her hands faltering for a brief second. I shove popcorn into my mouth to keep from saying anything else. I don’t want to make staying here anymore awkward than it already is.

“How about steak for dinner tonight?” She says into the silence.

“Sure, I’ll take whatever. Beggars can’t be choosers.”

Her hands pause and she shifts my shoulders so that I look at her. Our eyes lock and she narrows her gaze at me. I know what’s coming. She has said it a million times since I’ve arrived.

“You’re not begging for anything. We need to have dinner. I’m asking for your opinion,” she says. “If you want something else you can say so. We don’t have to have steak.”

“Steak is just fine,” I say, giving her a crooked smile.

“You know, I have tickets for a game next week. Do you think you would be up to going with me?”

I’m stunned by the request. It’s just one more thing I can’t repay. However, when I turn to look in her hopeful eyes, I wouldn’t dare tell her no.

“Sure, I guess. If it’s not putting you out or anything.”

“Not at all. I already have the tickets. My father was supposed to go with me, but he has a business meeting out of town,” she says.

“In that case, sure. Why not?”

She returns to massaging my back and we both get into watching the game. I don’t know how long we sit there before I finished the bowl of popcorn and she stops the massage. Actually, I don’t know how much time passes because I wake up to a different game with my head in her lap.

Now, instead of the steaks I had planned to make, I’m searing off some salmon. It’s faster and probably healthier. Not as hearty a meal as I would’ve liked to help fatten him up, but it will do.

“Do you need any help?” He asks as he comes to the kitchen.

“No, I’m fine. But you can keep me company if you like.”

“Sure, I can do that.” He says as he takes a seat at the kitchen island.

The kitchen falls silent as I sauté the green beans in garlic butter. It’s nice to have someone to cook for. I’m so used to being here by myself when I’m actually home.

Roark gets up and moves to the refrigerator. He takes out the wine I have chilling and pours a glass. Instead of drinking it, he places it down beside me. I turn to him and give him a bright smile.

“Thank you,” I say.

“No problem.”

He moves back into the living room and shortly after, music begins to fill the house. A tranquil ambiance takes over the space. I find myself swaying to the music and humming along to the lyrics.

Roark gets plates from the cabinet, placing them where I can reach them. He then starts to set the table. My smile grows. I take a sip of wine and watch him over the rim of my glass.

He turns and our eyes lock. My cheeks flame and I drop my head. His handsome face does this thing to me that I can’t explain.

“I thought I told you to keep me company, not set the table,” I say, as I cut off the burner and prepare our meal to move to the table.

“You take care of me. I’ll cater to you. It’s the least I can do,” he replies.

I move over to the table with our food and place it down. Roark pulls my chair, causing me to look up at him and smile. I shake my head.

“What am I going to do with you?” I say.

“At the moment, have dinner with me,” he replies.

His words come across as if having greater depth, but I shake the thought off. I take my seat before I embarrass us both. He already has reservations about being here. The last thing I want is to seem like some perv offering him a place to stay in exchange for his body.

Get it together, Allison.

“How about playing some cards after dinner?” I ask as he sets my glass of wine on the table and takes his own place. “Or are you too tired?”

“To kick your butt? I’m definitely game,” he chuckles.

“Big talk, lots of big talk,” I tease back.

“I’ll back it all up too,” he says in that sexy voice and I swear my tummy flips.

Lord, help me and my dirty brain. He did not mean it like that.

Although, when I look across the table, I’m not so sure anymore. His eyes seem hooded, but distant as if he’s seeing something before him.

Maybe it’s time I use my vibrator. Yup, that should help me stop tripping.

“Are you going to eat?” He says, grabbing my attention.

“Yeah,” I say. “Just lost in thought.”

“You go in to talk about the private practice tomorrow. Don’t you?”

Wow, he really does listen to me. I nod, as I chew, taking a moment to think about what all awaits me in the morning. My life feels like everything is about to change.

“Yeah, that’s tomorrow,” I say on a sigh.

“Cool, so I won’t keep you up too long kicking your ass in cards,” he teases.

“Whatever.”

We finish the night much the same way. Like two old friends, reconnecting and having a good time. At least, that’s what I have to remind myself repeatedly.