Chapter 6

• “Coralee.” Dade bellowed as he went through her front doorway.
• She stepped out of the kitchen. “What?” Drying her hands, she walked to him quickly.
• He grabbed her and hugged her against his chest.
• She gave Patrick a startled look.
• Patrick grinned. “There was no coffee at his house.”
• Cora grinned and pulled Dade’s head up off her shoulder. “The pot is full in the kitchen.”
• Dade grabbed her face and kissed her mouth hard. “I love you.” He walked quickly into the kitchen.
• Patrick shook his head. “And I thought I was a bear without coffee in the morning.”
• “You are.”
• He turned and watched Rhonda walk down the stairs. With each step she suffered, it was plain to him, but the smile on her face didn’t give it away. He held up his hand with the jar in it. “To the rescue.” He grinned at her.
• “I’ll never forget it again.” She walked over and looked up at him. “If I could stretch, without screaming, I’d climb up there and kiss you right now, Detective…”
• Patrick looked down at her for a minute and then leaned down. “For a kiss, I’ll come down there.” He brushed his lips over her mouth quickly.
• She sighed. “Now I’ve got to walk all the way back up again.” When he reached towards her she backed up. “No, do not attempt to pick me up, bending is not doable right now.”
• “Then I won’t bend you,” he said, as he handed her the jar. Reaching down, he wrapped his arms around her hips and straightened up. He started walking toward the stairs looking up at her. “Is this all right then?”
• Rhonda smiled down at him. “Yes. Wow, so this is what the world looks like from up here.”
• Cora grinned as they disappeared and turned to see Dade standing in the door with a coffee cup in his hand.
• “Did I miss something? Why does he get to carry her upstairs and I have to stand down here and wait?”
• She walked over and wrapped her arms around him. “Come in the kitchen and I’ll explain. Then I want kisses, lots and lots of kisses to get me through this day.”
• “Whatever you need, love.” He turned them back towards the kitchen.
• “Okay.” Rhonda said quietly lying face first on the bed.
• Patrick turned and shook his head. “I don’t know why I have to turn my back like some silly school boy every time we do this. I have seen a naked breast or two in my time.”
• Turning her head, Rhonda grinned, resting her cheek on her arms. “I don’t doubt it, but you haven’t seen my naked breast or two, Mr. Blaine.”
• Patrick smirked. I wish. “Fine” he started to apply the ointment gently and felt her jerk. “So where are Kathy and Ralph? Thought they were supposed to be here.”
• She closed her eyes. “They left with a load already. Kathy will stay and help get it organized when you take the rest.”
• “Am I hurtin’ ya?” He stopped moving his hand for a second.
• “No. For having bear paws as hands, you’re very gentle, Pat.”
• He smiled. “Just tell me if I’m not? Sometimes I’m afraid to touch you…you’re so wee.”
• “Wee?” She smiled and closed her eyes. “That’s a new one.”
• Patrick caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see Cora standing in the doorway. Her eyes were on Rhonda’s back and when her hand went to her mouth he shook his head, with his eyes he asked her not to say anything about them.
• Cora cleared her throat. “I’m going to whip up something to feed the poor neglected man down stairs, can I make some for you both?”
• Rhonda tensed under his hand. “We’d better eat now. We may not get a chance again for a while.”
• Patrick nodded. “I’m always up for food.”
• “You’ll blend right in around here then, Patrick.” Cora smiled and left quickly.
• Rhonda didn’t open her eyes. “Did she have that look?”
• “Which look would that be?” He didn’t want to lie to her.
• “That ‘oh poor Rhonda’ look.”
• Sometimes a lie was needed. “She kind of smirked at me, probably because I look like an ass with these paws trying to delicately dab this…god this stuff is slimy, on you.” He held his breath waiting.
• “You’re such a liar, Patrick.” She opened her eyes and looked at the wall. “Thank you.”
• He wiped his hand on the towel and put the lid on the jar, then sat down on the floor so he could be face to face with her. “I’d never directly lie to you.”
• She looked at him, an odd look in her eyes. “No, you’d just omit the truth.”
• Patrick shrugged and then winked at her. “That has saved my ass many a time I’ll have you know.” He glanced at her back. “Just a few more minutes and it will soak in.”
• Rhonda made a frustrated noise in the back of her throat. “I know.”
• With a gentle touch, he pushed the hair back from her face, knowing it would hurt her to stretch up and do it. “They’ll get better, Rhonda. It really hasn’t been that long.”
• She looked at him for a moment. “Then why are they talking about surgery to remove some of the scarring?” A single tear slipped down her cheek.
• “Oh.” He wiped the tear away quickly. “Don’t be doing that now, I’d rather face a gun unarmed than a tear…you know that.” He moved closer. “If you cry I’m going to have to pick you up to comfort you and then I’ll not only see a naked breast or two, but I’ll get that slimy stuff all over me.” He grinned at her.
• She sighed. “You might get to. My arm is numb and I’m not sure if I can get up from here.” She frowned. “The muscles in my arms have been doing that more.”
• Patrick knelt beside her. “I’ll close my eyes if you like.”
• “I’ll bet you will.” She grinned. “Just get me up I’ll stand until it’s soaked in.”
• He stood up and looked down at her. “I’m open to suggestions on how I’m to do this without getting smacked for touching anything unwanted.”
• Rhonda cleared her throat. “With the size of you, just pick me up under my arms or something.”
• “Let’s get you on your knees then first.” He gently reached under her arms and pulled her up slowly. Holding her one arm, he moved quickly in front of her and helped her until she was standing on the floor.
• As hard as he tried not to, his eyes moved down the front of her. Of course, they’d be perfect, he thought looking down at the pale skin of her breasts and the dusty pink nipples. His mouth dried out.
• “Thought you were going to close your eyes.”
• He looked up to her face and her dark brown eyes smirking at him. “I lied,” he said quietly.
• Rhonda moved her hands up and covered her breasts. “Is it dry enough that I can get dressed? I’m starving.”
• Patrick leaned over, pulling her into him to cover her more and looked down her back. “I think it might be.” When he lifted his head, he saw Dade standing in the door, his eyes moving over her back. Without letting her know he was there he sent the other man a look that asked him to leave. “I’ll get your shirt,” he said quietly as he watched Dade turn and go before he was seen.
• Taking the shirt, she turned her back to him again. “I don’t miss having to wear a bra.”
• He groaned in head. He’d known she couldn’t but now, well... “You should never wear one. Breasts as pretty as those shouldn’t be harnessed and all covered.”
• Rhonda laughed and turned around. “Are you saying I should just walk around without a top on, Detective?”
• “You wouldn’t hear me complain, not once…okay, maybe if it were out in public, but feel free when it’s just us.”
• She looked at him, a surprised expression on her face. “Careful, I’m tempted.” She lifted her arms and moved down a bit. “I can almost bend.” Walking over to him, “and stretch,” she reached, up lifting her face to his and pulled his head down a few inches. Gently she brushed her lips over his before straightening away again. “Thank you.”
• His rested his hands on her hips, wanting to pull her back. “Anytime.” Clearing his throat, he tried to banish the naked images of her out of his thoughts. “I want you to try to find a few minutes to rest later.”
• Her hands rested lightly on his chest. “I know, I know, I’ll try. Now can we go eat?”