Read Online Yours for Christmas (Fool's Gold series) by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Susan Mallery
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removed her sock. The skin around her ankle bone seemed a little puffy, but it was a small price to pay for the feel of those strong, large hands touching her.
Kenny had her move her toes, then her whole foot. The sharp pain had faded to something fairly dull.
“I’m pretty sure I can stand,” she said, reaching for her sock.
“Let’s get you to a bench and take it from there.”
He put the sock back on her foot, then stood and reached for her. She shrank away.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you to your feet.”
She was tall and carrying an extra twenty-five pounds. “I’m okay. I’ll just crawl over.” The bench wasn’t that far away. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
He scowled at her. “I can bench-press over three hundred pounds. I can get you to your feet.”
His tone said he’d been insulted. This probably wasn’t the time to explain she didn’t doubt his strength—that she was more concerned about her own personal bulk. Either way, the ice was really cold and she could see Chloe skating toward them.
“Okay,” she said quietly. “I appreciate the help.”
He bent down and actually picked her up. Like she was as light as a rag doll. Then the man carried her to the bench.
It all happened so fast, she didn’t know what to think. Once second she was on ice, the next she was perched on the bench.
Chloe hurried over. “Mom, what happened?”
“I fell. I’m fine.”
“She sprained her ankle,” Kenny said. “I want you checked out. We’re going to the hospital. They’ll take an X-ray, just to be sure.” He pulled Chloe close. “Don’t worry, kid. I’ll be with both you every step of the way.”
* * *
O NE X- RAY , a car ride and second trip in Kenny’s arms as he carried her up to her apartment later, Bailey found herself relaxing on her bed. The E.R. doctor had confirmed a mild sprain. Bailey was to take it easy for a couple of days. She had crutches, a compression bandage and instructions to use ice and an anti-inflammatory. The doctor had assured her she wouldn’t need the crutches more than a day or two. He’d also been impressed by Kenny’s skill in wrapping the compression bandage. No doubt the former NFL player had a lot of practice.
Kenny and Chloe disappeared into the kitchen only to return a few minutes later with a tray of hot chocolate and several cookies on a plate.
“We need a snack,” Kenny told her.
Chloe climbed up next to her mother while Kenny sat in the chair by Bailey’s small corner desk. He dwarfed the furniture, which should have looked silly but for some reason she found comforting.
Bailey accepted the mug of hot chocolate and wondered at the improbability of the situation. She’d thought about getting Kenny into her bedroom and it had happened. But somehow this was not the scenario she’d fantasized about.
“Are you feeling okay?” Chloe asked anxiously.
“Honey, I’m fine.” Bailey stroked her daughter’s hair. “I fell and I feel foolish. My ankle will be a lot better by tomorrow.”
“You have to use crutches.”
“Not for long. People get hurt and then they get better.”
Chloe nodded, but didn’t look convinced. Bailey was sure it was harder for her than for most kids. She’d already lost her father—she wouldn’t want to see her mother as vulnerable.
“I’m staying,” Kenny announced.
Bailey blinked at him. “Excuse me?”
“I’m going to sleep on the couch.”
A thrilling thought, but no. “That’s not necessary. I’m mobile.”
“What if you need to get down the stairs in the middle of the night? Your apartment is on the second floor and there’s no elevator. I’m staying.” He shrugged. “You can’t say no. You’re not in a position to throw me out. You can barely walk.” He winked at Chloe. “I can’t see your mom putting me on her shoulder and hauling me down the stairs, can you?”
Chloe giggled.
“So it’s agreed.”
Bailey opened her mouth, then closed it. Unexpected
Kenny had her move her toes, then her whole foot. The sharp pain had faded to something fairly dull.
“I’m pretty sure I can stand,” she said, reaching for her sock.
“Let’s get you to a bench and take it from there.”
He put the sock back on her foot, then stood and reached for her. She shrank away.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you to your feet.”
She was tall and carrying an extra twenty-five pounds. “I’m okay. I’ll just crawl over.” The bench wasn’t that far away. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
He scowled at her. “I can bench-press over three hundred pounds. I can get you to your feet.”
His tone said he’d been insulted. This probably wasn’t the time to explain she didn’t doubt his strength—that she was more concerned about her own personal bulk. Either way, the ice was really cold and she could see Chloe skating toward them.
“Okay,” she said quietly. “I appreciate the help.”
He bent down and actually picked her up. Like she was as light as a rag doll. Then the man carried her to the bench.
It all happened so fast, she didn’t know what to think. Once second she was on ice, the next she was perched on the bench.
Chloe hurried over. “Mom, what happened?”
“I fell. I’m fine.”
“She sprained her ankle,” Kenny said. “I want you checked out. We’re going to the hospital. They’ll take an X-ray, just to be sure.” He pulled Chloe close. “Don’t worry, kid. I’ll be with both you every step of the way.”
* * *
O NE X- RAY , a car ride and second trip in Kenny’s arms as he carried her up to her apartment later, Bailey found herself relaxing on her bed. The E.R. doctor had confirmed a mild sprain. Bailey was to take it easy for a couple of days. She had crutches, a compression bandage and instructions to use ice and an anti-inflammatory. The doctor had assured her she wouldn’t need the crutches more than a day or two. He’d also been impressed by Kenny’s skill in wrapping the compression bandage. No doubt the former NFL player had a lot of practice.
Kenny and Chloe disappeared into the kitchen only to return a few minutes later with a tray of hot chocolate and several cookies on a plate.
“We need a snack,” Kenny told her.
Chloe climbed up next to her mother while Kenny sat in the chair by Bailey’s small corner desk. He dwarfed the furniture, which should have looked silly but for some reason she found comforting.
Bailey accepted the mug of hot chocolate and wondered at the improbability of the situation. She’d thought about getting Kenny into her bedroom and it had happened. But somehow this was not the scenario she’d fantasized about.
“Are you feeling okay?” Chloe asked anxiously.
“Honey, I’m fine.” Bailey stroked her daughter’s hair. “I fell and I feel foolish. My ankle will be a lot better by tomorrow.”
“You have to use crutches.”
“Not for long. People get hurt and then they get better.”
Chloe nodded, but didn’t look convinced. Bailey was sure it was harder for her than for most kids. She’d already lost her father—she wouldn’t want to see her mother as vulnerable.
“I’m staying,” Kenny announced.
Bailey blinked at him. “Excuse me?”
“I’m going to sleep on the couch.”
A thrilling thought, but no. “That’s not necessary. I’m mobile.”
“What if you need to get down the stairs in the middle of the night? Your apartment is on the second floor and there’s no elevator. I’m staying.” He shrugged. “You can’t say no. You’re not in a position to throw me out. You can barely walk.” He winked at Chloe. “I can’t see your mom putting me on her shoulder and hauling me down the stairs, can you?”
Chloe giggled.
“So it’s agreed.”
Bailey opened her mouth, then closed it. Unexpected
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