Only Her Smokejumper Firefighter - Cami Checketts Page 0,23

her eyes were doing. She hardly felt in control of her own body.

“Sorry, Grams,” Ren apologized. “I don’t want to leave her.”

“I know, but she’s going to be fine. You need to get your hindquarters out of here while I undress her.” Her face was set. It was obvious this wasn’t up for discussion.

Mavyn felt Ren’s goodness so deeply. She honestly would’ve trusted him to undress her and not do anything inappropriate, but she appreciated that Grams was here. She wouldn’t have to worry about showing Ren anything she shouldn’t.

Ren released his grip underneath her knees and let her slide to her frozen feet. She still leaned heavily against him. Would Grams be physically strong enough to support her and help her undress?

“You’re okay?” Ren bent down close and studied her with his incredible blue eyes.

“Yes.” She nodded, wanting to tell him so many things, talk about so many things, but she had to get warm and in a more with-it state of mind first. Could she really share all with him? It was a terrifying prospect.

She forced herself to straighten so she wasn’t leaning heavily on him and found her legs could at least support her. She smiled bravely up at him and he leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the cheek.

“I’ll be right outside,” he murmured.

“Thank you,” she pushed out. It would have to suffice for now, but the look in his eyes said he knew how grateful she was.

“Okay, time to go now, lover boy,” Grams urged.

Ren let her go. She felt his loss immediately, but she stayed on her own two feet.

“Make sure it’s only lukewarm, then gradually increase the water temp,” he said to Grams.

“Good heavens, I’m not an idiot.” Grams waved him out.

Ren smiled at his grandmother and then nodded to Mavyn, giving her one more gentle smile before he walked out, shutting the door softly behind him. Grams immediately started tugging her sweatshirt over her head. Mavyn tried to help, but her fingers were so stiff she couldn’t bend them. Grams made short work of her clothes but left her bra and underwear on.

“We’ll get some of Iris’s warm clothes for you, sweetie, and I’ll wash and dry these,” Grams reassured her. “Now in you go. It’s going to sting at first.”

Mavyn clung to Grams as she stepped into the large tub. She cried out. It stung like a million pinpricks. “Why’s it so hot?”

Grams shook her head. “It’s only lukewarm, sweetie. We’ll get you settled in and as you warm up, we’ll increase the heat. As per Ren’s instructions. Thinks I don’t know how to warm a frozen body up,” she muttered.

Mavyn’s feet and lower legs were prickling. She didn’t want to “settle in,” but she knew she was simply chilled clear through. It would get better. She forced her stiff legs to bend and with Grams’s assistance, she sat down in the water. The pinpricks got worse. Grams stayed close by for a few minutes, wringing her hands and asking over and over again, “Does it still feel hot?”

“Yes,” Mavyn answered every time, gritting her teeth to get through.

Finally, she noticed the water was bearable and then comfortable and then almost cool. “It’s not hot anymore.”

“Oh, good.” Grams turned off one faucet but left the hot water pouring in. “Can you relax back against the tub? I’ll go get you some water and juice.”

Mavyn obeyed and closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the tub surround. Grams hurried out of the bathroom, leaving the door slightly ajar. Mavyn was sleepy. She wanted to rest to get rid of this headache. At Grams’s mention of drinks, she was also very, very thirsty. It seemed no time at all until Grams was back. She offered Mavyn drinks and set out clothes and towels, telling her after she got out of the tub she had to rest for a bit.

Mavyn was exhausted, but even more than sleep, she wanted Ren. How would Grams respond to that request?

Chapter Five

Ren paced the main area of Grams’s cabin as he waited for Mavyn to get warmed up in the bathtub and dressed. He stewed as he thought about how close Mavyn had come to freezing or being hit by a car or, worse, being subjected to James’s perversions. He’d gone to high school with that loser and he was one of the few people Ren could say he despised.

But God had intervened. He wondered if Mavyn recognized that Ren’s words had turned prophetic. The Lord