you found my secret stash, huh?” she said, selecting one of the more powerful NSAIDs.
“Lupus?” he guessed.
She nodded.
“That explains a lot. Come here.”
He lifted the bed covers, helped her climb in, and then tucked the covers around her.
“Where are you going?” she asked, hating the needy tone in her voice when he walked toward the bedroom door.
“To throw my wet clothes in the dryer.”
“You’re not leaving?”
His eyes were intense. “Not a chance. Drink that,” he commanded, pointing to the mug on the nightstand. “I’ll be right back.”
Tina picked up the mug and sipped, recognizing the familiar tastes of almond milk, vanilla, turmeric, cardamom, and cinnamon. Clearly, he’d been paying attention.
When he returned, it was with a towel around his waist. The rest of him was gloriously on display. Broad, strong shoulders. Sculpted pecs. Clearly defined abs. As usual, the sight of him stole her breath.
“Scooch forward.”
She did, and he climbed into bed behind her. She resettled between his legs, the feel of him better at making her forget about her pain than anything that came in a bottle. She leaned back into him, relishing the feel of his body heat soaking through the material, wishing she were naked.
Doc’s strong hands started kneading the area between her neck and shoulders.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
A simple question but one with many answers.
What should she tell him?
That people treated her differently once they found out?
That she didn’t want to be seen as weak or sickly, just because she had more challenges than some?
That she was afraid if he knew, it would change things?
They were all true.
What she said was something that encompassed all those things at a higher level. “Because I refuse to be defined by it. Because when you look at me, I don’t want that to be the first thing that comes to your mind.”
He made a sound, a masculine mash-up of a snort and a chuckle. “Trust me, that is not what comes to mind when I think of you. You are one of the strongest, most capable women I’ve ever met. Definitely the sexiest.”
She smiled a little at that, but it was short-lived. “You can’t tell me it doesn’t change things.”
To his credit, he didn’t rush to deny it. “You’re right. It does change things.”
Her heart sank.
“But that’s not a bad thing. It just gives me more reasons to want to take care of you.”
“I don’t need a keeper.”
“No,” he agreed. “I’m not suggesting you do. What I am saying is, I want to be the one you lean on when things get to be overwhelming. The one who gives you massages and comes up with creative ways to keep your joints flexible. And just to be clear, those desires have nothing to do with the fact that you have lupus and everything to do with the fact that I’m falling in love with you.”
She sat up, and with some difficulty, she twisted in his arms to face him. “You are?”
“I am.”
She stared into his eyes, finding nothing but sincerity.
“Are you okay with that?” he asked softly.
“More than okay with that,” she whispered. “I especially liked the part about creative ways to keep my joints flexible.”
“That was your favorite part?”
“Well, after the part about you loving me. I’m not sure if you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“I’m not sure you do either. I don’t want to scare you, but what I feel for you ... well, let’s just say, I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. And I can’t guarantee I’ll always be able to stand quietly on the sidelines, especially if your health or happiness is involved.”
His words and the intensity in his eyes set off a fluttering in her chest. There was that SEAL again. The one who would do whatever it took to achieve an objective. If his current objectives were to make her happy and keep her healthy? She was oddly comfortable with that.
“I think I can live with that,” she told him. “As long as you realize that I never have been and never will be the type of woman who responds well to heavy-handed tactics.”
His hands flexed around her hips. “How about these handed tactics?”
She tucked her face into his neck and sighed. “Less talking, more massaging.”
* * *
Early the next morning, Doc went with Tina to check out the damage. It didn’t look quite as hellish in the light of day, but it was still a painful sight. She’d put so much time and effort into making it a success.