Page 49 of A Magnolia Move-In
He paused, and I could see his focus turning back to me as his head moved in my direction. “What?” he asked.
“I need some help getting out,” I said softly.
The silence that followed was deafening. I studied Colten’s shadow, wondering if he was going to bolt. But he didn’t. I watched as he pushed his hand through his hair.
“What do you need me to do?”
I needed to keep my composure because there was no way I was going to be able to wait, wet, in the shower, for Fiona to come and rescue me. “I’m going to wrap the towel around me, and I just need you to lift me into my chair.”
Truth was, I was nervous about climbing out of the shower with my cast off. What if my foot slipped? The last thing I needed was to break my leg again and start this all over. I needed to move forward, not backwards.
“Okay.”
Taking in a deep breath, I shifted around in my seat until the towel was under me. Then I wrapped it around my chest and tucked it in so it wouldn’t fall down. “I’m ready,” I said, with all the strength I could muster.
“I’m opening the curtain,” Colten said, a moment later.
I wanted to tease him, asking him if he was going to narrate every step, but I decided against it. After all, this was not the time to do anything that could be construed as flirting.
I needed to get out of the shower and get ready for Walker. That was it.
“Okay.”
The curtain was pulled back and I was face-to-face with Colten. His eyes were squeezed shut, and he just stood there. I waited for him to move, and when he didn’t, I realized I was going to need to coach him.
He was much more hesitant than Jackson.
“Reach out your hands,” I said.
Colten obeyed.
I reached forward and grasped onto him. “I need you to help me up,” I said.
He paused. “How?”
“Wrap your arm around my waist so I can lean on you.”
His hand ran up my arm to my shoulder as if he were trying to figure out where I was. Then it dropped to my waist, and he wrapped his arm firmly around me until his fingers were pressed into my stomach and my body was sandwiched against his.
My heart was pounding now.
“I’m going to lift you up now,” he said, tipping his face toward me.
I was too startled to answer. So instead, I just nodded.
Colten tipped his head to the side. “Naomi?”
Right. He couldn’t see me. “Okay,” I hurried to reply.
He nodded, and for the third time that day, I was airborne.
“My chair is about a foot to the left,” I said, and a moment later, Colten was setting me down on it. I adjusted my towel. “You can open your eyes now.”
Colten hesitated and then slowly opened his eyes. He looked flushed as his gaze ran over me. “You okay?” he asked.
I nodded, clutching the tucked in part of my towel. “I am.” Then I glanced around. “Wheel me to my room?”
Colten looked relieved that he had a job to do. He nodded and positioned himself behind my chair. We were quiet as he wheeled me to my room and pushed me over to my bed. Then he took a step back.
