Page 44 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
She nodded and stood to follow Dalton to the sink where he already had supplies ready.He turned on the water and filled the silver bowl.Before she could say anything Levi took her other hand.
“Just squeeze as hard as you want to and you’re allowed to scream too.Gran went for a walk because she said she couldn’t stand to hear you in pain.”
Missy gulped.
“She’s tough, and I’ll be fast,” Dalton said.“Ready?”
“Ready.”
She closed her eyes and the warmth hit her first.It felt scalding hot.She gripped Levi’s hand and her nails dug into the skin on the back of his hand.He stood close enough that she could feel his power and tense muscles up against her side.
“Almost done, just a rinse now, then I’ll pat it dry and get the ointment on it,” Dalton said.
Tears slipped down her cheeks as much from their tenderness as from the pain.Levi’s other hand was on her back now, stroking and trying to soothe her.How was it that this man she barely knew was showing her so much compassion?
“Done.Now I’ll just wrap it and you can eat all the cake you want,” Dalton said.She could hear him walk away and she let out the breath she’d been holding.
Opening her eyes, she realized she was still squeezing Levi’s hand and found his strained eyes staring down at her, lines of worry on his forehead.And he raised his hand to swipe away her tears.
“I’m okay,” Missy said.
“You don’t have to be, not with me,” he said, his voice husky.
She pulled her good hand away, unsure what was happening between them.Dalton was right there just a few feet away.He must have heard Levi but he didn’t say anything.He stood cutting strips of gauze and set out pieces of tape cut in equal squares.She sat back down at the table, careful to rest her hand palm up.Exhaustion made her shoulders feel heavy.
Levi didn’t say another word and just moved to the stove to stir something he’d made earlier.
“Did you try to paint at all today?”Dalton asked.
“No, I didn’t have the energy to try, but Declan brought me the sketch pad.I think he thought it would help.”
“Did it?”
“At first, but then it just annoyed me more that I couldn’t capture the shell the way I wanted to with a pencil.”
“Maybe tomorrow Levi can open your paints up for you and you can teach him how to clean the brushes when you’re done,” Dalton said.
“Maybe,” she said right before she yawned.
“Ahh see, all done.Time for dinner, cake, and bed.Brooke will be checking on you tomorrow after her shift.”
“I really appreciate all this extra care.I don’t think I could have handled this by myself.”
“No problem, I get to see my wayward brother and Gran, while making sure this doesn’t get infected.”
“What happens then?”
“We don’t have to worry about that since it’s not going to happen,” Dalton said, and stood to pack up the supplies from the table.
Levi set down a steaming mug full of what looked like soup.
“Dumpling soup, my special recipe,” he said.
“Is this Mom’s recipe that you’re claiming or have you made some tweaks?”Dalton asked, just as Mrs.Hart joined them.
She sat next to Missy and rubbed her back.“You okay, honey?”
Missy nodded and picked up her spoon.“I’m starving.”
