Page 13 of Mission: Merry Christmas
“I don’t usually do this type of assignment anymore. I’m doing this as a favor to my sister,” she said as she picked up a towel and turned to follow him. “You don’t know her, but believe me, we don’t want to let her down.”
“I have that kind of sister, too.” He left wet footprints all the way to the door, but then stopped and faced her. She caught a quick breath as he stood there face-to-face with her, hands on his hips. She kept her eyes on his face, but the water droplets hitting the bricks were a distraction.
“So, we’re going to do this? Right?” Goodness, was she talking about the rehab or something else? He looked good enough to—
Stop it!
She shoved the extra towel into his stomach to give herself some space.
“Right. Yeah. Looks that way.”
“Good.” She handed him the crutches. “You can use these if you need them. You’ve worked hard. Just remember they are called crutches for a reason. Don’t use them any more than necessary.”
“Got it.” Rather than put the crutches beneath his arms, he raised them above his head and walked to the door under his own power.
She watched his gait. She’d seen worse. If he cooperated, he’d be happy with his progress by Christmas.
Inside, Drew dried and changed into sweatpants before coming back out to the living room. She’d already changed and was waiting for him.
“Let me give that leg a good massage.” She tapped the back of the recliner. “You can sit here. I’ve got a massage table being sent over tomorrow.”
Drew didn’t argue, taking a seat and pulling his pant leg up.
Avery massaged his leg with long smooth strokes. She closed her eyes, imagining the position and tenderness of the muscles and tendons beneath his skin. He didn’t complain, although she knew some of it was less than comfortable. There were some things you just couldn’t do for yourself in this type of recovery. “Sit tight, I’m going to ice you down.” She left the room and came back with a gel pad that she wrapped around his knee and then secured it in place with plastic wrap. “How’s that feel?”
“You’re good at that. Good. I like what you did with the plastic wrap there.”
“Tricks of the trade,” she teased. “If nothing else I can teach you a few shortcuts.”
“Every little tip helps. Thanks.”
Their gaze held, then Avery looked away and got to her feet. “I’m going to go shower and change, then I’ll get dinner going.”
Fifteen minutes later, she was chopping and dicing fresh veggies. She’d never claimed to be the next top chef, but she knew her way around an air fryer, which she used to cook the fish they’d bought straight off the dock. The guy at the market had fileted them right in front of her.
She began plating the meal, pleased with how it had turned out. It had everything that his healing nutrient-starved body needed. In the pantry, she found a pretty poinsettia table runner, so she spread that across the dining room table, then set the table for two.
Drew came into the dining room just as she carried the plates in.
“I can take those,” he offered.
She handed him the plates and followed.
She saw him notice the holiday table runner, but he didn’t say a word before sitting down and placing his napkin in his lap. “This looks good. I could smell it all the way in the other room.”
“You should be starving after that workout.”
“I am.” He set his hand on the table. “Glad you approve. Actually, it felt good.”
“I’m sorry I came on so strong.” She picked up her fork, but noticed he had his head bowed, silently praying. She hadn’t expected that.
A moment later, he lifted his head and began eating. “You really think you can have me in good shape before the new year?”
“I do.” The fish was cooked perfectly. It flaked as she put her fork in it. “You’re not the first rookie to have an off-season mishap like this. Believe me, it happens. Life happens. You’re going to be fine. No one will be the wiser.”
There was that smirk again, followed by the snort. She had to tell him at some point just how rude and annoying that was.
“For the record, I wasn’t being reckless. It was a simple mountain biking accident. I was getting off my bike when I stepped on a loose rock. I would never do anything to risk my career. I love baseball.”
