“Hey.” She sat up slowly, waiting for the sledgehammer to start in on her head. It remained silent, but her arms, shoulder, and chest were sore. She inhaled sharply.
“Headache?” Matthew asked.
“No, it’s gone.”
“Ah, then it has to be the effects of the seat belt. Hot tub would work wonders.”
“Hmm, I bet it would, too. If I could get there.”
“How about dinner first and then a nice soak?”
“That sounds good. I am a little hungry.”
Matthew stood up and then scooped her into his arms. Kelsey squeaked and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I could probably walk.”
“Why walk when you can ride?” He gave her a look that told her it would be useless to argue with him.
She closed her eyes and relaxed, not at all worried that he would drop her. He carried her down the stairs, then down to the end of the hall. She opened her eyes when they reached the kitchen.
Benny greeted her. “Hi, Kelsey!”
How could I have forgotten about Benny? “Hi, Benny. Sorry I’ve been a little out of it today.”
“That’s okay. Steven and Granny Bernice took me to see the horses, and then I got some more new toys. Did you get hurt when your car got smashed up? Is that why Matthew is carrying you?”
Steven and Matthew both chuckled. Steven rubbed Benny’s head.
“I got just a little bit hurt when my car smashed up,” Kelsey said. “Matthew just wanted to carry me to show me how strong he is.”
“Matthew said he didn’t find my mom yet, but he’s getting closer. I told him it’s okay. Mom said it might be a while until I see her again.”
Kelsey met Matthew’s gaze when he set her down on a chair and knew he did have something to report but that he didn’t want to do so in front of Benny.
“I hope you’re hungry,” Steven said. “Mom sent over her famous homemade lasagna fresh from her freezer, and Auntie Anna brought us a Caesar salad and garlic bread.”
“I am hungry.” She sat quietly while the men served up dinner. She frowned at the amount of pasta Matthew heaped onto her plate. She helped herself to some salad and one piece of garlic bread that smelled entirely too good for her to resist.
“I think that you’re probably going to be really sore tomorrow,” Steven said. “I was in a car accident once. Like you, I wasn’t seriously hurt, but the next day was pure…um, heck.”
“I’m afraid you might be right. The doctor did tell me to take it easy for a couple of days. I’ve already spoken to Tracy. She’s going to run the restaurant tomorrow.”
“Good,” Steven said.
Kelsey couldn’t eat much of the delicious dinner. “I’m sorry. I’m sore, and I’m tired.”
“I’ll take care of the little one. You take care of the big one,” Steven said to Matthew.
“Come on, pretty lady,” Matthew said. “I’ll help you get ready for bed.”
Benny scrambled down from his chair and rushed over to give Kelsey a hug. She held him snugly for a long moment, breathing in the familiar scent of a boy who’d played hard all day.
“A bath is on our agenda,” Steven assured her.
Kelsey laughed, and Benny groaned.
It didn’t take long for Matthew to carry her back to the bedroom. He set her on the bed and then walked out onto the balcony and turned on the heat and jets for the spa.
“While that’s getting ready, let’s shower.” He undressed her, his touch gentle and patient. Then he quickly stripped himself. Kelsey insisted on walking into the bathroom, even though she knew she couldn’t hide the stiffness with which she moved.
“Lean on me, sweetheart,” Matthew said.
Though she would have characterized herself as independent, she gladly did as he asked. There was no way she’d be able to lift her arms above her head to wash her hair. She didn’t need to worry as Matthew took care of that for her.
When they were both clean, he turned off the water, wrapped her hair in a towel, then picked her up and carried her, naked, out to the balcony.
She sighed with pleasure when he climbed into the spa with her and lowered her into the hot, frothing water.
“Oh, God. That feels so good.”
“I was right about the bruising,” Matthew said. He traced the largest bruise, just above her right breast, with his finger. “It hurts me to see this on you, to know that you’re hurting.”
She leaned over and kissed him, a gentle, nearly chaste kiss that tasted like more. Then she eased back so she could see his eyes.
“What did you find out today that you didn’t want to talk about in front of Benny?”