Page 98 of Her Hidden Smile

He bent and I knew he was going to carry me, but I wanted to walk. I needed to wake up a bit before getting undressed and soaking in the tub. I waved him away and got up from the couch. “See, I can walk,” I smirked.

“Never doubted it,” he replied.

“You so did doubt it, don’t lie to me,” I huffed out a giggle.

He followed me down the hallway, then on into the bathroom. I turned to him. “I can take it from here.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You can?”

“Of course I can.”

“Okay. Show me.”

I reached down to start unbuttoning my jeans, but with only one hand it was impossible. I needed to get out of the shoulder strap. I looked it over, but couldn’t seem to find where it hooked on, and I sure as hell couldn’t remember how they put it on me at the hospital.

I turned to the mirror to check it out. It looked like there were some Velcro fastenings at the shoulder and the waist. I started with the shoulder. I yanked it loose and let out a cry as my arm lost its support.

“Now will you let me help, you stubborn woman?”

I nodded.

Renzo had me stripped in no time, as he showed me how to hold my injured arm. I felt uncomfortable being naked in the stark light of the bathroom, with him being fully clothed. Not only did I have the burn scars, now there were big splotches of bruising on my ribs, stomach, and hip. I turned away from him, trying to hide the ugly parts of my body.

“Millie, I thought we were past that,” he whispered.

“It’s not just my scars. It’s everything,” I whispered back. “And I’m the only one naked,” I finally admitted.

“If you would invite me to take a bath with you, we can take care of the naked alone issue in one fell swoop.”

His eyes were twinkling. I couldn’t help but smile back. I looked over at the garden tub that had been installed in my bathroom. I remember thinking, when I first moved in, that it was big enough to have a pool party in. I looked back up at Renzo.

“Renzo, would you like to take a bath with me?” I made my tone as formal as possible.

He chuckled. “Why, yes, ma’am, I would love to partake in a bath with you.”

“Then get naked.”

He was stripped down in less than thirty seconds. He brushed another light kiss across my lips. “Now can I pick you up?”

“Why?”

“I’ve watched you favoring your leg and hip. I want to help you into the tub.”

Was there anything the man didn’t notice?

“Thanks, honey. I’d appreciate your help.”

When he started putting me into the bathtub, I realized he had used one of my dragon bath bombs. They were my favorites. And they left me with glitter on my body. After he got me in the tub, he climbed in behind me. I managed not to giggle at the idea of him being all glittery at a construction site tomorrow.

Chapter Twenty-Six

It wasn’t until I started using the loofah on Millie that I realized I was surrounded by sparkles in the water.

Fuck!

Not only was I going to end up smelling like strawberries and cream, but I was also going to be covered in glitter when I got out of the tub. Millie made a funny sound.

“Did you say something, Cariña?”