Making a Comeback. Kristina Mathews
glad you like my music.” He felt a sense of pride knowing it brought her a small comfort.
Cooper followed as a hospital employee pushed Annabelle’s wheelchair to the exit. The girls walked softly beside her, like twin guards. “I’ll go get the car.”
He returned with his Escalade. After making sure all his passengers were buckled in, he pulled away, feeling as nervous as a first-time father entrusted with a newborn.
Both Sophie and Olivia fell asleep on the way home. He carried each of them up the stairs and dropped them on top of their coordinating bedspreads.
“Thank you,” Annabelle whispered. “I’ll get them undressed and into their pajamas.”
“I’ll run next door and grab a toothbrush. Maybe a change of clothes.”
“You don’t have—”
“Yes. I do need to stay here. Doctor’s orders.” He slipped out and raced over to his place to grab his toothbrush, a clean T-shirt, and a pair of athletic shorts that could double as pajamas. On a whim, he grabbed his guitar—just in case—and hurried back to Annabelle’s.
Cooper let himself in through the back door and felt just a little like he was making himself too much at home. He tiptoed through the kitchen and into the living room. No sign of Annabelle. He debated going upstairs, but wondered if maybe the twins had awakened and were getting into their pajamas.
Upon hearing the shower turn on overhead, Cooper settled himself onto the sofa and flicked on the TV, keeping the volume down low. He could watch basketball without the sound, especially since he really couldn’t care less about the sport. It was just something to do to kill the time while he waited for Annabelle to finish her shower.
Damn. The last thing he needed was to picture her naked, water sluicing off her near-perfect body. Even with the inevitable bumps and bruises she must have sustained in the accident.
A loud thud jolted him out of his fantasy. He shot up from the couch and took the stairs three at a time.
“Annabelle!” His hand was on the doorknob to her bathroom, but it wouldn’t turn. “Annabelle, are you all right?”
“I dropped the shampoo,” she called through the locked door. “Sorry if I startled you.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” His heart was hammering, not convinced that she should be in there alone. And it had nothing to do with his fantasies.
“Yes. I’m just a little clumsy, I guess.”
“Well, I’ll be right here if you need anything.” He slumped down on the edge of her bed, adrenaline still shooting through his system.
He sat there, his thighs trembling in fear. What if she slipped? Or fainted? What if she became overcome with the heavy steam and just slid into unconsciousness? A million worst-case scenarios filled his mind. He was just about ready to say to hell with it and break down the door, when he heard the water shut off. The glass door slid open, and he could just make out footsteps as Annabelle must have stepped from the shower.
He let out the breath he’d been holding since he sat down. She was conscious.
And most likely naked.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Cooper tried to steady his heart rate as he’d done on the mound so many times. But he hadn’t stepped foot on a baseball field in months, and he was too wound up for too many reasons.
* * * *
“Oh, you scared me!” Annabelle was startled to find Cooper sitting on her bed. Good thing she’d slipped on her robe instead of just waltzing out of her bathroom naked.
“I said I’d be here if you needed me.” He raked his hands through his hair, obviously just as uncomfortable being there as she was having him there. “Isn’t that the whole point of this sleepover?”
She cinched the belt around her waist tighter, all too aware that she was naked underneath. Her heart rate spiked as she thought about having a sleepover with this man under very different circumstances.
“I…I think the guest room is all set.” She crossed the room, hoping he’d follow. “I haven’t had anyone stay there, but there should be sheets on the bed.”
“I can take the couch.”
“No. I couldn’t have you do that.” She opened the guest room door and made her way to the bed to check for fresh linens. “You wouldn’t fit. The sofa is less than six feet long, and you’re, what six-one, six-two?”
“Six-three.” He shrugged, as if his size was something of an inconvenience.
“You wouldn’t be comfortable on the sofa.” She turned down the comforter, relieved to find crisp cotton sheets underneath.
“Are you going to be comfortable having me in the room right next to you?”
“Why? Do you snore?”
“Not that I know of.” He gave her a smile that made her all too aware of how close he would be.
“Well, that’s good.” She wasn’t going to tell him she was uncomfortable having him so close. That she hated having him hover over her. She couldn’t even take a shower without him standing guard outside her door.
It would be different if he was naked and hovering over her, or taking a shower with her. If he was spending the night because he wanted to, not because he had to. But maybe that was the biggest reason she didn’t want him here.
“There’s a bathroom down the hall.” Annabelle stepped toward her room. “I’m going to go brush my teeth, so if you hear me drop the toothpaste…”
“I’ll come running.” He offered a faint smile. “Just to make sure it’s not your head.”
“I figured as much.” She was just going to have to get used to the idea that he was there. So close. Too close. “Are you going to wake me every two hours?”
“The doctor said three.” He stepped back, giving her a little breathing room.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” She didn’t like the idea of having him come into her room every few hours, waking her up just to make sure she was alive. But it was better than him having to sit down with her daughters explaining that mommy wasn’t going to wake up. She shivered at the thought.
“Maybe you should get your pajamas on.” He must have thought she was cold, standing there in her robe. “I’ll get myself settled in here.”
And probably set an alarm for every three hours.
She slipped out of the guest room and went to her own bedroom. Shutting the door, she contemplated locking it, but thought she’d better leave it unlocked. Just in case. Annabelle grabbed her favorite sleep shirt, an extra-long tee with a picture of Minnie Mouse on it. It wouldn’t be easy getting it over her head, her shoulder was so stiff, but she wasn’t about to ask Cooper for help. The attraction between them was already a problem, she didn’t need him dressing her. Or undressing her. At least, not while her head was so fuzzy.
Since he would be visiting her at least twice during the night, she decided she’d better wear pajamas instead. She didn’t need to worry about kicking off the covers and having him see her underwear.
After brushing her teeth, Annabelle settled in for a long and restless night. She was exhausted, but worried the thought of Cooper checking in on her would keep her from getting any sleep.
A soft knock on the door was followed by Cooper calling out to her, “Annabelle, is there anything you need?”
“No, I’m good.” She sighed, wishing he didn’t have to be there. And that he didn’t have to be so good-looking. Especially since she was such a mess.
“Can I come in?”
“Sure.”