Free Crash Into You by Cara Ellison Page A

and he could not let that happen.  He had nothing in savings.  Not since Aimee stole his cash.  He’d just have to wait until his next day off, in five days, to fly to Portland.  Until then, he had to avoid Carlos at any cost.
                 
    Seven
     
    It was two weeks after Lauren had arrived at Spanner Ranch when Mark took a break from cooking dinner and walked into her room to find her awake and petting May, who had jumped up on the bed. 
                  “Do you want her off the bed?”
                  Lauren smiled wanly.  “No, I like her.”
    Mark pulled a chair up beside her bed.  “How do you feel?”
    “Better, I think, ” she murmured.  “I was thinking maybe I’ll eat downstairs instead of up here on a tray.”
    He smiled, genuinely happy with her progress.  “That would be great, as long as you’re up for it.”
    “I think I am.”
    “Wonderful.   There are some clothes on the dresser… unless you prefer that fetching hospital gown.”
    She smiled at his lame joke.  For the first time, he noticed that she had two adorable dimples in her cheeks.   Her cuts and bruises had also hidden the pretty shape of her cheekbones and her green eyes.
    “Not my favorite fashion,” she said lightly.
                  Mark held her arm gently in his lap and slid the IV needle from her vein.
    Aimee winced but didn’t complain.   He helped her sit up, then asked her to stand.  She was slow, and wobbled and winced, but it was good for her to start rebuilding her strength.   When he worked in D.C., the nurses would encourage patients to get up within hours of appendectomies, gall bladder removals and broken legs. 
    She swayed on her feet and Mark grabbed her around the waist to steady her.   “I’m just dazed from the painkillers, I think,” she said, leaning against him.   “Um… Mark?  Would it be possible to take a shower?”
                  “Sure.   Why don’t you use my shower.  It has a bench where you can sit down.  The en suite one through there is smaller.” 
                  “Sitting is good,” she said lightly.
                  He guided her down the long hallway to his bedroom and into the large master bath.   The shower was enormous, with six showerheads and a curved bench.  There was also a separate deep Jacuzzi tub big enough for two.
                  “I would suggest a soak, but considering your sutures, a shower is probably better for you.”
                  “A shower sounds nice.”   She ogled the large, modern enclosure.  It was one of his indulgences, a top of the line steam shower that, he had to admit, was pretty sweet.
                  He turned on the water for her then took a fresh towel from a cabinet and placed on the vanity.   He indicated the electronic read-out.   “This button is for the steam,” he said.  “And use this one if you want acupressure for your back.  I wouldn’t recommend that in your condition, but a minute or two won’t hurt.  And, as you can see, the water is ninety-nine degrees.   These are the hot and cold buttons.”
    She nodded.   “Okay.”
                  “Do you need help with your gown?”  He asked.   Her left shoulder was still bruised and he knew she couldn’t easily raise her arm.   
                  She nodded.
                  “Turn around,” he said.   She did.   Bad idea.  Her slender, straight back tucked to a narrow waist, then flared into a perfect Valentine-shaped butt, barely covered in red panties. Pure petite loveliness.  The vision momentarily knocked him for a loop.  He gently untied the hospital gown, then brought the fabric over her shoulder, while keeping her chest covered so all she had to do was let the flimsy material fall off her left arm.  She turned to him, her slender arm covering her full,