Irreplaceable

Logan’s hand covered mine in the same instant and ripped the buzzer away.

“You’re a horrible liar, Cassandra.” His hand held mine and my heart raced, legs trembling.

Why did I still feel it—still react to him? I hated it, and my anger fueled the strength to tug my hand free. Logan stood unaffected.

“Using something as petty as jealousy to hurt me won’t change a thing,” Logan said. “If that’s what you need to do, then I welcome it; we both know I deserve your worst.” He walked around the bed and unplugged my IV stand. “But I won’t allow another man to help you bathe.”

“What are you doing?” I sat up further, clutching the blanket to my chest.

“Getting you your shower before that pervert comes back and I get myself arrested.”

“What!?”

He was not serious. First, it was the bathroom so I could pee, now a shower? Hell no. Not happening. “He’s a nurse, not a perv, you asshole! If anyone’s a pervert, it’s you!”

I could’ve sworn I caught a glimpse of an upturn at the corner of his lips, but it smoothed as quickly as it’d peeked out.

“Possibly. However, we’re not talking about me right now, Cassandra. This isn’t up for debate—if anyone’s going to help you, it’s going to be me.”

My brows drew together. Did he just admit he was a pervert? That was a bit of information to store away and dissect at a later time, but not right now—not with Logan walking over to the bathroom. A second after he went in, I could hear the spray of the shower.

I watched with a tense posture and narrowed eyes as he came back out. He rolled his sleeves up, then removed his watch, placing it on top of his coat.

When he turned to face me, it took everything inside me not to melt. I needed to work on that. I squared my shoulders and drew from the image of him in that alley on New Year’s to restore my standing. Worked like an angry charm.

“Logan, you’re not helping me shower!”

“We’ll see. Now, do you need me to carry you in?”

Was I being punished? I mean, come on! The last thing I needed was for him to see how battered and bruised I was.

“Cassandra, we both know how much I enjoy carrying you.”

At his first step toward me, I panicked, my stomach turning violently as I grabbed the buzzer and pressed the button hard again and again. There was no reply from the nurse, but to my relief, he was in the door a second later.

“You all right? Ready to get cleaned up?” As the nurse—Jeffery, his badge said—approached my bed, his eyes darted between Logan and me, then to the bathroom that was beginning to fog up. I honestly wasn’t too keen on a male nurse helping me shower, but I was able enough to bathe myself. I just needed a little help getting in and out.

“Yes, I’m ready. This guy was just leaving,” I said, nodding at Logan.

“No, I wasn’t,” Logan snapped, stalking back to my bed and standing between it and Jeffery. “I can help her in the shower myself. You can go.”

With a glance at both of us again, Jeffery smiled. “I understand. Just make sure she sits on the chair in there and holds the shower sprayer to wash. I’ll come in when you’re ready to apply a fresh bandage. We don’t want those stitches to get infected.” My jaw dropped as I watched Jeffery smile once more over at me, then turn to leave.

“Wait! No—Logan, you need to go. If I miss out on a shower because of you, there will be hell to pay!”

“I’m sorry,” Jeffery’s eyelids lowered in confusion. “I just assumed you two were…”

“Nothing but unfriendly neighbors? Yeah, that’s us, and he was just leaving.”

“Like hell I was,” Logan said, still glaring at the man who stood at least six inches shorter than him.

“Look, I wasn’t planning on bathing her myself, sir. I just need to be here if she needs any assistance. But if it would make you more comfortable, I can send in a female nurse. It will be another hour or so, but it won’t be a problem.”

“That’s not necessary,” I blurted out, aching to get my first real shower. Sponge baths were not doing the trick the past couple days.

“Yes, it is.” Logan craned his neck, and with a serious and almost intimidating stare, he added, “Either me or a female nurse is getting you clean tonight—your choice—but I won’t be leaving till it’s done.”

“Screw you, Logan. I don’t take orders!” I spit, pushing myself up. “Can you help me?” I said, tilting my head to look past Logan’s powerful frame to Jeffery.

“Um…yeah, of course.”

Great, now Logan had the poor guy scared. It didn’t matter—I would prove he couldn’t tell me what to do. I wasn’t his girlfriend. I winced at the thought.

“You take another step toward her and it will be your last.” Logan’s threat was menacingly deep.

“Sir, Cassandra’s my patient. If you stand in the way of her care, I will be forced to call security.”

Go Jeffery! I was liking that guy more and more. Too bad he looked like one of Santa’s elves with his tiny frame, short stature, and pointed ears.

“Logan, I’m showering. End of discussion.”

He turned to face me fully, jaw clenched tight, hands balled at his sides so tightly the knuckles whitened. Slowly, he appraised my set, assertive stance. I wasn’t backing down.

“Yes, it is,” he replied, eerily calm.

Something in the way he spoke the words shot an icy shiver up my spine. Then, to my complete shock, Logan stepped out of the way and allowed Jeffery to wrap my robe around my back and help me to the bathroom. I was thankful it covered the laceration on my thigh and most of my bruises.

Once inside, Jeffery watched as I sat on the toilet lid, then kneeled down to place a waterproof bandage over my stitches for extra protection.

“If you need anything, I’ll be right outside the door. After you get undressed, be careful getting in the shower, and remember: sit on the shower seat. Don’t try to stand in there. You might fall.” I nodded, and he closed the door.

Alone at last, at least except for the mumbling of voices not quite audible through the door. I chose to ignore it and slipped off my robe, gown, and white cotton panties. I stepped slowly into the warm shower and sat on the cool metal seat.

The shower sprayer detached and I held it in one hand while the other lathered soap over my abused body.

I had to admit that by the time my hair was washed and body clean, I was exhausted. The only issue that bugged me was my back, which was in need of a good scrub from all the lying down I’d been doing over the last couple days. The sponge baths hadn’t seemed to be enough, and it was the one place on my body that still felt oily and grimy.

With a grunt from the stab in my chest, I reached out and grabbed the towel, wrapping it around my front. After I was covered as well as possible I then turned around so I could call Jeffery in and see if he could help. It was his job, right? I had no clue, but I was desperate. Still, I wasn’t going to show him more than necessary; he’d only see my back and a bit of my ass. It would be worth it to feel clean again.

Leaning back I stretched my arm through the shower curtain and knocked on the door.