Devastated (Anger Management, #1)(79)

Moments later his eyes blinked open when something was nudged into his hand. He looked down to find a new toothbrush covered in toothpaste loosely held in his hand. Without thought, he started brushing his teeth. A few seconds later, she took him completely off guard when she knelt down in front of him.

Anger surged through him as he brushed his teeth a little harder than necessary. This was just what he fucking needed, a beautiful woman reminding him that he was no longer a man. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t his type. She was still a woman and he was a man that she didn’t know. She should be wary of him and she sure as hell shouldn’t be kneeling in front of him like he was a fucking eunuch.

She continued to hum as she clipped his toenails, momentarily distracting him from his justified anger. He cringed at the looks of them. He’d really meant to get to them sooner. He opened his mouth to apologize and then promptly shut it. He wouldn’t apologize for anything.

Once she was done, she stood up with a cheery smile that made him want to hurl. Instead, he spit a mouthful of toothpaste on the floor between her feet simply because he could.

“Lovely,” she muttered, squishing her face up adorably and nearly making him smile.

“Alright, moving along,” Sloane said softly, as she returned the clippers and his toothbrush to the counter before returning to his side. Smiling, she grabbed the handheld showerhead and turned the water on while he watched her every move.

Sucking in a breath, he steeled himself for the revenge that she was about to lay on him. This was a popular move among the nurses that he’d dealt with. They’d turn the water on at full blast and “accidentally” hit him with scalding hot water or leave it cold, put the nozzle just out of reach and walk away, leaving him to freeze his balls off. Of course, their selection depended on just how much he’d managed to piss them off and what they thought they could get away with.

Cold or hot, he was ready.

Still smiling, she turned the water on, pointing the nozzle away from him.

“Hmm, tell me if this is fine,” she mumbled as she carefully moved the nozzle until it was spraying by his hand, but not touching. “Well?”

Keeping his eyes locked with hers, he flicked his hand into the water, expecting it to be ice-cold. He was surprised to find that it was hot, but not too hot. In fact, it was perfect, just the way he liked it.

“It’s fine,” he said in a bored tone.

She nodded her approval and placed the nozzle in the lower holder where he could reach it, something no one else had ever done for him before. He watched her hands like a hawk watched its prey, waiting for her to try and change the temperature of the water. When she didn’t, it made him more nervous.

What the hell was her game?

Sloane stepped out of the way and pointed the water on him. It startled him, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he sat there, letting the hot water seep into his bones. It felt good. Not that he would ever admit it.

Instead, he grabbed the side rail and leaned forward to wet his hair. A bottle of his favorite shampoo was thrust into his hands as he moved to lean back. Taking the hint, he lathered his hair and then grabbed the bar of soap and scrubbed his body, but he didn’t do it for her. No, he did it for himself. It felt so good to have hot water running down his body.

Long after he was done, he continued to sit there enjoying the water. Soon he found himself nodding off but managed to force his eyes open when he felt a towel rub over his skin.

“It’s okay. Let’s get you dried off and into a warm bed,” Sloane said soothingly.

Too tired to argue, he simply sat there and allowed her to dry him off, move him to his wheelchair, and wheel him into his room. A few minutes later he was aware of the scent of fresh laundry and the feel of crisp, clean sheets against his skin.

“Your urinal is by the bed and I’ll be right back with a pitcher of ice water in a few minutes. I’m going to leave the bathroom doors open just in case you need me. Okay?”

His last thought before he dozed off was wondering why a young woman would be foolish enough to leave her bedroom door open for a man she’d just met. Then it hit him.

He really wasn’t a man anymore.