An oddity I don’t fully understand. Because I have never taken care of anyone but myself. Never wanted to until now.

Yet it felt good last night, knowing that I was providing her with safe harbor, seeing to her comfort. Which brings me back to feeling like a bit of a bastard; she’s hurting and I don’t know how to make it better.

I’d have made her breakfast, but it’s going on eleven and she’s still not up.

I grunt again, picking up the pace. A strangled squeak has me pausing.

Chess stands in the living room, gaping at me. “Holy hell.” Her gaze slides over my bare torso like greedy hands. “Is this one of the perks offered at the House of Mannus?”

With a little more flare than necessary, I leap up from my plank position and land lightly on my feet. “Daily viewing times are at ten to eleven, barring travel blackout dates.”

“Excellent. I’ll set an alarm from now on.” She grins, and I feel a little dizzy. When Chess smiles, she lights up. Even as she is now, hair tangled around her shoulders, eyes bruised by lack of sleep and crying. To make her smile feels like a reward.

I set my hands on my hips, not bothering to towel off. “You’ve seen me naked and didn’t bat an eye, but watching me do pushups is a treat?”

“I was working. It would have been unprofessional to ogle the client.” Her gaze touches on my chest, and I swear I feel it. “Now, I might just make some popcorn and settle in. You have popcorn, right?”

“Sorry, I hate popcorn. But feel free to watch me any time.”

“How can you not like popcorn?” Chess shakes her head as she folds her long limbs onto the couch. She’s in black leggings and a t-shirt with my name and jersey number on it. Not her usual attire, and I know Charlie bought the shirt, but damn if it doesn’t give me a possessive thrill to see her wearing my name.

“Gets in between my teeth. Drives me nuts.” I grab a bottle of iced water from the kitchen counter and take a drink. “But I’ll stock some for you.”

Chess looks around, taking in the living room, small den area, and finally the kitchen with its black cabinets, brass fixtures, and concrete countertop. “You had someone decorate this place, didn’t you?”

“Realtor recommended a decorator friend of hers.” Ah, Jessica and Janet. Nice women.

Chess narrows her eyes and I suddenly feel caught out.

“You slept with her, didn’t you?”

How the hell?

Show no weakness. I give her an easy smile. “The realtor or the designer?”

“Oh, God, both of them?”

Jesus, is she a mind reader? “Not at the same time.”

She scoffs like I’ve chumped her Cheerios. “For fuck’s sake.”

“I mean, I might have been down with that if they’d asked,” I tease, because it’s fun to get her riled.

But she looks more horrified than amused. “They were friends. You don’t think screwing each of them would cause problems?”

I’m beginning to feel like a worm just waiting to be hooked and cast in a lake. “I didn’t ask.”

“Because you never saw them again?” It isn’t really a question, though. Condemnation is written all over her face.

I head into the kitchen and take out a packet of chicken breasts I’m going to cook. “You aren’t going to get all righteous on me about sex, are you, Chester?”

She rolls her eyes and follows. “Don’t worry, I’m not clutching my pearls. I’m just reminding myself why I’m glad we didn’t hookup.”

The chicken package lands on the counter with a slap, as her words punch through me. It’s surprisingly painful knowing that she thinks I’m a bad bet. And yet… “So you have to remind yourself, eh?”

A pretty pink flush colors her cheeks. “I’m here at your house. You’re you. Can you blame me for being guarded?”

Now I’m pissed. I feel it rising, and I grind my teeth against the urge to snap at her. My hand spreads wide on the cool counter, as I take a deep breath. But then I catch a good look at Chess. She seems smaller somehow, tightly coiled within herself, her expression wane and her eyes a little wild.

“Are you trying to pick a fight?” I ask. Despite her prickliness, I know she’s fragile right now.

For a second, it looks as if she might snap at me, but her shoulders sag on a breath and she puts her face in her hands. “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve this. I’m all persnickety, and… I don’t know what I’m saying. Ignore me.”

I want to give her a hug, but she holds herself tight, eyeing me as if she might cut and run. “You need to get back to normal, is all.”

She nods, but there’s no energy left in her.

“Here’s what we’ll do,” I say. “Let’s have lunch—”

“Lunch?” She makes an amused sound. “It’s only eleven.”

“Elevenses, then,” I amend. “I basically eat like a hobbit.”

Her lips twitch as she cranes her neck and peers over the center island that stands between us.

“What are you doing?” I ask with a laugh.

“Checking out your feet.”

I wiggle my toes, still encased in sneakers. “They aren’t hairy, but they’re very large.” I lift a brow. “I’m well-proportioned.”

Chess scoffs, but she’s no longer slumped in defeat. “Yes, I know, big guy. I’ve seen you naked, remember?”

“How can I forget when you keep bringing it up?” I can get naked now, if you join me. “If I didn’t know better, Ms. Copper, I’d think you were fixating.”

“Good thing you know better.” Chess rounds the kitchen island and comes up beside me. She’s so slight, compared to me, her wrists delicate and fine. The black cast covering her right one is bulky, running up over her hand, leaving only her fingers free. I don’t miss the bruising on her forearm, and the way she’s been limping makes me believe she has bruises elsewhere.

I want to demand that she show me her hurts, let me gather her up and tuck her back in bed, where I’ll feed her lunch, rub her sore muscles, do anything she wants. But I know she’ll refuse. And I don’t think it would ease her worries, which is what she truly needs right now. Never mind the fact that, if I get into a bed with her, my control will crack; no way can I hold her now and not keep my hands at neutral.