Yearning Absolution (Yearning Series) by Rachael Orman

idea what you are
talking about. Just helping my sick girlfriend wash off the stink.” Cole shut
the door behind her as she laughed softly. “Well, I can come in there and help
you if you need an extra pair of hands.”
    “I think I can manage. If you come
in here you’ll only start something I don’t think I’m quite up to yet.” Gwen
laughed again, but she moved as quickly as she could to wash her hair and
condition it before washing her body. She didn’t feel steady enough to shave
her legs, but they were really starting to need it. Maybe she could convince
McKayla to help her later. Cole didn’t need to see her hairy legs, that’d be
completely be not sexy and she didn’t want that.
    As soon as Gwen shut off the water in
the shower, she opened the door to find Cole waiting with a warmed towel. He
wrapped her up in the towel and wiped away all the beaded water from her skin
before helping her slip into a clean pair of panties and a silk night gown that
fell to her knees.
    “Thank you. Really I can dress
myself, you know.” Gwen was thoroughly enjoying the attention he was pouring on
her. But she knew things had to return to normal at some point. “I think I’m up
to sitting on the couch for a bit, does that sound ok? You can work on your
laptop and I will just rest there.”
    “Or you can go back to bed. I have
a doctor coming by to check on you.” Cole watched as Gwen dragged a brush
through her hair and then as she brushed her teeth. She stopped to look at him
with her toothbrush in her mouth. The look was enough for him to know she
wasn’t fond of the idea. “Look, you said three days and this is the most I’ve
seen you move in three days so I called him before I came and woke you up.”
    “I’m fine. Call and cancel. I don’t
want random people poking me. I’ll be fine.” Gwen rolled her eyes at him. Sure
she still felt less than 50% but she wasn’t going to tell him. She was feeling slightly
better now and she’d do her best to get out of the appointment with the doctor.

Chapter 16
     
     
     
     
    As much as Gwen had tried, she was
unable to convince Cole to cancel the doctor check up. It seemed like they had
just entered the living room when the bell rang announcing an arrival. Cole
moved to get the door while Gwen cuddled with McKayla on the couch.
    Cole returned with a handsome older
gentleman, who Gwen would guess was in his late 50s. “This is Doctor Pau.
Doctor, this is Gwen.”
    “Nice to meet you. Let’s get right
to the reason I am here. I know you are quite comfortable out here, but I would
really prefer to speak one on one with you, Gwen, for our first visit.” Dr. Pau
spoke with a surprisingly soft and comforting voice.
    “Of course.” Gwen stood, squeezed McKayla’s
hand then led the way down the hall to Cole’s bedroom. It was the closest
bedroom and the one she was spending most of her time in since getting sick.
She gestured at the table that was in the corner, taking one seat while the
doctor took the other seat at the small wooden table. “Now we have complete
privacy, not that both of them don’t know everything about me anyway.”
    “It is just easier this way. Thank
you for being so understanding.” Dr. Pau spoke as he set down a small bag
filled with the tools of his trade. He pulled a small pad of paper from the bag
and a pen before turning towards her. He asked her all the general health
questions and about how long she’d been sick along with what her symptoms where
while taking notes. After taking a moment to read through his notes, he looked
up at her and set the pen down. “Well, there are two options I think that would
most fit your symptoms. One being pregnancy…”
    “No.” Gwen cut him off quickly.
“I’m not pregnant. I know that for a fact. I had my tubes tied years ago. I had
it tested multiple times to make sure the operation was a complete success.”
    “Well, then I would have to say,
you have an extremely bad flu.” Dr. Pau made