Heather swallowed ignoring her the tingles in her skin. “Okay. Thank you.”
He held out his hand, and she took it as he helped her stand up. Heather hopped to the sofa, careful not to put too much weight on her leg. It had enough action for one day. When the doorbell rang, her body jerked and Tinsel barked.
“Want me to get that on my way out?” Allen asked, grabbing his bag and coat.
Heather blinked. “Yes, thank you.”
He left, and she sighed with relief. Her knee needed to heal—faster.
“Well… well… well,” Sonia said as she walked over to her sister.
Heather hugged her. “What are you doing here?”
“My day off, remember,” Sonia said. Then she gestured to her friend. “She has news.”
“What? Tell me.” Heather knew Morgan’s beauty blog had taken off and skin and cosmetic companies were pitching her to represent their products.
Morgan stepped inside. “Never mind. How are you feeling?”
Heather hugged her sister’s best friend. “What’s going on? What news is Sonia talking about?”
Morgan grinned. “I may sign a deal with Wordsmith’s Skin and Cosmetics. Nothing’s official yet, but they’re a contender.”
“That’s great!” Heather’s lungs expanded through deep, satisfied breaths.
Morgan rubbed at her chin. “Did a cute physical therapist just leave your house?”
“I agree,” Sonia said wiggling her eyebrows.
Heather shook her head. “Don’t even go there. He’s my physical therapist, and that’s it.” Liar. She ignored the fluttering inside her chest. Yet, she could still feel his thumb on her cheek. “Why are you here?” She looked over at her baby sister. “Is everything okay with your car? I can call—”
Her sister waved away her comment. “Needed a new battery, which I already got. I can take care of myself.”
“Sounds like she’s avoiding the subject to me.” Morgan scratched behind Tinsel’s ears as he wagged his tail.
“I’m not. There’s’ nothing to avoid. Allen is here to help with my knee.”
Sonia twisted her mouth into a grin. “We’ll let it go for now. Until then… girls’ night in.”
Heather laughed, breathing a little easier now that the subject changed. “How does that work?”
“We have romantic comedies, popcorn, and ice cream,” Morgan said.
“Nothing healthy.” Heather looked between the two of them.
“What do you want?” Sonia asked. “A veggie plate?”
Morgan laughed.
Heather nudged her sister. “Does it have to be a love story?” It was the last thing she wanted to see.
***
Allen arrived on time the following day at Heather’s house. Her wine-colored hair was in a messy bun with a scarf wrapped around her head when she opened the door. She avoided eye contact, but he didn’t ask why. Whatever it was, he had a job to do.
Nothing personal—never. He got right to work and she didn’t object. Back on the floor, he laid out the mat for her and helped her to sit. She complied but pulled her hand away.
“How’s your walking?” he asked.