Chapter 2

"As I was coming off the last step my foot slipped and I fell. I'm afraid I've twisted my ankle," Vicky replied.

"We need to see to that then," AJ said lifting her into his arms and carrying her back into the house. He carried her into the living room and placed her on the couch. "Let me get your boot off and see if you sprained it or just twisted your ankle."

At her brave nod, he reached up under her calf length skirt and unzipped her boot. Gently removing it he checked her ankle and seeing no evidence of a sprain, he gently moved her foot back and forth, but stopped at her quiet moan of pain. "I think you've just twisted it Vicky, I don't see any signs of a sprain."

"That's good to know," she replied as she tried to smile through the pain.

"Let me get some ice to put on it and if you'd like, I would also suggest some ibuprofen for the pain."

"Both of those sound like a good idea. Thank you AJ, I'm sorry to be such a bother."

"It's no bother at all, I'm just sorry that I didn't have those steps cleared off better. Can I bring you a soda or would you prefer something hot, like chocolate or coffee?" he asked.

"Oh hot chocolate sounds wonderful, if it's not too much trouble."

"I wouldn't have offered if it was. Now you just sit there and relax and I'll be back shortly." AJ went into the kitchen and after placing two mugs into the microwave to heat the milk; he prepared an icebag, which he took back out to her. Carefully placing the icebag on her injured ankle, he told her he would be back in a moment with the hot chocolate.

True to his word, he quickly finished in the kitchen and then brought a tray with the mugs, a bowl of miniature marshmallows and the bottle of ibuprofen on it. "Here you go," he said as he placed the tray on the coffee table. "You should take two tablets and as many marshmallows as you like," AJ grinned.

With a light laugh, Vicky did as instructed and then took a sip of the chocolate. "This is fantastic!" she told him.

"It's a very easy recipe to make, I could write it out for you."

"I'd like that, now why don't you go back to what you were doing before I so rudely interrupted your evening."

"I was just watching a tape of Monday night's football game. I've been so busy this week it's the first chance I had to watch it, but since it's a tape I can get back to it at any time."

"No, please go ahead. I hate that I'm spoiling your evening. I could just sit here and watch a bit of it with you till the pain relievers take effect and then I can drive home."

"Are you sure that you'll be able to drive with your ankle the way it is?"

"Yes, luckily I have an automatic transmission and since it's my left ankle I should be fine to drive. Now won't you please go back to your game and you can just forget I'm here."

"It would be very difficult to forget that I had such a very attractive guest in the house," he responded.

"Now what would your wife think if she heard you saying such things?" Vicky asked coyly.

"My ex-wife lives in Italy and I haven't seen her in years, so there is no one but you that could mind if I say things like that," AJ told her gallantly.

"Well I don't mind at all! How could any woman mind being called attractive by such a handsome gentleman?"

"Well then it looks like we're in agreement," he smiled at her and watched as she nodded and then took a sip of her chocolate.

Turning on the tape as she had suggested he do, AJ found that it was hard to concentrate on the game. He kept wondering if she was just being polite, or if she really did find him good looking. AJ wasn't a vain man, but he knew that he kept himself in shape and there had been enough women in his life since his divorce to assure him that he was at least attractive to the opposite sex. But this young woman couldn't be much older than his daughter, so that was where his doubts came in.

To be continued…..