When the young woman noticed that he was looking at her, she gasped, and her gaze dropped to his bare chest. Color filled her cheeks, making them red.
“Good morning,” he said, wanting to be polite as he pulled up the blanket to cover his chest the best that he could.
She straightened and lifted her chin, walking in the room with a determined expression. “Good morning.”
“Are you Lydia’s sister?”
She nodded. “I’m Olivia.”
“I’m Mitch… but then, you probably already knew that.”
She smiled. “Yes, I did.”
“Please, come in. I can’t sit up until Lydia checks me again, so forgive me for not giving you respect and standing.”
Olivia giggled and moved closer. “No need to apologize. I understand completely. You see, when I’m old enough, I’m going to the same school to learn nursing, just like Lydia did.”
“That’s a wonderful profession.”
Her brownish-gray eyes twinkled. “Do you really think so?”
“Absolutely. I can think of none better… except maybe for a doctor.”
“I’d love to be a doctor someday.” Olivia sighed and wound a finger around a lock of brown hair. “If only that could happen. I mean, a woman doctor? Would people even trust her?”
“Perhaps you could be the first?”
She puffed her chest proudly. “Yes, I could be the first.” Her gaze slowly ran over his face. “Um, didn’t you have a beard when you first came here?”
He laughed. “Am I to believe you peeked in on me while I was asleep?”
Her face flamed a darker red this time. “Maybe I did. So, what of it?”
“Nothing. I just like to tease.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Really?” She stepped closer. “Well, wouldn’t you know it, but I enjoy being teased, and I tease right back.”
“Good for you.”
She wasn’t too young, and for a moment, he wondered why he didn’t find her as interesting as her sister. But, for some reason, he looked at her as a child. Lydia was definitely all woman.
“Are you allowed to play a game?” she asked.
“I suppose, as long as I don’t move my arm very much, and that I don’t move from this position.”
“Do you like to play chess?” She moved toward a shelf cupboard across the room. “You’ll only need one hand for that.”
“Would you believe me if I told you I don’t know if I remember how to play chess?”
“Of course, I’d believe you.” She took down a board and a box with the chess pieces. “But I also love to teach, so if you don’t mind, I’ll teach you how to play the game.”
“I don’t mind at all.”
As he watched her pull over a small table that he could reach and put the game together, he couldn’t help but grin. She was adorable, but it was more than her looks that he liked. He was vastly relieved that she wasn’t judgmental like her cousins. It made his heart light that she actually wanted to be with him.
However, he still anticipated the moment when Lydia would come check on him. That was the woman he wanted to see today – the only woman that could make him melt and sigh with happiness. Hopefully, she wouldn’t keep him waiting for long.
* * * *
Lydia wandered into the kitchen, knowing that it was way after breakfast, but she had slept in. After a long night at the hospital, she couldn’t wait to get home and sleep. She really could have slept a few more hours, but things needed to be done, and she had a patient that she should check on.
Henrietta was at the table. Several bowls were filled with what looked like flour, sugar, and other things she wasn’t quite sure about. Flour decorated Henrietta’s face as well as her tan blouse and brown skirt. When the housekeeper looked up at Lydia, the older woman grinned widely.
“Miz Lydia, yer awake now.”
“Yes. I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t wake up any earlier.”
“That’s all right. I saved ya some grits.”
“Thanks.” She picked up a bowl and moved to the pan on the stove. “What are you making over there… besides a mess?”
“Oh, Miz Olivia requested I make some special brownies for dinner.”
“Really? Why?”
“She says that Mitch doesn’t remember eating them, and she wants him to taste her favorite dessert.”
Lydia spun away from the stove so fast, she nearly dropped her bowl. “Olivia said that?” Anger rose within her. “Let me guess – she has gone against my wishes and visited my patient.”
“Don’t be upset with her,” Henrietta chided sweetly. “She’s young, and seein’ a handsome man turns her head easily.”
Handsome? The only thing remotely pleasing on that man were his dreamy eyes. So, if Olivia had seen his eyes… she was too close.
“Yer sister has been with Mitch all mornin’, teachin’ him some games.”
“All morning?”
Forgetting about her bowl of grits, she marched out of the kitchen and hurried toward the guest room. Just before reaching the door, laughter came from inside. The deep timbre of his voice made her pause as silly little flutters danced in her belly. Olivia was nearly eighteen, and she was maturing into quite a lovely young woman. There was no way any available man with good vision could look past Olivia. They would become infatuated within minutes.
As she reached for the door knob, she heard Mitch’s laughter again.
“Please, Olivia. No more. I cannot laugh anymore. My ribs are hurting too much to go on.”
Lydia gritted her teeth and opened the door, wondering if she’d catch them doing something not good. However, that wasn’t the case. Mitch was still in bed, still in the same position she told him to be in. He had even pulled up the blanket to cover most of his bare chest, for which she was grateful. Olivia sat on a chair beside the bed, and there was a table between them. On the table sat a chess board and the pieces.
Both Mitch’s and Olivia’s heads turned toward Lydia. It was Mitch’s expression that she watched. Of course, how could she not look away? He looked so very different from when she’d seen him yesterday afternoon. Gone was his facial hair, and in its place was a very smooth-looking face. His hair was still longer than she wished, but his face… She swallowed hard, adding moisture to her throat that had suddenly turned dry. He was so very handsome, and she couldn’t stop looking no matter how a little voice in her head told her to look away before she embarrassed herself.
“Good morning, Lydia,” he said in a voice deeper than before.
“Actually,” Olivia added quickly, “it’s nearly noon.”
Lydia swallowed again and walked into the room, trying to act normal. If not for the butterflies dancing in her chest, and the stars spinning in her vision, not to mention the violins playing in her ears, she would be fine.
“I had a long night at work,” she explained. “And I couldn’t wake up any earlier.”
Although the answer was for her sister, Lydia kept her attention on Mitch. “How are you feeling today? You look much healthier… and clean shaven.”
He chuckled and rubbed his palm over his chin. “Yes, Henrietta helped me this morning. She’s a godsend.”
“That’s for sure,” Olivia said.
“I hope you don’t mind if I check you?” Lydia asked Mitch.
He shook his head and motioned toward the chess board. “Your sister and I were done playing, anyway. I was laughing so hard, it hurt my ribs.”
“Yes, well… I believe you bruised them when I hit you with my buggy.”
His hand slid down his neck and along the blanket to his ribs. He cringed slightly. “I’m sure that’s why they hurt.”
“Olivia?” Lydia finally took her focus off Mitch to glance at her sister. “Will you let me examine my patient, please?”
She folded her arms and cocked her head. “Go right ahead.”
“In private.” Lydia tried not to sound too irritated, but her sister was starting to really grate
on her already frazzled nerves.
Sighing heavily, Olivia nodded. “Fine.” She placed the chess pieces back in the box and took the board back to the cupboard. “I’ll be back later, Mitch.”
“I’ll see you then.”
Once Olivia had left and closed the door, Lydia returned her gaze to the very handsome man. The man who should not be doing this to her insides.
“Now, let’s see how your wound is healing.”
Being wise this time, she walked around the bed to the other side instead of leaning over. Feeling his breath on her yesterday had made her jittery. She didn’t want that to happen again.
Gently, she removed the bandages, happy to see there was no new bloodstains. She applied the ointment as tenderly as she could. Thankfully, the wound appeared to be healing. Finally.
“It looks good,” she told him. “I’m still leery of you making too many big movements, but if you’re really careful, I think you can move around slowly.”
“If you like,” he said in a soft voice, “I’ll wait for you to help me. Just in case, of course.”
Just the image of her arm around his waist, helping him to walk, made her breathless. No, that couldn’t happen. Yet, she was still his caregiver. She must be professional.
“Well, I suppose we can try to stand you up now.”
As she pulled away and looked into his eyes, they sparkled with excitement. Good heavens, why were her knees weakening just from his gaze? It wasn’t fair that he could do this to her when her fiancé had never made butterflies dance in her stomach, and he never ever made her weak.
He licked his lips and leaned toward her. Clenching her teeth, she dipped closer and slid her arm around his waist. Slowly, she helped him to move his legs and they dropped over the side of the bed. Thankfully, her uncle had chosen to keep Mitch wearing Long Johns.
Gradually, she was able to help him to a standing position. He swayed slightly, and she tightened her arms around him. He would be light-headed for a few moments. She looked up at him. His face had turned pale, so she watched him for signs of passing out. He blinked a few times, took several deep breaths, and then dropped his gaze to her.
“I think I’m all right.”
She nodded and assisted him in taking the first step. Then another, and another. She tried not to remember that one of her hands rested on his bare chest, especially since she had touched other men’s chests before. Fortunately, she’d never become breathless or her palms been sweaty during those times.
“Hold still.” She shifted enough to look at his back and at the bandage. There were no bloodstains. So far, so good.
“How does it look?” he asked.
“Good, but let’s not overdo your exercise today.”
“Of course not.”
When she shifted back to the original pose, his right arm moved and hooked over her shoulder. Her pulse quickened.
“I missed you this morning,” he said softly.
Her heart leapt and she was too late to stop the giddiness spreading through her. “You did? Why? You had Olivia to keep you company.”
“I know, but… she was not you.”
A blush filled Lydia’s face. “Yes, well… since I hadn’t slept as I was worrying about my patient, and I had a busy night at work, I was very exhausted and needed my sleep.”
“You are a good nurse to worry about her patients enough to lose sleep over.”
“Nursing is what I love to do.”
His gaze was locked to her eyes, and as each second passed, she found it harder to breathe or to create a thought in her head. Instead, all she could think about was how the temperature in her body kept rising.
“Then you have the kindest heart. You are truly an amazing woman.”
She was uncomfortable with him being so open with her, and yet at the same time, she wished more men would tell her things like that. “Thank you, Mitch. I don’t get that compliment often.”
“I’m surprised, but I’m sure your patients think that way even if they don’t say it.”
Lydia finally realized why she was drawn to this man. True, it was his green eyes that pulled her in initially, but he was so sweet and endearing. He hadn’t spoken a mean word yet. Part of her heart wanted to believe a man like this couldn’t possibly be the deserter, Peter Mitchell.
She walked him back to the bed and carefully helped him on the mattress. He appeared out of breath, and she assumed it was because of the walking excursion. He was too weak to do much more.
As she pulled the blanket back over him, she noticed he was looking at her mouth. Once again, her throat dried, making it difficult to swallow. Does he want to kiss me? Just the thought made her breathless – again. Yet, he wouldn’t dare be so bold and forward. They barely knew each other forty-eight hours. So, why then did she look at his mouth and imagine it merging with hers?
Oh, for heaven’s sakes! She snapped out of the trance he’d somehow put her under and concentrated on being a nurse… because that was what she was supposed to be.
“I suppose I should let you rest now.” She started to pull away, but he grasped her sleeve, keeping her from moving very far. Their faces were too close. She felt his warm breath on her neck, and it sent chills over her.
“Don’t go yet.”
His voice was deeper than it had been a few minutes ago. Even the color of his eyes were a brighter green.
“Why?” she whispered.
“Because I want to do this first.” He leaned up and pressed his lips against hers.
Shock buzzed through her, but she didn’t know if she acted this way because of his boldness, or because of the way her body hummed with desire as her heart beat in a frantic rhythm.
She couldn’t move, and she didn’t know why. She was engaged, so why was she allowing this stranger to kiss her?
The clanking of dishes outside the door, jerked Lydia out of her confused thoughts and she jumped back. She stepped away from him, placing her fingers to her mouth as she could still feel the imprint of his tender and brief kiss.
“I, um… I’d better go.” Just as Lydia reached for the doorknob, the door opened, and the housekeeper carried in a tray of food.
“I hope yer hungry,” Henrietta said cheerfully, “’cuz I’m gonna fatten ya up.”
Lydia forced herself to smile, under the awkward situation. “I’m sure he’s starving. I’ll be back later.”
Not waiting to hear anyone’s reply, she hurried out the door and to her bedroom. Perhaps she needed a nap. Maybe then all of this would go away.
SIX
Lydia was absolutely miserable. The past few days seemed to drag at work, and yet when she returned home and had time to care for her patient, she was too nervous to be alone with Mitch. Thankfully, she used Henrietta as an excuse to go into the guest bedroom with her. Henrietta wanted to fatten him up. It relieved her to know that he was gradually healing, but that meant she had to take him to the hospital, which was her uncle’s instruction. But she hesitated. If she pushed Mitch to heal too quickly, his wound might open, and she’d have to start this process all over again.
During these past three days, she hadn’t been able to speak with Mitch in private, only because she didn’t want to. She wasn’t afraid of him, not really. What frightened her, however, was the growing attraction she felt around him. She was still engaged, and she still loved her fiancé… At least she thought she still loved him. There were times lately, when she couldn’t even see an image of Adam’s face in her mind. Instead, Mitch’s handsome face filled her thoughts.
She sat on her knees out in her aunt’s garden. Not having to work in the hospital gave her time to do those other things she liked to do. Gardening was one of them. Yet, this afternoon, she probably did more daydreaming than anything.
Grumbling, she shook her head and focused on pulling a few more weeds around the tomato plants. The tomatoes were getting riper by the day, and her mouth watered to taste them again. Did Mitch like tomatoes, too?
Inw
ardly, she groaned. Why did she continue to think of him?
“I didn’t expect to find you out here.”
The man’s voice startled her, and she jumped, looking over her shoulder. Luke’s friend, Jess Olsen near her feet, grinning. The sun blocked her view of his face, and even shading her hand over her eyes didn’t work.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Olsen.”
“No, you must call me Jess. I insist.”
She nodded. “Are you here to see Luke? I’m afraid he’s at work.”
“Actually,” he squatted to her level, “I came to see you.”
“Me? Whatever for?”
“I thought we could take a relaxing walk together. It’s such a nice day, don’t you agree?”
She wanted to agree, but only that taking a walk on a nice day would be pleasing… but not with him. “It is a nice day, but—”
He wrapped his fingers around her upper arm and helped her rise as he stood. “We don’t have to go far if you don’t want.”
Once she was standing, she pulled her arm away and scowled. “What I want, Mr. Olsen, is to be given the option of turning down your request, but you seem to have taken that away from me.”
His eyes widened. “You don’t wish to go on a walk?”
“Not right now, and not with you.” She folded her arms, stubbornly.
“Forgive me, Lydia, because I don’t mean to offend you.”
He appeared to be shocked at her behavior, but she wondered if it was all for show. “Good, then let me turn your offer down more politely.” As she took a breath to calm herself, Jess moved closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. She gasped and pressed her dirt-caked gloved hands on his chest to move him, but he didn’t budge.
“Lydia, you don’t need to play hard to get.” His voice changed, playfully. “I saw the way you were watching me during the meal the other day, and I know you are interested in me.” He grinned. “Just as I’m very interested in you.”
“How dare you assume…” Anger rose inside her and she tried to push him back again. “Release me at once or I shall scream to the top of my voice.”
A Nurse for Mitch Page 4
