by Sue MacKay
‘I’ll text you when Chris lets me loose.’
He chose to ignore the gleeful grins on his mates’ faces. They could get lost as well.
Stephanie was still looking stunned at what she’d agreed to. ‘What about your sister?’ she croaked. ‘We could ask her to help.’
Max cut her off. ‘Chantelle and medical dressings? Don’t go there. You’re it for as long as Mike needs you.’
Max had made that up about Chantelle. ‘Haven’t you got a game to go watch?’ Michael growled.
That got them moving. The clock was ticking, and in their haste to set him up they’d forgotten they had yet to confront the traffic that would be clogging the roads around Eden Park.
‘We’ve got a spare ticket to the rugby. Chris?’
‘Give me five and I’ll be right with you. I’m all done here for the rest of the night. Thanks, Stephanie. Word of warning: your services will be required for at least three days.’ He grinned. ‘Thanks for the ticket, Michael.’
Michael glared at his surgeon. ‘Any time you want to go let me know and I’ll find another axe to do some damage with.’
‘Is there a television on the ward?’ his new housemate wondered in the sudden silence that fell after the three wise asses had left.
‘There’ll be one in the lounge at the far end.’
Though the prospect of getting out of bed to go along there was not exciting him.
‘I could watch on my phone if I had it with me.’
It had been in his pocket when he’d chopped himself, which had saved him hauling his butt around the house looking for it to call for help. But where it had got to was anyone’s guess.
Pity, because he really wanted to watch the game from the comfort of this bed. Negotiating crutches or a wheelchair did not appeal now the codeine was lightening off. Taking another pill could wait until he was ready to sleep. Drugs were all very well, but they made him groggy and he preferred to go minimal where he could on that score.
‘That’d drive you bonkers, wouldn’t it? With such a tiny screen you’d struggle to see it clearly.’
She looked at him hard and saw his frustration.
‘You phoned for an ambulance, so I’m figuring you dropped the phone on your porch afterwards.’
‘Hope I haven’t had any unwanted visitors since then.’ Losing his phone would be more than a nuisance, with all the numbers he had stored.
‘I’ll go get it. Anything else you want? Clothes to go home in? Toothbrush?’
He nodded. ‘All of those. Jock dropped my keys on the bedside table.’
Thank goodness one of them had been alert. He hadn’t given it a thought. Anaesthetic brain had a lot to answer for.
‘Steph, I’m sorry to be a pain.’
She blinked. ‘It’s okay.’
He’d called her Steph. Letting go of another knot that kept her that little bit removed from him. Anaesthetic brain again.
‘You might want to bring my car when you come to collect me. I’m not likely to get this leg into your matchbox.’ It would really give him grief if he tried folding it up to his chin.
‘No problem. I’d better fly. Kick-off’s in forty.’
She snatched up his house keys and disappeared before he had time to answer. Everyone seemed to be leaving him in a hurry today.
CHAPTER SIX
TO WAKE HIM or not? The game started in five.
Steph eased onto the chair beside Michael’s hospital bed and gazed at his face, free of pain and tension in sleep. Still as handsome, still making her blood heat. Michael. How had she thought she could get over him? Despite the years since she’d last touched him her palms could still feel the sensation of that warm skin, of his hard muscles. More important, she still knew the hope he brought her for a future of love.
There was no answer as to why it was Michael over other men she’d known. It was what it was. Attraction, both physical and mental. So deep that hope was an integral part of her, and finally she understood that removing it would be as impossible as whipping out her liver or kidneys. No cure available.
But right now he wouldn’t thank her if he missed the game—even if he did need to sleep.
‘Michael,’ she called softly.
She needed to hand over his gear and get out of there to digest what she’d let herself in for. Days and nights with Michael, in his house, looking after him. How had that happened?
She’d been conned, that was how. By a smart guy looking out for his friend. She couldn’t argue with that, even when the arguments were stacking up in her head. It was exactly what Jill would’ve done for her.
‘Michael,’ she tried, a bit louder, keen to get away.
When he didn’t stir she leaned across and laid her hand on his upper arm, shook gently.
‘It’s kick-off time.’
‘What?’ His eyes opened, closed again.
‘The rugby, Michael.’
This time his eyelids lifted and stayed up. ‘You got my phone?’
‘And the other things you wanted. But I thought this would be better to watch the game.’ She passed over her tablet. ‘Larger screen.’
He reached for the tablet—with the wrong hand. His groan was deep, throaty, and the pain from that sprained wrist showed in his face.
‘Easy...’
Using only one arm made his shuffling upright an awkward struggle, and a sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead.
Steph plumped the pillows behind his back, gently pushed him into them before turning on the tablet and finding the game.
‘Want to stay and watch with me?’
Pardon? Was he serious? Or not thinking straight?
‘I don’t think we can both watch on that tiny screen.’
In other words, No, I do not. We’re going to be spending too much time together starting tomorrow.
‘We’ll manage.’ He slid sideways and patted the bed. ‘Here.’
You’re kidding, right?
How was she supposed to do that without getting in a fever? But it seemed her heart had taken charge, because she was soon parked beside him, staring at the screen. Not looking anywhere else, not breathing, not feeling his arm against hers. Totally unaware of him.
Pants on fire.
The game had started. ‘Go, you idiot, run!’ Michael almost shouted as one of the Auckland forwards stole the ball from the opposition. ‘Look out!’
‘Shh, you’re in a hospital ward,’ she nudged him. ‘Some people in here are sick.’
He totally ignored her. ‘What sort of pass was that?’
Steph went to close the door. This was not going to be a quiet eighty minutes, so she’d minimise the damage. Then the game pulled her in and she forgot where she was, and even who she was squashed up against—okay, that was an exaggeration—until, in frustration at a player’s move, Michael slapped his hand down on his thigh.
‘Ahhh!’
The sound of raw pain drowned out the commentators and the background noise of the shouting crowd.
Standing up, Steph lifted his hand away from his leg and checked the dressing. ‘Got to watch out.’
His breathing was shallow and rapid, his good hand a fist, his face white.
She gripped his hand in both hers, held him until the tension eased from his muscles and his eyes opened.
‘Don’t say a word,’ he growled. ‘I’ve got more than enough cuss words of my own.’
Focusing on the screen, he drew in long, soothing lungsful of air, hissing them out again over tight lips.
When Steph tried to free her hands from his he turned his hand to hold on to her. She went with it, as it was one way to prevent him doing anything so mindless again.
Sitting back on the bed, not so close as to be touching his arm, hip and thigh this time, she did some breathing exercises o
f her own to lessen the tension cramping her stomach, her chest...her sex. Being this close to him was hard, not touching him even more so—but extremely wise and safe.
But it might not be the case by the time she moved out of Michael’s house in a few days.
* * *
‘Come and get me, will you? Before Chris changes his mind. I’ve had enough of this place and people poking thermometers in my mouth and shining torches in my face all night long. How’s a bloke supposed to recover when they don’t let him sleep?’
Michael was grumpy.
‘And don’t forget to bring my car. I’m not tying myself in knots getting into that miniscule thing you drive.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Great. Steph sighed into her tea. The man was belligerent as all get out.
‘I’ll be about an hour.’
‘An hour? The hospital’s just down the road, woman. I need to get out of here. Now.’
‘Anyone would think you’re in jail,’ she retorted. ‘I have to go to the supermarket to get Zac some biscuits first. Might get you some too.’
She’d been intending to go to the vet’s, but judging by the angst coming through the phone that would have to go on hold. It was going to be difficult enough spending the day with him, without having a bad mood hovering between them.
‘Pick me up first. I’ll sit in the car while you shop,’ he said, and followed up with a grunt. ‘Please.’
That was all it took. ‘Please’ spoken in that husky tone and she was his. Ah, no. Okay, she’d oblige him in this but nothing else. That was better.
‘Do you mind if Zac comes for the ride?’
‘Buckle him into Aaron’s seat.’
Was that a laugh? Couldn’t be. ‘Yeah, right.’
Actually, it wasn’t such a bad idea—if only Zac was a little bit smaller. She’d seen the injuries inflicted on a front passenger by a dog in the back seat slamming forward when a truck took out the car it was in. As for the dog... She shuddered, glad she hadn’t seen that.
‘I’ll be waiting at the main entrance.’
Michael hung up on her, clearly convinced she would swing by for him before doing anything else.
As tempting as it was to make him wait, she didn’t. One: that temper of his would only increase, which wasn’t the way to start their days sharing his house. It was going to be strained enough. Two: he was still recovering from surgery and needed to be at home, where it was warm and comfortable, not sitting in a busy vestibule being knocked and nudged by people coming and going.
When she pulled up he was sitting on a bench outside the hospital in the cold wind, looking pale and uncomfortable. There was no wheelchair in sight—only a crutch that had fallen to the ground by his feet.
‘Hey,’ Steph said as she opened the passenger door. ‘How did you get down here?’
‘There’s this thing called a lift.’
The way he was struggling to stand up made her want to shake him—hard. He didn’t have to put himself through any more pain than necessary.
Swallowing her anger, she moved to take his elbow and wrap an arm around his waist. ‘Come on. Get in the car.’
Michael sagged against her, giving away how much he was hurting. ‘Bossy creature, aren’t you?’
‘You’d better believe it.’
As quickly as her anger had risen it faded away. He was a man who believed in being tough, strong, inviolate. Face it: she wouldn’t be interested in a wimp. But did he have to be so stubborn?
It took some effort to get Michael into his car, but with a few curses on his side and determination and care on hers he was finally installed, looking even paler and gulping air as if it was going out of fashion fast.
Zac settled his snout on Michael’s shoulder, and didn’t seem perturbed that he wasn’t acknowledged.
‘Stephanie?’
Michael tapped her hand until she looked at him.
‘Thank you. For everything. I know you aren’t keen to stay with me, so you need to know I appreciate it.’
Not what she’d expected. ‘It’s fine.’ She pulled out into the traffic. ‘Maybe I should take you home first...get you settled.’
His chest rose and fell. ‘No, I’m okay.’ Tipping his head sideways, he watched her watching the road. ‘Truly. It’s no more uncomfortable sitting in here than it will be at home. Let’s get whatever you need first.’
‘Fine. On your head be it. Is there anything you want? I’m warning you: cooking is not my forte.’
With his regular list of takeout menus he was safe for the few nights she’d be there, because getting involved in a kitchen and a pantry was not happening.
‘How much not your thing?’
‘I can boil vegetables, heat soup, put a casserole together with the help of a recipe.’
That wasn’t so bad.
‘Oh, and make toast.’
‘Want to pick up some soup? And a ham bone in case I get creative in the coming days.’
Suddenly Steph laughed. ‘This is nuts. Here we are, two supposedly intelligent people, planning a meal out of a can. Maybe it’s time I put an effort into cooking. Roasts and steak and sticky date puddings.’
‘You like sticky date too?’
He smacked those delicious lips.
‘I’ll book you in for a cookery course tomorrow.’ Then, ‘How come your mum didn’t teach you the basics?’
‘She tried, but I always wanted to be outside with my brothers. They did cool stuff, like climb trees and build huts, ride cycle tracks. Who would want to be stuck inside when they could do all that?’
‘You were married. Still no cooking?’
‘Some—nothing fancy.’ Another thing Freddy had finally come to grizzle about, even though it hadn’t been an issue in the beginning.
The supermarket car park was almost empty. She pulled up close to the front and leapt out.
‘Back in a tick.’
She raced up and down the aisles, lifting cans, bread and chocolate, and dog biscuits. She whipped through the self check-out and tossed her bag on the seat beside Zac.
She needn’t have bothered rushing. Michael’s head was tipped back, his eyes closed, and his breathing light. It was a silent few minutes driving from the supermarket to his house.
‘Someone’s been here,’ she commented, more to herself than to her two companions, as she parked as close to the front door as possible to save Michael any more walking than necessary. Smoke was billowing out of the chimney.
Michael came awake instantly. ‘Max said he’d drop by...make himself useful.’
‘Wait there while I open the door and dump these bags.’ She also let Zac out, and he immediately bounded across to a lemon tree to cock his leg.
‘I like your new housemate. We had quite the discussion while you were shopping,’ Michael commented when she returned to help him out of the car. He was keeping a wary eye on the dog, with his injured leg furthest away from that solid head.
‘You were faking that sleep?’
He hadn’t budged when she’d shut her door and started up the engine.
‘Zac, sit.’ He instantly obeyed. Unbelievable. ‘Good boy. He’s been an angel so far—apart from the holes he dug—so I’m hoping he’ll be well-behaved here.’
Winding her arm around Michael’s waist she helped him inside with his other arm hanging over her shoulder. Occasionally, when his leg dragged or knocked a step, his fingers dug hard.
‘Relax. I don’t mind having Zac here. Sometimes I think I should get a dog myself. Aaron would love it. But my hours don’t lend enough time.’
He made it right through to the kitchen and dropped onto a chair with a wince and a groan. The crutch clattered against the table and slid to the floor, sending Zac skittering backwards as he stared at the noisy thing.
Placing t
he crutch out of the way, but close enough for Michael to reach, Steph admitted, ‘That’s my big concern about Zac. That he’ll be lonely while I’m at work. So I’m going to enquire about getting a minder. Someone who’ll take him for walks on those days.’
‘There’s a guy who does it for some of the hospital staff. He’ll keep your dog at his place all day, if necessary. Ask the Radiology crowd. At least two of them use his services and they swear by him.’
‘That’s brilliant.’ The guilt niggling at her since she’d decided to keep Zac disappeared. ‘I wonder if this guy would drop by and check up on you while I’m at work. He could even take you for a hop around the park on your crutch.’
Michael glared at her. ‘Woof, woof.’
‘Know any good dog food takeout places?’
‘Watch it.’
Opening the fridge to put away the butter and milk, she gaped. ‘Someone’s been busy. There’s a casserole in here.’
‘That’ll be Max’s wife. She’s always baking and cooking. Believes it’s the way to everyone’s heart.’ He made to push up off his seat and immediately dropped down again. ‘Aaron’s more nimble than I am at the moment.’
‘Which is why I’ve been coerced into staying here. What are you wanting?’
‘You can leave any time you like. It wasn’t me who twisted your arm.’
‘Your pal was very persuasive. And neither did you really add any weight at the end. I might’ve resisted otherwise.’
She still wasn’t certain she’d done the right thing, coming here.
‘Do you want coffee?’
He nodded. ‘I was trying to make it easier for you to give in without Jock gloating. He’s good at that. But seriously, Steph, if you don’t want to be here then please go back to your place. I won’t be offended.’
So she was Steph today as well? Still sounded sexy on his tongue.
‘Which room do I use?’
Yours? Do I get to share your bed?
She’d had her chance two nights ago and run.
‘Take your pick—though Aaron usually goes in the one next to mine when he’s staying, so I can hear him if he wakes.’ Michael grimaced.
