Cheyenne (The Women of Merryton Book 4)

by Jennifer Peel

  He stood his ground. “I overheard Jessie say she had to open this morning and run the café. And Shane’s on call at the hospital. I know he would love to see his wife . . .”

  I hopped away, furious at Shane, my predicament, and the gorgeous man following after me with the crutches.

  “He really wants to talk to her.”

  I whipped around and almost fell over. Aidan steadied me and kept ahold with one hand, while holding the crutches in his other. I seared my angry eyes into his. “Let’s get this straight. If you even want to think about being my friend, don’t you dare take his side. I don’t want to hear how sorry he is, because sorry can’t and won’t fix this. And don’t even think about blaming Abby for any of this. This is all him.”

  “I know that. He does too.”

  “He should have thought about that before he ruined the best thing he was ever going to have.”

  “You’re right.”

  “I know.” I tried to pull away, but not all that hard. My body had a mind of its own and it liked Aidan’s touch.

  “I’m not your enemy, and I respect and admire Abby. I would never do her the disservice of pointing fingers or blame at her.”

  I blew out a deep breath. “Good, because I’ve got enough dirt on the cops in this town to get away with anything. And I know a good place to bury a body or two.”

  His mouth twitched. “Now that we’ve settled that, are you ready to go?”

  “No.” I hated the hospital and the memories.

  Aidan must have known. “I’ll take you to the hospital instead of dropping you off at your car.” His face tinted a shade of pink again. “I moved my conference call to this afternoon just in case you wanted me to.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I know. I wanted to.”

  “Why?”

  “I like you.”

  “But you don’t want to like me.”

  He shook his head. “I should have never said that to you. I’m sorry. I just don’t want to make another mistake.”

  “And you think I would be?”

  “I think you could do a lot of damage.”

  “So why are you here?”

  “Because I’ve never been so attracted to someone, and trying to stay away from you didn’t seem to be working out so well for me or you.”

  My right eyebrow arched. “Explain.”

  He firmed his hold on me, allowing me to keep steady. “I seemed to take out my frustration of trying to stay away from you on you.”

  “Like when you accused me of caring only about how I looked, or when you told me you weren’t interested in me?”

  “Did I say those things?” His smile made an appearance.

  “You know, you’re right. We wouldn’t work.”

  “How do we know unless we try?”

  “You want the whole shebang. And you read the Bible. You need to find some woman at your preacher brother’s church that wants to save the world. Because I do care a lot about how I look and I care about myself more than anyone else. It’s just who I am.”

  He leaned in close enough to feel his warm breath. It smelled like a hint of spearmint. “You’re not fooling me.”

  “Don’t pretend to know me. You have no idea the damage I could do if I wanted to.”

  “I’ll take my chances.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  We were both in for some trouble, it would appear. I looked over at Aidan sitting next to me in Easton’s waiting room. He wasn’t an easy man to get rid of. I did my best to scare him, well, not completely. I was saving my really evil stuff for later if he didn’t get the hint. Not even the Bible was going to be able to help him. He was going to need an exorcist or a lobotomy if he kept trying to pursue me.

  You don’t know how unhappy it made me that I felt like I needed him to get through the x-rays at the hospital, or even to walk into the hospital. I almost hyperventilated when we pulled into the parking lot. It had me reaching for his hand in the car before I stopped myself. I kept having flashbacks of feeling like my world had ended. The crushing weight of being minutes away from dying. It had my chest constricting just thinking about it. Aidan was patient; he only coaxed when he felt like he could.

  And if that wasn’t enough, we were the stars of the show wherever we went. Every nurse, receptionist, and patient in the place had either come out to take a look at us, or they were staring at us right now. What gives? I’d dated plenty of men in this town. Not once did it cause a stir. Not even the famous quarterback. Why Aidan?

  If they wanted a show they were going to get one. I leaned in to whisper in his ear. “I’m going to give you a reputation, preacher’s brother.”

  His mouth drew up into an eye-catching smile.

  “It’s not helping you when you smile like that.” I could see the raised skin my breath caused on his neck.

  He set down the magazine he wasn’t really reading and turned my way. “How are you feeling?”

  “Ooo good. Do you see how everyone loves your concern?”

  “I only care about how you’re doing right now.” He was no fun and, unfortunately, sincere.

  “I’m fine.”

  He nodded in a placating fashion. He knew I was lying.

  But that didn’t keep me from having some fun. Easton’s nurse came out and called my name.

  Aidan stood up and helped me up, bringing us face to face. “Do you want me to go back with you?”

  The gaping stares and gasps were hilarious, and I decided to reward the crowd.

  I gave everyone my most dazzling smile. “Isn’t he cute? He wants to see the results of the pregnancy test for himself.”

  He faltered a bit at the eruption of loud gossip and phones coming out to spread the good fake news. I had to steady him through my evil laughter. “No good deed goes unpunished. Have fun out here now.”

  “For that, I’m coming back.”

  “Suit yourself, Daddy.”

  I had to use the dang crutches, to my chagrin, but I almost forgot about how much I hated them due to the looks of utter astonishment on everyone’s faces. Aidan’s face, though, was pure gold. He was doing his best not to make eye contact with anyone. He beat me to the nurse who was shaking her head at me in a rebuking matter. She knew why I was really there and didn’t look pleased about the ruckus I’d caused.

  I didn’t care about the cranky nurse. I was doing a service for my fellow Merrytonites. It had been a few weeks since the first couple of Merryton split, so they needed a good scandal to get them through. I was surprised, though, that Aidan hadn’t tried to deny it.

  I felt my phone buzzing off the hook in my bag. I knew it was Abby and Jessie. They would have to wait, but I couldn’t wait to talk to them. This was the happiest I’d been since the accident.

  Poor Aidan walked back in a daze. I almost felt sorry for him, but not really.

  I guess I was getting a pass at all the fun stuff like being weighed and having my blood pressure taken. Easton wasn’t my normal doctor anyway. Aidan and I were set up in an exam room and told Dr. Cole would be with us shortly.

  Aidan looked more like a patient than me with his red ready-to-burst-with-embarrassment face. Yet he still managed to be a gentleman. “Can I help you up on the table?”

  I stood, balancing on my crutches. “Answer a question first. How old are you?”

  He leaned in and surprised me. “Still young enough to father a child, apparently.”

  I smirked, but that brought up another question. “Do you have children?”

  He shook his head in a sober manner.

  “How come?” Remember, I have no tact.

  “That’s an invasive question.”

  I looked around the room. “You’re standing in a doctor’s exam room with me, and your kisses have been pretty invasive, so I think we can throw pretense out the window.”

  He thought for a moment. “Let’s get you off that leg first.”

  I allowed him to help me up even though I co
uld have done it myself. I liked the feel of his hands on me, even with clothes covering my skin. I almost kissed him when we came face to face. Instead I took a deep breath and scooted back on the table.

  He did the same, but took the seat next to the table. He met my curious eyes. “I wanted nothing more than to have children with Mary. We decided to adopt first since there are so many children that need a good home. She saw that firsthand in her work. But because of the nature of Mary’s job we decided we should wait. And we thought we had all the time in the world. I regret that now.”

  “What about Portia?”

  He thought about how to phrase his answer. “She wasn’t exactly mother material.”

  “Like me.”

  He cocked his head. “I think you would be a great mother.”

  I placed my hand across my chest and laughed. “Whatever gave you that impression?”

  “I’ve thought that for a while as I’ve watched you with your friends’ children, but that day at the salon when you refused to see me, I was impressed. You gave each child your undivided attention and talked to them like they were real people, even the younger ones. I was amazed as you cut Tessa’s hair while she sat on your lap. That took some talent. I’ve never seen a toddler sit so still.”

  “I bribe them with candy.”

  “You do more than that. I saw the way you talked with her and showed her what you were doing. The hugs and kisses seemed to help too.”

  “You caught me on an off day.” I became interested in the poster on the wall warning about the dangers of smoking.

  Aidan rested his hand on my knee. “Why does that embarrass you?”

  I zeroed in on him. “I’m not embarrassed. That’s just not me. I’ve never had the urge to breed.”

  He chuckled.

  “I’m serious. Now, if someone dropped a fully functioning kid on my door, preferably a girl, sure, I would take her in and teach her the ways of the world and most importantly to stay away from the opposite sex. But I don’t see that happening.”

  He gave my knee a squeeze. “You know, men are really not all that bad.”

  “Uh-huh. Says the guy that knocked me up without even giving me a ring.” I grinned evilly.

  He removed his hand, tinges of pink erupted in his cheeks. “Like I said, you know how to pack a punch.”

  “I warned you to stay away from me.”

  “That’s not really an option in my mind.”

  “Are you sure? Because I haven’t even begun yet.”

  His eyes widened. “I’m up for the challenge.” He didn’t sound so sure.

  “We’ll see.”

  Easton walked in and looked between Aidan and me. “You’re not really pregnant, are you?”

  “I came to see you because I thought you were smarter than Dr. Shannon. Now you’re making me question that.”

  Easton shut the door. “I had to make sure. You had x-rays today and I’m treating you.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m not pregnant. Now Aidan on the other hand . . . ”

  Aidan stood up and shook hands with Easton, cutting me off.

  I really did enjoy messing with him.

  “How are you?” Easton asked Aidan.

  Aidan looked at me before answering. “I’m learning.”

  I raised my eyebrow.

  Easton chuckled. “I bet you are.”

  “Yadda, yadda, am I okay or not?” I was nervous to hear the answer, but doing my best not to show it.

  The men separated. Aidan took his seat again while Easton took the stool on wheels. He rolled himself in front of me. “You’re lucky.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief.

  “I’m not a hundred percent sure because of how swollen your leg is, but the fracture looks to be healed.” He examined my leg making me wince. “You never should have run on this leg or gone to Zumba. Your muscles needed to rebuild themselves before attempting any high-impact exercise. Didn’t Dr. Shannon tell you this?”

  “He might have mentioned something.”

  Easton gave me a pitiful look. The same I had received for months. “You’re going to have to stay off this leg until the swelling is gone. I’ll prescribe you an anti-inflammatory, but keeping off it is going to be key. You risk infection and reinjuring it the more you’re on it. And I understand your hesitation with aquatic therapy, but at this point I would say once you are cleared to resume ‘normal’ activities, it’s your best option for full recovery and getting back to running again.”

  My whole body tensed. I clammed up, which was a freak occurrence.

  Aidan stepped in on my behalf. “Is there anything else she could do?”

  Easton released a large breath. “Not anything that would be as effective.” He met my eyes.

  I realized how much he had aged. And how I didn’t find him as attractive as I used to. His hair was thinning and he was getting more of a dad bod, which was weird considering his wife was the healthiest person I knew. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t ugly by any standard, just not up to my standards anymore. I glanced at Aidan and wondered if he had something to do with it. He exceeded my standards as far as looks went, probably income too.

  “I could recommend a psychologist, even a hypnotherapist that could help you overcome your fear of—”

  Fire shot through my eyes. “This appointment is over.”

  Easton wasn’t having it. “Cheyenne.” He and Taylor were sounding more like parental figures. “Receiving help is nothing to be ashamed of. If you had an infection you would treat it. At least I hope you would. It’s the same thing for emotional and psychological well-being.”

  I sat up as tall and straight as I could. “I’m not crazy.”

  “No one said that.”

  Aidan placed a calming hand on my knee. That was a little awkward in front of Easton, but hey, no more than him sitting here in the exam room.

  Easton gave up. “If you change your mind, I’d be happy to call in a referral.”

  “How long should I stay off my leg?” I was ready to get out of there.

  “I would say the next seven to ten days. I would keep icing it and keep it elevated when you can. If the swelling doesn’t go down in the next few days or if you start running a fever, come back in.”

  That I could do. I nodded in acknowledgement.

  “We’re here for you, Cheyenne.” Easton stood up. He gave Aidan a male head flick that said ‘see ya’. “Stop by the nurse’s station and let them know what pharmacy you use in town and we’ll call in a prescription for the anti-inflammatory.”

  “Thank you.” I begrudgingly offered.

  “My pleasure.” He walked out, leaving me alone again with the man who still had his hand on my knee.

  “Well, that was fun.” I reached for the stupid crutches leaning against the table. I guess I was going to get cozy with them again.

  Aidan grabbed them before I could. “Why won’t you see a psychologist?”

  I threw him a dirty look. “That’s none of your business.”

  He stood up and leaned against the table. “I thought we were past that.”

  “You don’t know me.”

  “You keep saying that, but I want to.”

  “Why?”

  He brushed some of my hair back with his hand. “I like you and I want to kiss you again.”

  “I’m not stopping you.” My pulse quickened in anticipation. Not many men could elicit that response in me anymore.

  “You are tempting.” He let out a heavy breath.

  “I know.”

  He grinned. “I want you to like me too.”

  “I like the way you kiss.” I more than liked it, as in, I would keep him around if only he would kiss me whenever I wanted him to—with no strings, of course.

  “I need more.”

  “I told you—”

  “I know. You’re on hiatus. I’m going to do my best to change your mind.”

  “You’re only going to be disappointed.”

  “I will be ei
ther way, so I might as well try.”

  “You’re asking to be tortured.”

  “I suppose I am.”

  “Just remember you asked for it.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  The torture continued as soon as we walked back into the waiting area. All eyes were laser focused on us. I couldn’t pass up the gift that had been handed to me. I stopped on my crutches and turned to Aidan, who was dutifully by my side carrying my purse and prescription. “For the hundredth time, we are not naming the baby after your mother. I don’t care that Tracy can go both ways.” I didn’t know if that was his mother’s name. I loved being evil and I was so good at it.

  The phones were already out in anticipation for us to emerge. I recognized a couple of patients that had gone back before us but had stuck around for the show. Oh, Merryton. So predictable.

  Someone not predictable was Bible man. No more burning red face. He gave an academy award winning smile. “We have plenty of time to decide.”

  I heard things like, “They really are sleeping together? I wonder if Pastor Bates knows.” My favorite was, “She ruined another one.” I had to think about what that meant, and then I remembered many years ago there was a Pastor Lamps who had a beautiful son. Ah. Good times. But I should be clear, he came onto me, not the other way around. I didn’t have to convince him to do anything.

  I tried to gauge Aidan’s reaction to the whispers. I hoped he got the message that I wasn’t the kind of woman he wanted. His crinkled brow said he was bothered. Good.

  “Ready to go?” He placed his hand on the small of my back.

  I was more than ready. I hated doctors’ offices, even if I was causing trouble. I headed for the doors to the blatant stares of every single person in the waiting area.

  Once I was situated in Aidan’s vehicle, my hopes were dashed. He wasn’t upset that I was the wrong kind of woman for him.

  His grip on his leather steering wheel was tense. “Don’t listen to them.”

  “Who?”

  His hand flew up. “The people in there.”

  I laughed. “Are you kidding? I’m no angel, and I don’t pretend to be, either. Most of the rumors you hear about me are true, except for the one where I’m pregnant with your child. But way to go for perpetuating that one. You probably better call your brother before he calls you and . . . Well, I’m not sure what you churchy people do. Does he pray over you or something? Make you read the Bible all day long? Or maybe this calls for an exorcism?”