Professional Boundaries

by Jennifer Peel

  “I told you, it wasn’t unrealistic for me to wait.”

  He wiped at some of my tears and smiled, but I could tell it wasn’t a happy smile. “I never said it was unrealistic for you. I said it was unrealistic for us.”

  “I remember, Ian.”

  He smiled happily at the sound of his name.

  Chapter 16

  The good news was the neck brace could come off and my arm wasn’t broken, but my shoulder really was dislocated and they were going to have to put it back into place. The procedure didn’t sound pleasant, but at least they could do it under a local anesthesia, or at least they hoped. That didn’t fill me with a lot of confidence. It didn’t help, either, that it took the nurse about five times before she got an I.V. in me. Ian finally requested someone else do it. I thought the poor lady was going to cry, but it really was painful, and I really didn’t need any more pain. Before they took care of my shoulder, they stitched my head.

  “Do I look like the bride of Frankenstein?” I asked Ian.

  He kissed my hand. “Never.”

  We had another moment alone before the next procedure. I took the time to grill him. “Why did you tell them you were my husband?”

  “I was afraid they wouldn’t let me come with you if we weren’t related,” he replied.

  “I think you’ve watched too many T.V. shows, and even if that were true, you could have gone with brother or something.”

  “No one would believe I’m your brother,” he laughed to himself, “but this is the south.”

  I shook my head at his terrible, stereotypical southern joke. “Hey, we only marry cousins down here.”

  He laughed again.

  It wasn’t too much longer until we were joined again by Dr. Ellis and a new nurse, Janelle, who became my hero as she finally administered pain medication and a relaxant intravenously. They excused Ian again and told him he could come back once my shoulder was back in place. Before he left, he kissed me softly again on the lips and grinned mischievously afterwards. My heart monitor went a little erratic, which only made him smile wider.

  “Mr. Greyson, I think we need to talk about your behavior.”

  “Later,” was all he said before he left me feeling overwhelmingly confused and wonderful. I had missed his kisses like Charlie missed his squeaker toy.

  “That’s so cute, you call him Mr. Greyson,” Nurse Janelle said.

  Yes, it’s just adorable, I thought.

  And with that thought, the doctor began manipulating my shoulder back into its socket. All I have to say is, pain relievers are a gift from God, as are doctors. As soon as my shoulder was in its rightful place, I felt instantaneous relief. It still felt sore, but the throbbing pain was gone.

  I thanked Dr. Ellis, and he gave me a list of instructions to follow along with the best news of the day: I could go home that evening. Hallelujah. I had no desire to stay overnight, but there was a caveat. Someone needed to stay with me and monitor me, just in case. That was going to be tricky with my sister and Holly both being out of town. I wondered if Delfia would want to. We weren’t friends out of the office, but there was no reason we couldn’t be.

  It was just about this time that Janelle let Mr. Greyson/Ian back in and unfortunately he caught the gist of the conversation. “Don’t worry; I’ll keep a careful eye on my wife tonight.”

  I wanted to challenge him right then and there, but if I did, I would look like a liar. And ok, I was a liar. I was letting these people think I was married to my ex-boyfriend who was currently only my boss. I really was in a soap opera; all I needed now was for Ian to tell me we really were brother and sister. Just because I couldn’t object now, though, it didn’t mean I wouldn’t later on. And that’s exactly what I did as soon as Dr. Ellis and Janelle left.

  “You can’t monitor me over night!”

  “Why not?” he acted surprised that I would disagree.

  “Mr. Greyson, need I remind you …”

  He put his finger to my mouth as he sat on the edge of my bed. “Please call me Ian.”

  “Even at the office?” I asked.

  He thought it over for a moment. As he mulled, I wondered why this was such a hard concession for him. What had happened to make him this cautious? I mean, he was always cautious, but I had a feeling there was more to the story.

  He took up my left hand. “Yes,” he said simply.

  I couldn’t help but smile at his concession, but he still wasn’t staying with me. “Ok then, Ian, need I remind you that I don’t let men stay the night at my apartment, especially when they’re my boss.”

  He scooted closer and squeezed my hand. “Fine, I’ll quit right now.”

  “Are you suddenly going to become a woman now too?”

  He laughed, but he wouldn’t let it go. “You know,” he said. “It wouldn’t be the first time we spent the night under the same roof.”

  I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks. He spoke the truth. We had spent five days together at his parent’s place. I had slept in his old room, and he slept on the pull out couch that had a sprung spring. Those were some of the best days of my life.

  I didn’t respond. I just bit my lip.

  “I’ll stay on your couch or even the floor,” he said it like that settled the matter.

  I just shook my head, well as much as I could. My head was still pounding. “What’s going on with you?”

  He tenderly touched my cheek. “Seeing you hurt and unable to move today reminded me how short life is, and I’ve already wasted so much time.”

  I was about to ask for clarification on that statement. Did it mean what I thought it meant? His phone rang, and he said he needed to answer it. It was his insurance company, and he was arranging a rental car with them. I had forgotten both he and I were there without transportation.

  “I need to go, but I’ll be back to take you home,” he said as soon as he got off the phone.

  It was then that I remembered my keys were at the office. “Could you stop by the office and get my keys and my laptop?” I asked. I wasn’t too worried about my car. Our office was in a good part of town, so it could wait until tomorrow.

  “Of course,” he replied. “I need to take care of something there anyway.”

  “And can you ask Delfia if she can stay with me tonight?”

  “Sure,” he said in voice that left me anything but sure he was telling the truth, but I thanked him anyway.

  He kissed my forehead before leaving, which left me feeling all sorts of weird, and it wasn’t from the drugs that were pumping through my veins.

  As soon as he left, I called Janelle back in so she could help me to the restroom; it was time to take a look at the damage that had been done to me. I knew there was some, I could feel it. She helped me walk over while wheeling the I.V.

  I immediately looked in the mirror once I was left alone, and it wasn’t pretty. The whole right side of my face was already beginning to bruise, and my right eye was slightly swollen. The stitch line on my forehead was going to leave a nice scar. I became very grateful I had decided last year to get bangs. It looked like I would always be keeping them. I chanced to look down at my lovely hospital-issued attire and found more bruising down my right side. I was surprised Ian hadn’t mentioned how horrible I looked, but it did explain the look of concern in those chocolate eyes of his.

  I couldn’t stand too long. I wasn’t sure if it was the trauma or medication, but I really didn’t feel all that hot, and Ian wasn’t helping with him being all Ian. If I thought I was confused before, there was no comparison to the way I felt now. I was beginning to wonder if Zane and Amanda were right, even though it made no sense at all. I mean, we’d spent thirteen years apart; he told me him coming here was all about business, but he sure wasn’t acting professional, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

  I’d admit, there was a part of me that welcomed it, but how did I reconcile the years of separation and pain. And what about trust? How could I ever trust him? I felt like screa
ming again; I shouldn’t be thinking like this. He was my boss, and he left me, and I didn’t even know why. I told him I loved him with all my heart, and he told me that ruined everything.

  Janelle settled me in my bed again and took my vitals, all while making small talk. “So, how long have you been married?”

  I was going to kill Ian! He was turning me into a liar. “Not long at all.”

  Was that kind of the truth?

  “Oh newlyweds,” she said excitedly.

  I had a feeling she would like to be one. She looked younger than me, and she was super cute. She had that new-love aura around her. “So, do you have anyone special in your life?” I asked as she took my pulse.

  My assessment of her was dead on. She began to gush about Carson. “We’ve been dating three months, and I know that isn’t very long, but I just know he’s the one. I mean, is that even possible? How did you know your husband was the one?”

  I thought about her question, and at least I didn’t have to lie. “It’s like drowning in pure intelligence,” I said. “You have this peaceful, all-encompassing feeling that just says you’ve come home.”

  She looked at me and sighed. She didn’t have to say anything, I knew she understood exactly what I said, and even more, I knew she felt it. I only hoped her story ended better than mine and that her Carson felt the same way she did.

  She let me be and turned down the lights. “Try and get some rest, we’ll monitor you for the next little while, and if everything looks good, you can go home early this evening.”

  I closed my eyes and let the medication take me over. I fell into a fitful sleep. The medication seemed to be fighting my mind for control. The medication was saying sleep and my mind was saying let’s overanalyze everything Ian has said or done in the past two months. Heck, even the past fourteen years. Eventually the two did seem to make a compromise; I got to sleep, but my dreams were laced with Ian, and they frequently woke me up. I was almost grateful when the pain meds wore off and I woke up for good, even if I did hurt all over.

  I found, though, that I wasn’t alone, and my dreams had suddenly become reality. There Ian was, on the edge of my bed, holding my hand. He had changed out of his suit that had some of my blood on it. He was now casual, in jeans and a polo shirt looking more like the Ian I used to know.

  He touched my brow as soon as my eyes opened. “How are you feeling?” he asked.

  “Like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

  His face dropped, and he hung his head.

  “Hey, it wasn’t your fault.”

  He didn’t respond verbally, but I knew by the look on his face he blamed himself, and nothing I could say would change his mind.

  “So are Delfia and I having a slumber party tonight?”

  He got a devilish grin on his face. “She has a date, so it looks like it’s just you and me.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Come on, Kelli. We’re both adults.”

  That makes it worse in my mind.

  “Did you tell her I was injured and how important this was to me?” I mean, surely her date with Matt could wait a night.

  “I didn’t think that was wise.”

  “Why not?” I demanded

  “Did you really want me to disclose to Ms. King that I was the alternative?”

  Of course I knew that was a terrible idea. I loved Delfia, but like I said before, she was the queen bee of gossip. I didn’t answer, though, because I knew it was a terrible idea for my boss and me to have a sleepover. Taking my chances of slipping into a coma sounded like a better and safer idea.

  “I cleared it with your sister, if that makes you feel better,” he said in response to my silence.

  I sat up as straight as my body would allow me to at the moment. I was finding movement of any kind to be painful and my right side was a little numb from the local anesthesia they had given me before they manipulated my shoulder. “When and why did you talk to Amanda?” I didn’t want to tell her until she got back.

  He gently touched my shoulder as if to tell me to relax. I settled a tad at his touch.

  “I knew she would want to know, and I had to get the code to your apartment.”

  I stiffened again. “What!”

  He smiled and then reached down and grabbed a bag and placed it gently on my abdomen. “I thought you would want some more comfortable, non-blood splattered clothing to change into.”

  I shook my head carefully at his thoughtfulness. “Thank you, but …” I didn’t know what to say. The guy was throwing me for a loop.

  “But, what?” he grinned.

  “You shouldn’t have called my sister. I don’t want her to worry.” That just sounded stupid, but oh well.

  “She’s happy I called her, and I promised her I would take good care of you, so there was no need for her to worry.”

  “And she believed you?” I spluttered.

  He grinned again. “You know, some people actually think I’m a pretty good guy.”

  I dropped my shoulders and sighed. His smiled dropped too as he leaned closer and lightly touched the bruised side of my face. “I don’t blame you for the misgivings you have about me. They are well deserved, but I know somewhere in that willful mind of yours, you know it’s true.”

  I so badly wanted to believe him, especially when he looked at me so tenderly, but I had spent years trying to get over him, only to have him hang over every relationship I’ve tried to have. Instead of words to respond, my body decided tears were a good way to go. It wasn’t the best option in my mind, but I couldn’t hold it liable; after all, I was tired and battered, physically and emotionally. A body can only take so much. To make matters worse, Ian carefully drew me in to him and just held me. Against my better judgment, I sank into him and soaked his shoulder in my tears.

  Suddenly that overwhelming feeling of peace and rightness washed over me. But how could that be? I had loved him, and because of that, he left me. I extricated myself and leaned back against the bed and closed my eyes. I felt him softly kiss my forehead, then I heard my nurse walk in.

  “I’ve come to spring you,” she announced.

  It was the best news I’d had all day.

  She came around to the side Ian occupied. “I’m going to need you to move,” she said kindly to him. “I need to check your wife’s vitals one more time, but don’t worry I’ll have her back to you in no time.” She winked at me.

  It was all I could do to not roll my eyes, and I could tell Ian wanted to laugh at me.

  It didn’t take her long to remove all the medical paraphernalia I had attached to me. Once she was done, she verbally went over a list of things I should and shouldn’t be doing for the next week. Heavy lifting and driving were off the table, but she did give me a list of exercises to do with my arm and shoulder.

  She turned to Ian and gave him warning signs of concussions to look for, just in case. “Also, your wife may be unsteady for a day or two, so it would be a good idea to help her with everyday tasks like bathing and dressing.

  Thankfully, her back was to me because my eyes widened at his evil grin, and then they practically rolled into the back of my head. She handed Ian a couple of prescriptions for pain relief. “Just let me know as soon as your wife is dressed and I’ll bring in a wheel chair to take her down to your car.” How many times was she going to call me his wife?

  I balked at the wheel chair, but she said it was hospital policy; I had to be wheeled out. Whatever, I thought, as long as I could go home.

  As soon as she left, I sat up slowly and grabbed the bag of clothes Ian had brought me with my left hand. He immediately came to my aid and helped me stand up.

  “Would you like some help dressing?” he could barely say it without laughing.

  I gave him the evil eye.

  “Doctor’s orders,” he said again, with laughter this time.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  “I’ll be here if you need me,” he called back. “I put a button up shirt in there so you d
idn’t have to reach above your head.”

  He always thought of everything. I didn’t even respond. I just slowly made my way to the bathroom. I was definitely getting those prescriptions filled. Every step felt like I was dragging a ton of bricks, and the bricks shot needles every time they were moved.

  Once in the bathroom, I realized why Janelle said I would need help dressing. It was all I could do to get my jeans on, but I had to. There was no way I was having Ian help me, and calling Janelle in here would blow the whole we’re married thing. I silently cursed Ian as I slowly pulled up my pants with only my left arm and without trying to cry or move too quickly. It was then I realized I couldn’t button them with only one hand. I had the same issue with my shirt. My poor right arm and hand just wouldn’t work right at the moment; the stupid anesthesia hadn’t completely worn off yet. This was so ridiculous!

  I came out of the bathroom holding my shirt together with one hand to find a smug-looking Ian right by the door waiting for me.

  “Do you need help, honey?”

  If only I had a free hand to smack the smirk off of his face.

  “Don’t even think about looking down my shirt or pants,” I warned.

  He gently grabbed my shirt, pulled me to him, and immediately began buttoning my shirt while his dancing eyes stared directly into my eyes. Not once did he look down.

  “Don’t enjoy this too much,” I growled.

  He pulled a little closer and grinned. “Maybe you don’t how this works for guys, but we typically enjoy unbuttoning.”

  “Did you really just say that to me, Mr. Greyson?”

  “No more Mr. Greyson, Kelli.” His eyes burned into mine.

  He had two buttons left when he stopped. “Is that sufficient?”

  I just shook my head yes, and without a word, he buttoned my jeans for me. “Thank you,” I whispered.