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‘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.
