His voice clashed with the firm female voice of the woman who was likely hovering a few feet away. Jacob closed his eyes. “No, Hallie.”
She stepped forward. “I can help. I don’t have a regular job right now.”
Both doctors gave him an unsure look. But it was Dr. Drake who spoke. “Mr. Hines, you can’t be discharged without having someone to help care for you. With both fractures, you can’t liftanything, and you’ll need assistance with some of your other day-to-day…” He didn’t have to voice it. Jacob was well aware of what he was referring to. The more intimate parts of his day.
There was no way he’d want Hallie helping him with certain things. But there was no one else he could call and both he and Hallie knew it. She didn’t even know he had a brother. Jacob didn’t talk about Ryker to anyone.
“I can do it,” Hallie insisted again. “And if I need help, I have a big family who can stop by.”
Jacob squeezed his eyes shut. There was no getting out of this. He didn’t want to spend a single second longer at the hospital than he had to. If that meant agreeing to taking Hallie’s help, then he would. “Fine, I’ll let her help. I have a spare room she can use.” The defeated sound of his voice made him want to crawl into a hole and hide until everything just faded away.
“Wonderful,” Dr. Smith said with a smile. “Miss…”
“It’s Hallie,” she said.
“Hallie,” the doctor repeated, “please stick around for the next thirty minutes or so. I’d like to get you an information packet on what to expect. Since the fractures aren’t very serious, it won’t be too difficult. Mostly we want to keep Mr. Hines off his feet. Cooking, cleaning, and helping him to the bathroom as needed.”
Jacob groaned. This was going to be miserable. He could already tell.
Hallie moved into his line of vision, her eyes locked on the doctor and a serious expression on her face. “Of course. I’ll be right here.”
The second the doctors left, Hallie lowered herself into the seat by his bed. She didn’t speak. Smart. Because he had a feeling if she did, he’d lose his temper and send her packing. Who cared if he lost his privilege to go home?
Instead, they sat in uncomfortable silence.
If this was how the next eight weeks were going to go, they were both in for a new brand of torture.
CHAPTER FIVE
Hallie stoodbefore the cute cabin with a strange sense of trepidation. Jacob had given her the keys to the house so she could prepare for him to come home. That meant going grocery shopping and moving her belongings into the house.
She’d only been here twice before.
Once when she’d come by to pick him up when his truck was out of commission. The second when she’d dropped off something he’d left at Sagebrush. Jacob liked his privacy.
And that was the reason she hadn’t worked up the courage to walk over that threshold. Why ohwhydid she volunteer to help Jacob out when he’d been intent on keeping her at arms’ length?
Because ofguilt.
Because this was allherfault.
Becauseif she hadn’t been in that field taking those stupid pictures, then he wouldn’t have stupidly thrown himself in front of a charging bull.
Hallie sighed then rolled back her shoulders and reached for the grocery bags she’d put down at her feet. She headed for the door and awkwardly unlocked it before pushing herself inside.
The space was clean. And well designed. There was a large television above the fireplace. A sectional couch surrounded a coffee table, and two high backed chairs sat to one side of the living space. A table that could seat four was centered in a nook area. The kitchen had stainless steel appliances that actually looked nice with the wood flooring and cabinets.
She pushed the door shut with her foot and moved into the kitchen to put the groceries on the counter. Her duffle bag was still in her truck, and she’d have to pick up Jacob from the hospital in about an hour.
It felt strange being here while Jacob was gone. She was tempted to snoop around while she still could without being caught but thought better of it. The last thing she wanted to do was violate Jacob’s privacy. He didn’t want her here. He didn’t want anything more than friendship.
And she’d need to remind herself of those facts over and over so she didn’t allow herself to get even more attached to him. This was temporary and the least she could do to help him out when he’d risked his life to save her.
She could do this. She could be his friend, his helper, his roommate. Then she’d leave and nothing needed to change.
For the next twenty minutes, she put away groceries and her own belongings in the bedroom with a twin bed. It was empty save for the bed, a dresser, and a side table with a lamp. It would suit her purposes for the next couple of months.
When she was finally done, she headed out to her truck and prepared herself mentally for picking up the man who wanted nothing more than to be left alone.
