“These ladies appear to know how to read. I’m sure they can go over your lists,” he said, taking the notes from her and handing them to the nurses, who watched in approval.
Guiding her down the hall, Liam moved her to the elevator. “I needed five more minutes. Doc told me not to come back for three days. What will I do?”
Liam chuckled. “How about relaxing?” he suggested. “Or we can go car shopping. I know Zeus will be happy to see you.”
She smiled. “I guess I can crochet,” she said, sucking on her bottom lip.
“Addy, slow down. Let’s not go crazy,” he teased. “When was the last time you took a day off?”
“I don’t like them,” she admitted. “I like staying busy.”
Liam regarded her as the elevator opened. She didn’t know many people in Serenity, made homemade treats for the dogs, walked in the dark, and didn’t like free time.
“You have three days? Guess what? I have three days off too,” he announced. “Why don’t we get you settled today? Tomorrow, we’ll drive to Seattle and find you a car.”
“What about the next day?” she asked. “I only need two days. They’ve already cleared me.”
“Life isn’t always about work. You have to have time to play. When’s the last time you did something fun?” he asked, holding the SUV’s door open for her.
“I enjoy myself. Zeus and I keep each other great company,” she said, defending herself.
“When’s the last time you went to lunch with the girls or shared a drink with your coworkers?” he asked, already guessing the answers.
“I don’t remember. I always keep busy,” she said, sounding a bit flustered.
Liam laughed. “All right, Addy. You officially need these three days off, and we’re having fun.”
She seemed nervous as he turned down the country road leading to her house. “You don’t have to spend all your time with me.”
“What if I want to see you?” he asked, watching her.
Addyson glanced down at her lap. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say, yes. I promise we’ll have an enjoyable time. I haven’t visited Seattle in a long time. There used to be a little seafood place a couple of blocks from Pike Place. Do you like it?”
“I love it. We used to make crab pots all the time. Depending on who got home first, Sam or I, we purchased all the ingredients, and the first night together, we’d make it,” she said, smiling at the memory.
“Good. We’ll have lunch there if it’s still standing. Have you visited Pike Place?” he asked as they pulled in the driveway.
“No. I’m not from around here,” she said, anxiously making her way to the porch. “May I have my key, please?”
Liam dug into his pockets, pulled it out, and unlocked the door. Then, he handed it to her.
She walked inside, and the thunderous sound of Zeus bounding down the stairs came from overhead. The animal rushed toward her, making a series of whines.
“My baby,” she exclaimed and held her arms out to welcome him. Liam almost jumped in front of her as the dog leaped in the air. He landed right in front of her and gently placed his paws on her shoulders. He licked her face while she murmured, “Good boy. I missed you. Did you have a fun time with Liam?”
The dog followed her into the kitchen and out the back door. She grabbed a big rope, and he grabbed the other end. The Great Dane jumped excitedly until she held up her hand and let him grasp the rope. She tugged, and the big lug pulled, moving his head back and forth. When he jerked too hard, she made a noise, and he eased up on his play.
“You did a great job training him,” he said, watching the dog, in case he needed to step in and keep her from hurting herself.
“Thank you. It took him a long time to learn how to trust. Now, he’s putty in my hands,” she said, rubbing his head andsignaling for him to stop the play. “Take care of business, and we’ll go inside and I’ll feed you your breakfast.”
“Oh, I already did it. I…ugh, stopped by this morning and did it before picking you up and saving the nurses from your lists,” he teased.
She cringed. “Do I come off as bossy?”
“No. They adore you,” he assured her. “Even when I stayed as a patient, if they ran into problems, I heard them say, ‘Call Addyson.’”
