Page 49 of Sleigh My Heart

A light rap sounded on the door a second before a young woman stuck her head in. “Mr. Jolley. I need to draw a little blood.”

“Alright.” He turned to Nick. “I swear they have enough of my blood to fill a bathtub by now.”

The nurse laughed. “Not quite.”

“Do you know when my father will be released?”

“The doctor will be doing rounds this afternoon. You’ll have to check with him. I’m sure he will want to check out your father before he signs off on the release.”

Nick nodded. What she hadn’t said in words was clear on her face. He wasn’t going home today.

The nurse finished up and packed up her cart. Nick held up a finger to let his dad know he’d be right back. He followed her out into the hall. “How is my father really doing?”

“Quite well for a man who was hit by a car. His arm will take some time to heal, but it’s the swelling in his head that the doc wanted to monitor. It’s going down, and he is improving by the minute. The doctor will come by soon and you can check with him yourself.”

“Thank you.” Nick slipped back into the room. He sat on the chair beside the bed and leaned in, resting his forearms on his thighs. “Dad, the cookies you had in your office. Who gave them to you?”

“I don’t know. Tyler was working the front, and he just brought them back. Said they were left on the counter.”

Shit. “Did he see who put them there? Or was there a note?”

Russ shook his head, then winced. He stroked his fingers across his forehead. “I don’t remember.”

“It’s okay.” He rested a hand on his father’s arm. “Do you have pain? I can call the nurse.”

“I just moved too fast. It’s alright.”

Another knock on the door, this one louder than the other, alerted Nick to the doctor. “Hello, Mr. Jolley. How are you doing today?”

His father’s face lit with joy. “I’m perfect. Thanks for all the great service, but I can go and free up this bed for someone who really needs it.”

It was bullshit, and the doctor saw right through it as easily as Nick did.

“Don’t you worry about the bed space. Let’s see how you are doing.” He pulled out his stethoscope and listened to his father’s chest and neck, then pulled out his penlight and checked his eyes. “I think I’d like to keep you for another day. Do a test in the morning. If all is good, then you can go home.”

Russ slumped back on the bed. “Fine. But can I get some milk to go with the cookies?”

“Sure. I’ll have them send it right in. Then I would like you to rest. We’ll be in to check on you regularly.” The doctor closed the clipboard cover and then hung it on the end of the bed before leaving.

“You heard him. You’re doing great. But you need to rest. We need you back to full strength,” Nick reassured his father.

“True. I need to be in top form for the kiddos.” He set the cookies aside and rested his head back on the pillow.

No way Nick was going to let his father play Santa with a broken arm, concussion, and God knows what else. But if you told him that, his father would be up and arguing. The opposite of what the doctor ordered.

Chapter 13

Michelle pushed back the butterflies pounding for freedom in her chest as she stared at the light streaming through the glass of the door. “It was just dinner. Not a date.”

But he’d kissed her twice. All day she’d been circling back to that morning’s kiss. Soft and sweet. Well, she had her answer. The substance in the cookies had nothing to do with him kissing her.

She blew out a white cloud of condensation. Dropping her head to the side, she rolled her shoulders like a fighter going into the ring. Her neck popped.

“Okay. You got this. It’s a work dinner, that’s all. Heck, his daughter will be there.” Chaperoning. She’d make sure he kept his lips to himself.

She groaned. But she really liked those lips on hers.

“No. Don’t go there.” She straightened and rang the bell.