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Ezio didn’t answer. He jerked the door open with too much force but then shut it softly. Cason considered what his brother meant by his statement but couldn’t figure it out. All of Ezio’s money couldn’t force Cason’s head back into the right place emotionally. He had already spent a small fortune getting Cason the best medical treatment for multiple surgeries. In the end, Cason had insisted on coming home sooner than recommended from the private rehabilitation center he had been sent to. Although he was still miserable, he desired to be nowhere other than the mansion.
* * *
The day passed like every other day, and the one following did as well. With each rising of the sun, Cason lost track of the day and the time. Shakarri came to visit and left a window open to let fresh air into the room now that winter slid into spring, but as soon as she left, Cason fumbled it closed.
She came in just after he’d done so and frowned at him. “You need to clear the cobwebs out of your head. Why don’t you let me roll you outside in the gardens for a little while?”
He eyed the wheelchair in the corner. “In that thing? Not on your life.”
“It’s not so bad, Cason. It’s got hand controls for you to operate it by yourself. And guess what? The elevator is finished!”
He cringed. “No one told my idiot brother to get an elevator put in. Besides, if he believes I’ll walk again, why bother?”
She bent before him, bringing her face too close to his. He had no way to turn from her as she held his cheeks between both hands. “Because we want you to be as comfortable as possible while you’re recovering.”
He grumbled.
“Unfortunately, my dear brother-in-law, you’re going to have to go along with what I say. We can get you into the chair together, or I’m going to call Dean in to pick you up and put you into it.”
He felt the blood draining from his face. “I won’t be treated like a child or a woman!”
“Then cooperate.”
“Why are you being so pushy today? You said yourself yesterday—or whatever day it was—that I need more time.”
“I might feel that way, but you know Ezio. He says to bring you downstairs because he wants you to meet someone, and he said if you don’t cooperate with me, he’ll handle it. You and I both know Ezio isn’t going to accept that you don’t want to get into your chair. He won’t even give you the chance to complain, especially since he told me to bring Dean with me. I told him you wouldn’t fight me.”
Cason grumbled some more. He knew what she was saying was true about Ezio. “Why didn’t he send—” He stopped cold, and guilt washed over him as it always did. Following that was despair. This was his life. It was his fault that his bodyguard was killed in the accident.
“Fine, I’ll go.” He struggled to lift himself into the chair when she brought it over and required her help. Where had his upper body strength gone in such a short time? Plus it wasn’t that easy to judge distance and positioning with one eye functioning. Because he didn’t do anything day in and day out, he hadn’t adjusted.
Shakarri panted when they were done, and Cason used the controls on the battery-powered wheelchair to maneuver out of the room. He crushed his leg against the doorframe, and Shakarri cried out.
“Be careful.” She bent to rub his leg. “That must have hurt.”
“Leave it,” he growled. “Doesn’t matter.”
“Cason…”
“I’m out of the room. You should be happy!” He dealt with a lot of pain in his life, more than he ever thought he’d have to endure, and she felt sorry for him about a little thing like smashing his useless leg. “Where’s the stupid elevator?”
For a moment, he thought he saw hurt in her eyes, but it disappeared, and she smiled. “This way.”
Shakarri led the way to the end of the hall, and Cason took the opportunity to watch her hips sway. He figured he wouldn’t get a woman again, so he could just look. Shakarri was beautiful, but so was Romy’s woman. He never thought the house would be so full with so much family. Maybe Romy and Sonya would get married eventually and have more kids. Thinking about their happiness sank him into further darkness, so he dismissed his thoughts.
Once they were on the first floor, Shakarri led him to the back of the mansion, outside of which was the main garden. He hoped none of the family was out there to annoy him—especially the kids. They had too much energy and were too happy.
Fresh warm air touched his face at the same time he spotted his older brother and a woman sitting at a table on the lawn. Clara, the housekeeper, served them coffee and refreshments. Cason frowned. Surely, his brother didn’t plan on trying to set him up with a black woman? That was just getting ridiculous. He and Romy’s women were black, but that didn’t mean Cason had to keep the trend going. Besides, what woman would want half a man as he was?
Cason drew closer and felt better. This woman was mousy and small, not as small as Sonya, but still nothing to look at. He wasn’t sure if there was a shape beneath the loose-fitting clothes, and the color and style were drab. Looking into her round face with short-cropped hair framing it didn’t stir anything in him either. Maybe some might like the big almond eyes that spoke of innocence and a lifetime of hard living at the same time. He didn’t know how that could happen. Either way, she was nothing to stir his interest, so he dismissed her and concentrated on the coffee Clara placed in front of him.
“Cason,” Ezio said, “this is Solette Turner, your new full time nurse.”
Cason choked on his coffee. “What? I don’t need a nurse! I—”
“She’ll take care of your every need, and because she is also skilled in physical therapy, she’ll oversee that as well. If she has a problem with any part of your recovery process—or if you give her a hard time—she’ll let me know, and I’ll deal with it.”
Cason slammed his cup down and spilled the contents. Solette, the mouse, jumped and clutched her purse tight in her lap. Clara sprang forward to mop up the mess. “I don’t need a nurse. I’m fine, and Shakarri brings me my food. That’s enough.”
