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Wes’s muscles tensed, sending his back into spasms again. “It’s not a game. If I wasn’t hurt, you really think I’d still be flat on my back right now? She helped me up here, and she took the doctor out to dinner. Call her yourself.”
Cooper narrowed his eyes at him. “Maybe I will.”
“Be my guest.”
With one last glare, Cooper strutted over to the closet and bent to retrieve something. He straightened with a pair of hiking books and didn’t spare Wes another look as he strode out the door.
Wes smacked his fist on the bed. Now he was all jacked up and his back throbbed. What was it with Avery’s stupid brothers and their constant suspicion?
***
Avery slipped quietly into her apartment. It was only a little after ten, but if Wes had taken the narcotic it might’ve knocked him out. She set her purse and keys on the island and headed for the bedroom. The pressure of the evening had tied her stomach in knots. Tomorrow would be just as tense.
Please, God, let Lucy accept the job.
She found Wes reading the biography, head propped on her pillow, hair mussed, expression intent. A strange impression hit at the sight of him resting comfortably in her bed. An impression of home and belonging. She could imagine walking in to this sight every night. Could imagine crawling into bed beside him, laying her head on his shoulder. She’d ask what he liked about the book, and it would lead to a long, stimulating discussion.
She gave her head a sharp shake, and the floorboards under her feet squeaked.
He set down the book, his face brightening at the sight of her. “Hey there. I’ve been going crazy, wondering how it was going with Dr.Chan.”
“Really good, I think. We get along well and I think she’d fit in around here. She loved the clinic.”
“That’s great news.”
“She went on and on about the carriage house. I guess her apartment in Boston isn’t very nice, so she was truly impressed with the accommodations.”
“Do you think she’ll accept your offer?”
“It’s too early to say. She’ll get a real taste of the clinic tomorrow morning. She did mention she hasn’t yet visited the other practice she’s considering, so I don’t think she’ll give me an answer this weekend.”
“That’s too bad.”
“It’s a big decision. I’d rather she was sure. How’s your back feeling?”
“Not bad. I managed to get up once, put the ice pack back in the freezer. And I did take one of those pain pills around six.”
“You should take another one plus the anti-inflammatory before bed. Let me grab the ice pack.”
She wandered into the kitchen and fished the pack from the freezer. The way she’d felt upon seeing him in her bed hovered in her mind like a spring fog over the valley. It was only because she’d never had another man in her bed. But no, that should make the sight of him there foreign, not familiar.
And it definitely shouldn’t feel...right.
She had to stop thinking like this. There was no point in allowing herself to have hopes and expectations that could never come to fruition. It would only make it more difficult when he left.
She returned to the bedroom, peeled back the covers, and helped him arrange the ice pack under his back. She sensed his perusal as she adjusted the covers. How did it feel for him—being here in her space? Was he experiencing the samerightness?
Her face heated at the thought. Of course he wasn’t. When had she become so fanciful? Maybe Katie had rubbed off on her. Maybe it was just part of coming to realize she’d never make a home with a husband. Her way of grieving each little thing she would sacrifice along the way.
“Your brother stopped by.”
Avery blinked at him. “What?”
“Cooper came by to get a pair of boots, I think. Wasn’t too happy to find me in your bed.”
Avery winced. “Sorry about that. I told him earlier today to stop by and grab them. I hope he wasn’t a jerk.”
“He was... protective of you.”
