“You’re very sweet.” He grins. “And totally beautiful.” He leans a little closer his cheeks tinged pink. He’s cute and charming and yet I don’t feel a thing.
“Thank you,” I say, because he did compliment me.
“So is it a yes to dinner?” he asks, sounding hopeful.
“If it’s a friendly dinner, then sure, I’d love to,” I say. I’m not one for fake smiles but it happens almost subconsciously.
“Great,” he pauses and waits.
Does he want my number? I don’t offer it.
“So we can make a plan at the hospital then,” he suggests.
“Yes,” I smile.
We head back over to the main table and get into the conversation with everyone else. He lingers a little close to me. He gives me looks and small smiles, and I tell myself he’s a good man and yet I feel nothing. Like I’m dead. Cindy sees it and she frowns. Maybe she’s starting to believe me when I say I truly am broken.
Chapter Six
Bennett
The door to my hospital room begins to open. I take a deep breath. Who the hell is here to poke and prod at me now? Or maybe it’ll be Quinn, reminding me to get my shit together. I can’t even walk on my own so that’s a definite no.
“Mr. Sheridan, hi, good afternoon. I wanted to see if you were up for some PT.” Avery is back. She’s been in here the last couple days giving me treatment. I want to talk to her, but I don’t have it in me. I told myself that today I would try more.
“Yes, thank you,” I say. She looks like a breath of sunshine.
She smiles and it’s warm and friendly. “Just a reminder . . . you can tell me if anything we do feels uncomfortable or painful,” she says, pushing the machine toward my bed. She doesn’t look me in the eyes when she talks to me today and it completely sucks. She has warm brown eyes, soothing and calm. I want her to look at me. “I spoke with Doctor Simmons and he said you should be ready for your initial assessment on your knee. We can conduct the assessment here or I can call a transporter and we can do it in the gym just for a change of scenery.”
I want to tell her the gym because I wouldn’t mind leaving this room, but I am guessing the gym might be busy and I want my time with her all for myself.
“Here is fine,” I answer.
“Sure. So if we can get you on your side, we can start the ultrasound treatment on your back,” she says. She begins to lean over me to help me.
“I can do it myself. I’ve been doing it the way you showed me,” I say.
“That’s great.” Her tone is cheerful. She beams, showcasing white teeth and cute dimples.
My heart skips a beat and then I get to work turning on my side. There is some pain, but I keep it to myself.
She walks over to the same cabinet she always goes to and pulls out a sheet. I really need to make a point of ordering some clothes online. It sucks having my butt exposed all the time. She leans over to place the sheet on me and I take in her familiar lavender and vanilla scent. I hear her pressing a few buttons and then the gel is on my back and she is using the machine.
Say something to her. Anything.
“So, have you been working with veterans’ a long time?” I ask. I seriously could do better but I’m not on my A-game, that’s for sure.
“Seven years,” she says with a sing-song voice. “Were you a SEAL for a long time?” she asks. “If you don’t want to answer you don’t have to.”
I like that she gives me an out. “A heck of a long time. I enlisted in the navy at eighteen straight out of foster care. Joined the SEALS a couple years after that.”
“Did you grow up in Jersey?” she asks.
I like that she doesn’t throw me a pity party over the mention of foster care. “I was in and out of foster care around New York City mainly Brooklyn and Queens,” I explain. “Are you from Jersey?”
“Born and raised,” she says. I wish I could see her face right now because I heard hesitation or possibly disappointment in her tone.
“Is that a bad thing?” I ask.
She laughs. “I don’t know. It’s boring. I grew up here, went to Seton Hall and raised my daughter here,” she explains. “Sometimes I think it would be nice to live somewhere else.”
“How old is your daughter?” I ask. I’m pretty sure I didn’t see her wearing a wedding band but a woman like her is probably already spoken for.
“She’s sixteen. A junior in high school. She’ll be seventeen soon,” she explains.
“Cool. I seriously thought you were under thirty. I guess I had that wrong,” I say, knowing there is a fine line with mentioning a woman’s age. She may hate me after that statement.
“Well, thank you.” She giggles. “I’m thirty-three. Almost thirty-four,” she says, and I think it’s cool that she doesn’t feel the need to hide her age.
“And do you have a husband or boyfriend?” I ask. Shit! Did I just really go there? Not smart, Sheridan. The woman needs to fix you.
She laughs. “I’m not sure I should answer that question. You are my patient.”
“Aw! Come on. I bet you looked in my chart and know everything about me. Fair is fair,” I say, playing hard ball.
“Alright. I’m single by choice,” she says.
I want to say tell me more, sweetheart, but I don’t want to push. We have time. What the fuck? Damn, her relationship status is none of my business. I. Have. Nothing. To. Offer.
“By the way, I didn’t look at your personal details. I just reviewed your injury. How does the ultrasound feel today?” she asks.
“Nice. Good,” I answer. Your touch is magical.
“Good. Okay.” She removes the wand from my back. She takes some paper towels and wipes the gel off me. “If it’s okay with you, I need to conduct an assessment of your knee.”
“Okay,” I say, and then I feel a pulsing headache starting. I use my thumb and pointer finger to rub my temples.
“Do you have a headache?” she asks.
“I have an everything ache. I can’t sleep. The pain meds they give me don’t take the edge off,” I say.
“I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time but as time passes you will get better,” she says.
“That’s what they keep telling me. I’m waiting to see results.”
She takes hold of my foot with one hand and places her other hand behind my knee. “Let’s take a look at your knee and get things moving. I’m going to go slow. I need you to tell me if I’m hurting you.”
“Okay.”
She begins to move my leg slowly, engaging my knee joint. I bite my lip.
“This hurts?” she asks.
“Yes,” I answer.
She moves in another direction and then another and then she places my leg flat on the bed. “I’ll be able to get a better sense when we can get you on your back. You’ll have more movement then.”
“Okay.”
She takes some notes in a folder.
“I think we should have our next session in the gym. I know you have to be in bed another week, but we can transport the whole bed there,” she explains.
“Whatever you think is necessary,” I say. Our eyes lock. Our gazes hold.
She exhales. “Do you have any guests coming in this week to visit?”
“I’m not sure. My friend Quinn lives in town, but he’s been MIA,” I say because I tried calling him these past few days and he hasn’t answered. I figure he must be on duty with Cole Security now.
“Okay. Do you have a spouse or girlfriend?” she asks.
My eyebrows raise and I smile. “Now you ask me? Why didn’t you ask me when I asked you?”
“I’m not asking out of personal interest, Mr. Sheridan. It’s just this place can be a bit of a bore at night. Sometimes I watch TV with some of the patients here,” she explains, her cheeks resembling a Red Delicious apple.
I frown. “It does get boring and to answer your question, I’m on my own. Given my previous employment I was married to the job. At least that’s w
hat some of my exes complained about.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll be Netflix binging with another patient tonight. We’ll be watching a movie tonight if you want to join—you’re welcome. Hopefully it will tire you out and you will sleep better,” she says.
I don’t like that I’ve been invited along with another patient but hey, I’ll take what I can get.
“Sure, yeah,” I say.
“See you later, Mr. Sheridan,” she says with a sing-song voice again and she pushes the equipment out of the room.
“Please, call me Bennett,” I answer.
“See you later, Bennett,” she says with a hurried smile as she walks out the door faster than usual. Maybe she’s late for another patient.
“See you, Avery,” I say to her back, watching her leave. She has this way of making my days seem better and right now, I’ll take anything not to feel like death.
Chapter Seven
Avery
What did I just do? My insides are shaking. This has to stop. I have a crush on my patient. On Bennett. My mind races a mile a minute. I need to go to Kathy. What will I say to her? I’ve gone and developed feelings for a patient? That will sound completely unprofessional. I could lose my job. Anyway, nothing has happened so no need.
“Avery, there you are?” Cindy says, pulling me from my thoughts. Her smile falls when she takes me in. “Are you okay?”
I force a smile. “Me, yeah . . . w-why?” Sweat breaks out on my forehead. I can’t even share this with my best friend. I love Cindy with all my heart, but she’s terrible at keeping secrets and my job is on the line.
“I don’t know. You seem off. Are you feeling well?” she asks.
“I-I’m I . . . feel a headache coming on. That’s all. I’m still overtired from going out Tuesday night,” I explain.
“I heard you and Colin have a date. I’m really happy for you,” she says.
“Date? It’s not a date. He said we’d go out for dinner as friends,” I clarify, whispering just in case he’s on-call.
“Oh dear.” Cindy’s lips squeeze together like she’s getting ready to kiss someone and her eyes turn round.
“I was super straight with him,” I say with a wince. “He was pressing, and I didn’t want to seem unfriendly. I told him a dinner as friends would be nice. I’m hoping to put it off though.”
Cindy smiles to someone behind me and then does a weird thing with her eyes.
“Nurse Connor. Ms. Malone.” I hear his voice before I see him. I spin around to a smiling Colin, walking up to us.
“Hey, Dr. Rudgers. I’m off to check the patient in 4A,” Cindy says quickly, then walks off, leaving us alone. I’m going to strangle her.
“I’m glad I ran into you, Ms. Malone. Are you free for dinner tonight?” he asks.
Shit. Shit. Shit. If Cindy heard it’s a date, then he thinks it’s a date.
I make my lips tilt up unnaturally at the corners. When did I become so fake? Gah. “I’m actually staying at the hospital late tonight.”
His lips turn down and it doesn’t look forced at all. He looks completely disappointed. “Don’t tell me you’re staying to hang out with patients,” he says, like he just had a taste of something sour.
“Um . . .yes, that was my plan. I’m sorry. Rain check?” I ask, raising my brows. Oh dear, why did I say rain check? I will never get out of this now.
“Are you sure I can’t convince you? We can go wherever you like. We can drive into the city,” he offers, sounding hopeful.
“Colin, that is super sweet. I appreciate the offer, I really do. I’ve just got plans tonight,” I say.
“Okay,” he sighs. “I’ll see you around. Have yourself a good day.” He walks off.
Good, that’s done with. I will need to go home after my shift and then come back since I want to meet this guy that Jessy is taking to the party.
I head down to the gym were my sessions have been scheduled for the afternoon.
I catch Cindy in the locker room at the end of the day.
“Dr. Rudgers has it bad for you, huh?” she says, changing out of her scrubs.
“Quiet, will you?” I whisper. Even though it’s only us in the locker room, you never know who could walk in, or maybe there’s someone in the washroom and we don’t know. I don’t want to be featured in the hospital gossip.
“Fine. Then should we talk about your reaction to Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome?” she asks with all seriousness. I appreciate that she didn’t mention a name or room number.
“No,” I snap in a friendly way. “Please drop it.” I push out my lower lip.
“Fine, I get it, but I’m calling you later. We need to talk,” she says, giving me a pointed look.
“Call me later,” I say, slipping on a pair of leggings.
“Are you going to work out?” she asks, looking confused.
“I want to try a class at that new Pilates place that opened on Seventh and Carlton. You interested in coming?” I ask.
“I told Carla I’d help her with a job application but let me know how it is. If you like it, I’d be willing to try.” She smiles.
“Okay I’ll let you know how it goes. Wish your sister luck on the job hunt for me.” I grab my jacket, then my backpack, which I slip onto my shoulders.
“Thanks, I’ll tell her. See you, babe,” Cindy says, stuffing her scrubs into her backpack.
“Talk later.”
The fall air is brisk as I walk to my Civic. I take a shaky breath. Cindy saw me after I left Bennett’s room today. I was so shaky, and I had felt like I had this jolt of electricity running through my body from being close to him. This is really, really bad.
I begin to drive, and my mind is still filled with thoughts of Bennett. His dark hair. His wild and unruly beard. His molten eyes.
I don’t know what my type is. In high school I went for the guys who wanted me. To my dismay, there were many. Liam had light eyes and his hair was a light shade of brown. He looked nothing like Bennett other than they are both tall, very muscular men.
Stop thinking about him in that way. Scolding myself doesn’t help. My chest feels weird when I think about him. It’s a stupid crush.
I head into the new Pilates place and take a class. I hope it will distract me from my thoughts. As I hold my plank, I’m giddy about going back to the hospital to see Bennett tonight. This can’t be happening. How do I turn off a crush? Thank goodness Sutton will be there tonight too.
After class, I head home in my sweaty gym clothes. Walking in the front door, I see evidence that Jess is home. Her schoolbag is on the floor and her jacket is hanging on a hook.
“Jess, I’m home,” I call out.
“In the family room, Maw,” she shouts. “Can you take me driving soon? I need to practice,” she says. It’s only been a short time since she got her license but I still feel guilty that I haven’t taken her to practice. She’s only had time driving with her instructor.
“’Kay, let me just take a quick shower,” I shout back.
Aunt Bee and Uncle Jim aren’t home, which is a relief. I run upstairs and take a super-fast shower. I want time with my daughter before I start making dinner. After my shower, I towel-dry my hair, run a brush through it quickly, slip on panties and yoga pants and then a bra and long-sleeve T-shirt. I head back downstairs to the family room.
Jess turns her head from her laptop to look at me when I walk in. Her smile is knowing. “I don’t know how you can shower and dress so quickly,” she says. She knows I have my routine down pat. Aunt Bee has mentioned on more than one occasion that I should be careful not to use too much hot water and with Jess taking longer showers, I figure mine should be short and sweet.
“You know me.” I shrug it off. “What are you watching?” I ask since she has her laptop propped on the side of the couch.
“Disney plus. Wizards of Waverly Place. I’m reliving my childhood.” She blinks twice.
“Cute. I’m glad you’re liking it,” I say. I got a subscription for her a
s part of her Christmas gift. “How was school?”
“Same old,” she answers, fixated on her screen.
“Any tests coming up?” I ask and take a grape from the bowl she has perched beside her on the couch.
“Pre-calc and Shakespeare, Macbeth,” she answers. She pauses her show and looks up at me. “You know I have the party tonight. Right?”
“Yeah, I came home to meet your date. What was his name again?” I tap my chin.
“Stop being weird, Mom. His name is Dylan. Don’t give him the third degree,” she says, eyeing me in warning.
“Is he your boyfriend?” I ask because from what I know she hasn’t had a boyfriend yet. I’ve been bracing myself for it for some time now.
“No,” she says quickly, then pauses. “But I’m hoping that he will be,” she says hesitantly.
I take a seat beside her on the couch. “Is he nice?” I ask.
“Super nice, Mom. He’s different than the other boys. I can have a real conversation with him, and get this. He’s seen The Notebook, and he liked it. He said he felt like crying when he watched it. How cute is that?” She looks up to me with puppy-dog eyes filled with young hopefulness and love.
“He said that, did he?” I say, hoping not to sound too untrusting. The kid sounds like a real charmer. I just hope he’s genuine and doesn’t want to just get in her pants. That comment about The Notebook puts me on high alert. “Well, I hope he’s a nice guy and I look forward to meeting him. What time are you leaving?” I ask, just to plan my return to the hospital.
“Seven,” she says. “Can we go driving now? Before you start dinner. I really need to practice.”
I can’t say no even though I feel slightly terrified at the thought of my daughter behind the wheel.
“Okay, let’s go, but just around the block,” I say, in case I feel like I will have a panic attack. It’s better to keep it short.
We head to the front door. We both put on jackets and boots and I put a hat on my head since my hair is still damp and I don’t need to get sick.
Irresistible: A Salvation Society Novel Page 4