by Laura Scott
“How about if I walk along your left side? That way, if you start to lose your balance, you have someone to grab on to.”
He braced himself on the crutches, staring at the floor for a long moment. Finally, he lifted his gaze to hers. “I’m heavier than you. I’ll knock you over.”
“I’m stronger than I look.” She waited, holding her breath while his desire to walk wrestled against his need to be alone.
“Fine.” Using the crutches, he walked over to the wall, turned, and propped them against the drywall. “Let’s see if it works.”
Bella nodded and took up a position along his left side. He moved his prosthetic leg forward. Then there was a brief hesitation as he shifted his weight onto his prosthesis for the second step.
He tilted toward her, and she held out her arm for him. He lightly grasped her arm, steadied himself, then completed the motion.
The tense lines around his mouth lessened a bit as he stayed upright with just the slightest pressure on her arm. Jonas took another step, then another. Each time, he used her to stay balanced. Sometimes he leaned harder on her than others, but by the end, he was hardly holding on to her at all.
When they reached the other side of the room, he let out a heavy sigh. “It worked.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “I’m glad. Every weight lifter knows you need a good spotter.”
The corner of his mouth quirked in a half smile. “I wish I would have thought about that sooner. I could have used the wall the same way. I can’t tell you how many splinters I have from hitting the plywood.”
His dark brown eyes locked on hers, and the simmering attraction she’d tried so hard to ignore flared between them.
“Jonas.” She let out a pent-up breath. “I don’t—we shouldn’t—this can’t go anywhere.”
Stark disappointment flashed in his gaze. But it was gone so quickly she thought it may have only been her imagination.
“I, um, you’re right. Thanks for the help, but I think I’m done for the day.” He leaned against the wall. “Do you mind grabbing my crutches for me?”
She did as he asked, carrying them over. “So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?”
“I’d like to set up my canvas, easel, and paints. Thought I’d start with painting the lake, since I’m sure my skills are rusty.” He stood for a moment, giving her the impression he wanted her to leave. “Maybe I’ll see you later.”
It was her turn to feel the sharp stab of disappointment. “Yeah, sure.” She left, hurrying back to the garage apartment.
It appeared Jonas was no longer interested in painting her portrait. Something she hadn’t been all that excited about in the first place but that now seemed like a missed opportunity.
Battling a sense of loss, Bella threw herself into painting Jemma’s bedroom, putting thoughts of Jonas and the relationship that could never be out of her mind once and for all.
11
Bella Collins was going to be the death of him.
Jonas watched her walk out the door of Jazz and Dalton’s house, feeling as desolate as if she were walking out of his life for good.
The idea of never seeing her again put a hollow feeling in his gut. He’d only known her four days, and by some strange quirk of fate, Bella managed to weave her way into the threads of his life.
With an inward sigh, he reminded himself that he shouldn’t get emotionally involved. No way was Bella interested in a relationship with a handicapped ex-solider turned amateur artist.
He removed the prosthesis, noting a small area of skin on his lower leg that looked red and sore. No doubt from one of his many falls. He massaged the area, hoping to minimize any potential skin damage.
Allan had warned him against doing too much too soon, but he’d given in to his stubborn impatience. Now he feared he may have only prolonged his recovery.
For a moment the magnitude of what lay ahead overwhelmed him. How long before he could live a normal life? Sure, he was getting some Army pay, but that wouldn’t last forever. He needed to contribute to society. Sitting around and doing nothing wasn’t in his nature.
Glancing through the windows of Jazz’s home, the blue water shimmered and rippled in the breeze. The waves beckoned, and he knew he needed to set up his canvas and paints to find a sense of peace.
Less than thirty minutes later, he was sitting on one of the plastic chairs from the gazebo with his sketchpad on his lap. There were dozens of boats on the water, but he focused on the small sailboat that bobbed on top of the waves, not far from shore. From his vantage point, the figure manning the boat looked to be a teenage boy. He thought about what he’d been like as a teenager, happy and carefree.
Jonas couldn’t regret his decision to serve his country. He still felt strongly that it was the right thing to do. But it wasn’t easy to come to grips with the price he’d paid for that service.
As he sketched, the knot in his chest loosened and his tense shoulder muscles relaxed. When it was time to use the paints, he experienced a wave of anticipation, something that had been lacking for a long time.
Time slipped past without his being aware of it. The painting took shape on the canvas, and while it wasn’t technically great, he liked the way the blues of the water met the sky. He’d captured the sailboat cresting a wave, the sail tipping crazily to one side.
“It’s so beautiful, Jonas.”
Startled, he glance over his shoulder to see Jemma standing behind him. “It’s a start,” he said, knowing her opinion, much like his own, was biased. “I’m grateful you found Grandma’s sketching supplies.”
“I have the easel, too, but Dalton is fixing it. He’ll have it ready for you after lunch.” Jemma took a step toward him. “I wish I could draw or paint so I could capture the expression of intense serenity on your face.”
He felt the tips of his ears turn red. Time to change the subject. “Did you say something about lunch?”
“Yes, I’ve made minestrone soup with sandwiches. Nothing fancy. Should be ready in thirty minutes.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be in shortly.”
Jemma nodded but didn’t leave.
He glanced over at her and lifted a brow. “What is it?”
“I just wanted to tell you how much better you look since the day you arrived. I think being here with us has been good for you and—I want you to stay, Jonas. I’ve been thinking that once I move into the garage apartment, you could take over the master suite.”
“That’s a kind offer, Jem,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “And I appreciate the opportunity, but I need to attend therapy in Battle Creek three times a week, so it makes more sense for me to find a place there, at least for the short term.”
“But don’t you see? That’s perfect!” Jemma’s eyes lit up. “By the time you’re finished with therapy, we’ll be moved in. You can take over the master suite and we’ll still have six rooms to rent.”
He didn’t want to burst her bubble, but the idea of sticking around McNally Bay didn’t appeal. He still needed to figure out what kind of job he could do with a prosthetic leg. There wouldn’t be much of an opportunity in a small town.
“Please, Jonas?” Jemma’s voice softened. “I want you to be happy.”
“I’ll think about it.” He couldn’t lie to her, yet he didn’t want to upset her either. He and Jemma had the same coloring, and they’d always been close as kids. “Give me some time, okay?”
“Take all the time you need.” Jemma’s beaming smile made him inwardly wince. She’d be so disappointed when he left. But maybe he wouldn’t have to go far. As long as he was close enough to visit, they’d be able to stay in touch.
“Mommy!” Trey’s voice intermingled with the sound of a dog barking. A golden ball of fur came barreling toward him.
“I can’t remember if you met Goldie,” Jemma said when the golden ball of fur jumped into his lap to lick him. “She belongs to Jazz and Dalton, but Trey gets to help take care of her. It’s the perfect ar
rangement.”
“She’s cute.” He avoided Goldie’s attempt to lick him in the face by cradling her in his hands and scratching behind her ears. “Goldendoodle?”
“Yep.”
“Come, Goldie,” Trey called.
“Don’t forget to fill her water bowl,” Jemma warned.
“I won’t! Come, Goldie!” Trey repeated. The puppy jumped off his lap and ran happily back to Trey.
Jemma followed her son back inside, and Jonas stayed where he was for a moment. Being near his family was nice, but staying longer than the promised week wasn’t part of his plan.
Granted, his plans were full of gaps these days.
When he made his way into the kitchen within the thirty-minute time frame Jem had given him, he saw that Bella was already seated at the table. She only gave him a brief glance of acknowledgment before turning her attention to Garth.
“Since you’re off duty today, would you mind giving me a lift to a rental car agency?” Bella asked. “My insurance agent finally got back to me, approving the expense.”
“I’ll take you,” Jonas interjected before Garth could answer. “I’m sure Garth has other plans for his day off.”
“Let me think about that,” Garth said with a crooked smile. “My choices are to work on the upstairs apartment where Jazz and Dalton order me around like some imbecile who can’t pound a straight nail or drive Bella to a rental agency. Hmm. I pick the latter.”
Jonas narrowed his eyes, pinning Garth with a silent plea to back off. Garth ignored him.
“Thanks, Garth, I really appreciate the lift.” The way Bella smiled at his future brother-in-law had him clenching his jaw so tightly his teeth hurt. “I found one that’s only an hour away, shouldn’t take too much time out of your day.”
Jonas wanted to yell at the top of his lungs that he’s the one who should take Bella. After all, he wasn’t nearly as helpful with doing construction.
“Garth, I thought you were going to help paint Trey’s room now that Bella finished putting the second coat of paint on my room?” Jemma’s wide gaze wasn’t fooling anyone at the table. His younger sister was making her opinion clear, and he didn’t think it was about the garage apartment but more about him and Bella.
For once he didn’t mind Jemma’s meddling. For one thing, he liked spending time with Bella. Besides, now that he’d finished the lakeshore, the next step was to attempt a portrait.
And Bella was the woman he wanted to paint.
Garth let out a heavy sigh. “Okay, okay. Bella, I hope you don’t mind if I back out and let Jonas drive you instead.”
“Of course not.” Bella still didn’t look at him, and he could tell she wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of spending time with him.
It hurt, but he did his best to ignore it.
From this point on, he needed to remember to keep his relationship with Bella in the friend category.
“Thanks to Bella and Jonas, the garage apartment is ahead of schedule,” Jazz announced as she plopped down beside Dalton.
“Bella, not me,” Jonas protested.
“Thank you, Bella.” Jemma’s eyes glittered with gratitude. “It’s wonderful of you to help us on your time off.”
“It’s nothing.” Bella flushed under the scrutiny of their attention and shifted in her seat. She wasn’t about to admit that her initial reason for helping out was to spend time with Jonas. And look where that had sent her? Straight into an emotional minefield. “It’s nice making a difference. It’s one of the reasons I went into nursing.”
“I bet you’re an amazing nurse,” Jemma said. “Your patients are lucky to have you.”
Bella didn’t want to talk about her career, or lack thereof, so she turned toward Garth. “Any news on what caused my brakes to fail?”
Garth grimaced and shook his head. “No, sorry. Not yet. I’ll bug them again later.”
She nodded, wondering if the delay meant there was foul play. Hard to believe, yet after the weird lock-picking incident, she couldn’t deny it made sense.
When they’d finished eating, Bella turned toward Jonas. “Are you sure you don’t mind giving me a ride?”
“I volunteered, remember?” There was a slight edge to his tone, and she hoped the ride wouldn’t be rife with tension.
At least it was only one hour one way, rather than six hours round-trip.
While she waited for Jonas, she caught a glimpse of his recent painting of the lake that Jemma had proudly displayed in the dining area on one of the tables. Bella was struck anew by his talent. He’d captured the sailboat cresting a wave perfectly, and she imagined the teenaged boy at the helm was a possible self-portrait of Jonas at the same age.
“Ready?” His deep husky voice sent her pulse thumping erratically.
She did her best not to show her reaction as she turned to face him. “Of course.”
They didn’t speak as they made their way outside to Jonas’s four-door sedan. He automatically went to the driver’s side, so she slid into the passenger seat.
The silence continued for several miles until she couldn’t stand it a minute longer. “How long did it take you to paint the lake?”
He shrugged. “Three hours. I want to add more detail but need to wait for it to dry.”
“Are you thinking of selling your work?”
He shook his head. “It’s not good enough for anyone to pay for it. I don’t think I could support myself that way. I don’t know what type of job to apply for. Most soldiers end up turning to law enforcement, but that’s not an option for me.”
She understood his dilemma. “You can go back to school on the Army’s dime, though, can’t you?”
“Yeah.” He frowned. “Not sure what I’d study. I’ve thought about teaching, but not sure I have the patience for dealing with kids all day.”
The image of Jonas teaching grade school made her smile. It was so not his style. “High schoolers? You seem like the type to connect well with rebellious teens.” And no doubt, the girls would all have crushes on him, she added silently.
“Maybe.” He didn’t sound convinced. “But if I go through four years of college and end up hating it, I’d have to start all over again.”
“True.” She thought about the job she’d applied for just before lunch, at the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They had several jobs posted on their website, and she was drawn to the area because Milwaukee was also situated on Lake Michigan. As planned, she applied for a position on the rehab unit, her second choice being a general surgical unit.
No way was she going back to working in the operating room directly with surgeons.
“Have you thought about your next step?” Jonas asked, reading her thoughts. “You mentioned the possibility of moving away from Battle Creek.”
“I’ve applied at the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee,” she admitted.
“Milwaukee, Wisconsin? That’s pretty far away. At least four hours by car, maybe more.”
She shrugged. “I don’t have anything holding me in Michigan. Luckily, Wisconsin is a compact license state. Meaning I don’t have to sit for the nursing state board again, they’ll issue me a license because I already have one in Michigan.”
“I see.” She sensed Jonas wasn’t excited for her, yet she didn’t understand why. After all, they both knew she was only staying at the B&B for a little over a week.
Maybe less, in her case. If she was able to get some traction on the job application in Milwaukee, she’d have to think about subletting her apartment or breaking her lease so she could move. She dreaded the thought of packing and then unpacking, but there wasn’t an alternative.
Seeing Emily had only reinforced how terrible it would be to return to work there, even if she was able to transfer to another unit. Which was highly unlikely if the powers that be decided to fire her.
Bella knew she needed to resign her position. Better to simply take herself out of the situation and leave all the bad karma behind.
>
“If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”
That comment puzzled her. “You mean like a reference?”
“That or helping you move. Whatever you need. I don’t think it’s smart to apply for a job or even enroll in school until I’m finished with therapy.”
“Um, thanks. I will. The reference will come in handy, for sure. Obviously I can’t use Dr. Hackbarth.”
“There must be another surgeon you work with that would stick up for you.”
“A few,” she admitted. “But they’re not going to rock the boat. No reason for either of them to stick their neck out for a mere operating room nurse. We’re a dime a dozen, right?”
“Wrong. If they were smart, the administrators there would do whatever was necessary to keep you.”
Once again, Jonas had knocked her off balance. Not only because he’d become her staunch supporter, but his offer to help her move. To get a job.
Did this mean he was thinking of keeping in touch with her once their stay at the B&B had come to an end? Or was this just his way of being polite?
She had no clue. But she secretly hoped for the latter.
Friends, she reminded herself. You could never have too many friends. Jonas was a great person to spend time with. Jemma, Jazz, Dalton, and Garth, too.
But mostly Jonas.
She turned to stare out at the passing scenery, her heart squeezing painfully in her chest. She didn’t want to be just friends with Jonas.
She wanted more.
“Do you know anyone who drives a black SUV?”
Jonas’s abrupt question interrupted her thoughts. She looked over at him, then twisted in her seat to look through the back window.
“No, why?”
Jonas glanced at his rearview mirror, then shrugged. “Nothing. I noticed the same SUV has been behind us for the past few miles, that’s all.”
She wrinkled her nose. “How can you tell? Doesn’t one black SUV look the same as any other?”
“Not exactly.” Jonas flashed a quick smile. “But it’s too far away to see the license plate, so it’s probably nothing more than my naturally suspicious nature.”