by Jill Sanders
This one had large windows that overlooked the surrounding forest of tall pine trees. It still had a view of the bay but wasn’t directly on the water itself. Instead, it was across from a small grassy meadow. The pathway leading to the cabin was wide and handy for anyone with physical restrictions.
“Here.” She set the tray down on the table. “I brought you lunch.”
She heard him moving behind her but didn’t look back to see what he was doing. When his hands landed on her shoulders, she jumped slightly.
“Sorry,” he mumbled. She realized she’d been blocking the chair and stepped aside to let him sit down. “Thank you,” he said, lifting the lid to the tray. “Chef Isaac strikes another home run.” He chuckled. “Sit, have some lunch with me. There’s plenty of it.” He motioned to the full tray of food.
She opened her mouth to turn him down but realized she’d been so preoccupied with getting his food that she hadn’t grabbed any for herself. Sitting, she reached over and grabbed a few fries from his plate.
“How’s it going out there? Have you had to rescue anyone else today? Other than my sore muscles?” he joked.
“Just you, today.” She took the bowl of fruit he offered her.
“Want half this burger?” he asked, cutting it in half.
“No, I’ll stick with the fries and fruit.”
“There’s some drinks in the fridge.” He motioned behind them. She stood up and walked over to the mini-fridge. Most of the cabin’s fridges were restocked each day with basics for all the guests.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“I want a beer…” he started, but when she gave him a look, he sighed. “I’ll have a Coke instead.”
She smiled and reached in to grab two drinks, then returned to sit next to him.
“You’ve been hanging around a lot at the campgrounds.” He glanced sideways at her. “Sticking around here just for me?”
She wanted to deny it, but she had requested a cut in her hours at the hospital since Brett’s injury. It hadn’t necessarily been because of him, or had it? She had been thinking of shifting her work schedule to be more available at the camp than the hospital. After all, they had enough interns and personnel to deal with the patients at the hospital. But she was the only medical staff at the camp, which meant that she was needed more here.
Not to mention that this job was far more relaxed and beneficial to her, in terms of both her pocketbook and her emotional fulfillment. She wanted—no, needed—to be needed.
Besides, if she was planning on opening her own practice, she needed to have more free time to plan.
“It was past time for me to cut back my hours at the hospital anyway,” she said with a shrug.
He reached over and placed his hand over hers. “I never expected you to have to keep an eye out for me.”
She smiled. “That’s what friends do.” She saw something close to sadness cross his eyes before he looked away. “What about you?” His eyebrows shot up. “Work,” she hinted.
He sighed. “My captain says my job will be there for me when I’ve healed. If I want it.”
“Do you?” she asked, trying not to sound too eager. He shrugged and set the burger down and took a drink.
“Part of me does. It’s what I’ve wanted to do since…” He shook his head. “For as long as I can remember,” he added softly.
This time it was her hand that touched his. She knew about his past. Well, most of it at any rate. It didn’t take a genius to understand that being raised by a man of William Jewel’s caliber would take a toll on any kid.
She had suspected that Brett had leaned towards law enforcement to stop bullies such as his father. The man had always heckled her, dating back to the first time she’d had a run-in with him at a football game, when he’d called her a gook for the first time. She hadn’t understood him, since she’d never heard the derogatory slang before.
When Brett had started apologizing to her, she’d understood that his father had meant to be offensive. She’d been excited to run into his and Aiden’s parents at the game, but after that, she’d steered clear of Brett’s father.
Over the years, she’d had a few more run-ins with the man. Each time, he’d throw more curses her way, and she’d somehow grown numb to them. To him.
It wasn’t as if he’d been the only one. Not that she’d been verbally attacked on a regular basis. But living in the south, it happened more than it had when she’d been away at college.
“Now?” she asked Brett, holding her breath slightly as she waited for his answer.
He shook his head and glanced down at his leg. Then he glanced up at her. “What are the chances I’ll shake this off soon and return to my old self?”
As a doctor, her gut reaction was to tell him the truth. Tell him everything. As a friend and someone who cared for him, she wanted to lie to him and tell him his chances were good.
“Odds are always fifty-fifty,” she started, but he held up his hand to stop her. Then he leaned closer, took her hand in his, and lowered his voice slightly.
“Give it to me straight. None of this medical bull. You know what I can do. You know me,” he said in a deep voice that had her insides jumping around like a kid on a trampoline. “Do you think I can get back to one hundred percent?”
She took a deep breath and shook her head. “You have extensive muscle and nerve damage in your leg. I believe you’ll have to work the rest of your life to rebuild what was damaged and what you lost. If you’re asking me if you can get back on the force, yes. There’s no doubt in my mind that you could work… a desk job.” She hated adding that last bit and felt his hand tighten around hers for a split second. “But the physical ability to return to what you were doing before?” She shook her head once. “I don’t see that as being possible for a long time.”
He sighed and dropped his hand from hers. “Thanks for your honesty.” He stood up, took up his crutches, and leaned heavily on them. “I’m tired,” he said. She jumped up from the table.
“I’ll… let you rest,” she said, feeling heavy-hearted. She walked over to the door and stopped to look back at him. His eyes were glued to his left leg, so she couldn’t see how he was feeling. “Brett?” He glanced up at her, and she saw the heartbreak in his expression. “For what it’s worth, I have faith that you will someday get back to one hundred percent.”
He nodded quickly without saying anything, so she turned and left.
As she walked down the pathway towards the main pool area, she thought of how far her emotions had just swung. She’d gone from hot and heavy to sad and depressed in the span of a few heartbeats.
How had she allowed herself to build up her thoughts towards Brett so much? Seven days ago he’d been lying on the operating table with his leg wide open. She’d seen the damage a gunshot could do to a man.
She’d watched Brett grow from an awkward funny boy to a seriously potent kind-hearted man. Seeing him weak was like seeing Superman shot out of the sky.
She sat on a bench at the fork of the trail and wished she could have the rest of the day to think about what being around Brett had done to her. How she could possibly cheer him up. But she was due to make her rounds, which consisted of visiting the handful of guests that had physical needs. Most of the time it was just to check in on a diabetic or someone with limited mobility.
Today, there were four such guests that had checked in, and she wanted to introduce herself to them, if only to ensure them that she was on hand should any need arise.
“Lost?” someone asked her.
Glancing up, she smiled at an older man.
“No, just taking a break.” She stood up.
The man smiled at her. “I’m lost. I was heading to the pool…” He glanced around at the many signs marking each pathway. “Left my glasses in my cabin.”
She nodded. “I’m heading there myself. I’ll show you the way.” She started walking and the man fell into step with her. She didn’t have to slow her pace si
nce her shorter legs easily allowed for his leisurely stride.
“Are you a guest here?” the man said.
“No, I’m the on-call doctor.”
The man stopped and looked at her in surprise.
“You are?” he asked. She braced herself for what she assumed was coming, but instead, the man chuckled. “Damn, they’re making doctors younger and younger these days. Prettier too.”
She laughed and took his arm in hers. “Flattery will get you everywhere,” she joked as they started walking. “Are you here alone?”
“No, my wife, Mia, went to one of those fancy classes up at the main building while I slept in like a baby.” He sighed. “First time I could do so in years.” He chuckled. “I’m meeting her for a late-morning swim and lunch.”
“May I suggest the Mahi-mahi sandwich? It’s superb,” she suggested.
“It was on my list to try.” The man patted her hand.
“Here we are now,” she said when they stepped into the patio area for the pool. There were more than a dozen tables set up where food and drinks were served all day long.
She spotted an older Asian woman walking towards them with a big smile on her lips.
“There you are, Henry. I was getting worried you’d gotten lost.” The woman’s eyes turned to her. “I see you’ve already picked my younger replacement,” she added in a joking tone.
Henry laughed and took his wife in his arms and kissed her. “Mia, there is no replacement for you.” He kissed her again. “I was just meeting the camp’s on-call doctor.” He turned towards her. “I didn’t get your name?”
“Dr. Lea Val,” she said easily.
“Val?” the man said, his eyebrows going up. “As in Ken Val?”
Lea nodded. “Yes, he’s my father.”
The man laughed. “Then we’re in luck. We’re here to meet your father on some business. He suggested while we’re down here to check this place out and take some time to enjoy ourselves.”
“We were just lucky to get in when we did. Apparently, there was a cancellation that opened up a cabin for us,” Mia said with a smile while she held onto her husband’s arm. “We’ve only been here a day and I can already tell we’ll be back again soon,” she joked.
“That all depends on how well my meeting goes with Ken.” Henry laughed.
“Have you known my father long?” she asked.
Henry laughed again, and she followed him over to sit at one of the tables. He motioned for her to sit, and she did so, along with Mia.
“I’ve known of Ken Val for over thirty years. I’ve met the man all of zero times,” Henry said, causing her eyebrows to shoot up. “Tomorrow’s meeting will be our first face-to-face.”
“Wow, why haven’t you two met before?” she asked.
“They were sworn enemies,” Mia added.
Henry waved his hand. “Nothing as ominous as that. We were simply competitors. I own FLD, Flemings Lighting Distribution. Your father owns Val Industries.” Henry shrugged. “Until now, we never had to meet.”
“Why now?” Lea asked, feeling her stomach roll. Her father had been grumbling about financial issues lately. But then he’d been complaining most of her life how his business was hard.
Running a large lighting company that supplied most of the office and home light fixtures in several states had been a good business for her family. Not that her mother hadn’t made her own contributions. Being a lawyer had some benefits, but her mother had chosen to be a public defender, which had left her father’s business as the bigger source of income.
For as long as Lea could remember, her mother had loved her job and had been a huge role model for Lea.
“Your father has finally agreed to meet with me,” Henry added.
She wanted to ask him more, but just then Dean, one of the waitstaff, showed up and handed them menus.
“I’ll let you enjoy your lunch.” Lea stood up.
“Thank you for helping me find my way,” Henry said.
“You’re welcome. Enjoy your stay.” She turned to head towards the main building, all the while worrying that her father’s business was in jeopardy.
Maybe now wasn’t the best time for her to cut her hours at the hospital. After all, it was good money. Not private practice money, but good enough to help her save up for her own place.
But if her parents were in trouble, she knew without a doubt that she would step in and help them.
She finished making her rounds and decided to swing by their house on the way home. Her parents still lived in the older home in downtown Pelican Point. The massive three-story place had killer views, a swimming pool her parents had put in when she’d been a pre-teen, and a dock that her father’s pride and joy could be launched from. The fishing boat’s name was Quiet Time.
The home was less than two miles from her old school and was easily one of the largest homes in Pelican Point.
Before leaving for the day, she thought about heading back out to talk to Brett, but she wasn’t sure what she would say to him. She didn’t have an excuse to see him again, other than to check up on him, and she didn’t want to become the nagging doctor type.
She was walking towards the parking lot when she spotted Brett and Kara talking on the pathway closest to the parking lot. It was difficult not to let jealousy consume her. She had to take a couple of deep breaths to stop herself from stomping her foot in frustration as she watched the pair flirt.
When she’d finally calmed down, she made a decision to divert away from the couple and take a shortcut to her car through the trees. That was until she glanced back and saw Kara playfully slap at Brett’s shoulder, which sent him toppling backward.
Lea was beside Brett, holding him upright, in less than a heartbeat. She berated Kara for her carelessness.
“Easy tiger,” Brett said, interrupting her calmly, shifting his crutches. “I’m okay,” he assured her.
Chapter 6
Watching Lea shift into full-time protection mode was a sight he would never forget.
“She almost made you fall over.” Lea turned her eyes towards him, and he could see the anger in them.
He glanced over at Kara, who looked upset. She started apologizing.
“I didn’t think…” the woman was saying. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m fine,” Brett told both of them. “I just wasn’t ready for it.” In truth, he doubted at this time he could have stood up if anyone tried to blow on him.
After Lea had left earlier, he’d pulled out the weights he’d convinced Aiden to bring him and had worked out until he couldn’t lift his arms or his good leg anymore. He knew better than to try and work on his left leg at this point. Just the physical therapy he did twice a week was enough exercise on that leg for now.
After working out, he’d looked at the time and had known that Lea would be getting off work soon. So he had made his way towards the parking lot, after a quick shower. He’d hoped that he would catch her, if just to tell her thanks for the meal. Instead, he’d bumped into Kara. Again.
It wasn’t as if the woman wasn’t attractive. But he’d never really gone for the blond, busty, straight-off-the-cover-of-a-magazine type. She was nice enough that he figured they could be friends, though.
It was obvious, however, that she’d gone out of her way to hunt him down. He’d have to break it to her gently that he wasn’t interested in anything other than a friendship, which he’d been doing when she’d playfully slugged him on the shoulder, causing him to lose his balance.
Watching Lea turn on her defensive mode had an odd effect on him. He felt his libido stir and mentally kicked himself for coming all this way. He doubted he had enough energy to do anything about the attraction he felt. Another reason why he should have stayed in the cabin and not come out into the heat of the night to find Lea.
“You should be resting.” Lea turned on him. “You look like death.”
He chuckled a little. “Thanks. I think.”
Lea gripped his arm
and started walking—no, scratch that—marching him back down the pathway. He didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye to Kara. When he glanced back, Kara was watching them with an apologetic look on her face.
He would have to make a point next time he bumped into her to reassure her that she hadn’t done anything wrong. After all, it wasn’t her fault that he was as fragile as a newborn. No, that was on him for barging in on a carjacking.
“I worked out,” he heard himself telling Lea as they walked towards his cabin. He must be delirious if he was admitting everything to her.
“Good,” she mumbled. “Next time, however, stop before you fall over,” she said as they reached his cabin.
“I’m not…” he started to say as he tripped on the bottom step. He shifted with his crutch as she caught him and held him firmly upright. “How are you so strong?” he asked as she pulled him through the doorway.
“I’m not. You’re just weak right now.” She nudged him onto the sofa. “Sit, I’ll get you some water.” She disappeared into the kitchen area before he could argue.
He hadn’t realized how thirsty he was until after he’d had a drink of the ice-cold water Lea handed him. Nor had he realized just how sore he was until he’d sat down. His right leg was throbbing, which threw him off until he thought about how much he was having to rely on it to compensate for his left one.
He realized Lea was watching him, her eyes running over his face, and he shifted slightly, holding back a slight wince as he did so.
“You pushed yourself too hard,” she said suddenly with a frown.
“No, I’m—”
She waved her hand in the air, stopping him. “Don’t deny it. I’m trained to spot it.” She pointed at him. “You pushed yourself too hard. Why?” Her eyes narrowed. “Is it because of the blonde?”
“No,” he burst out and almost laughed. There was no way he was going to tell her it was because he hated feeling helpless. Hated not being able to trust his body to do simple things like walk or, hell, stand up even.
He felt like a child. His damn leg hurt whenever he did anything. He even had to sit to take a piss now because he’d almost fallen on his ass when he’d tried to stand and do it. He was thankful there was a large bench in the shower, so he could at least take his time and clean up properly.