Patricia Thayer - A Colorado Family

“Okay, I’ll just lie down for a while.”

“No, you’ll sleep until our next session. That’s nearly six hours.”

That sounded heavenly. “Okay, I’m too tired to argue. I’ll stay. This one time.”

With a nod, he reached for his brace and put it on. He stood with his walker and started out the door. “I’m not sure if there are any sheets that would fit it, but you can make do with a flat sheet.”

Erin followed him out into the hall, and he opened a linen closet. There were stacks of towels and two sets of sheets for his king-size bed.

She took the linens from him, and their hands brushed in the awkward exchange. She jumped back and he frowned.

“I can make this work.” Was she crazy? The man was her client. Yet she found that the simplest touch from this man sensitized her nerve endings. Why had her dormant sex drive suddenly been reawakened?

She glanced at Austin. Or was her condition just the result of this sexy cowboy? It was pretty bad that a man with a walker turned her on. Either way, she needed to keep a safe distance from him. And if she weren’t so exhausted, she’d walk out the door. Instead, she was going to sleep in his house.

“I should go make up the bed.” She turned and walked into the small bedroom. There was a pillow and a comforter covering the mattress. She quickly went to work adding the sheets. By the time she was finished, there was a knock on the door.

She answered it. Austin smiled as he reached out his hand, holding a T-shirt and a new toothbrush. “I thought you might like something to sleep in.”

* * *

“WHAT ARE YOU doing back here?”

Later that afternoon, Austin stood in the doorway, blocking the entrance to keep his business manager from coming in. Erin was still asleep, and the last person he wanted around here was Jay. He already made too much of her being his therapist.

“What do you mean, what am I doing here? You’re not just my client, but also my friend, Austin.” With briefcase in hand, Jay stepped over the threshold and into the house. “And I wanted to make sure you’re doing okay.”

Austin wasn’t buying it. “I have two brothers and my father around.” Not that the old man cared about him. “My two sisters-in-law keep me fed. So enjoy your off-duty time. Go on a vacation.”

Jay frowned. “I wouldn’t do that, not when you’re still recovering. Besides, I need to keep all the fires going so people won’t forget you. We’re going to need to plan some big promotion for your comeback.”

Damn, why did that make him feel so old? Hell, he was old. He made his way to the sofa and sat down. “Let me get through this rehab, Jay. Then we’ll talk.”

The older man frowned. “Why? What’s wrong? I knew it—that therapist you hired isn’t working out. I can fire her for you. I know of this private rehab center outside Denver.”

“No, Jay. I told you, I want to stay here while I recuperate. This is my home, my ranch.” He realized he liked having his own place and his brothers around. “Besides, wouldn’t the media find me easier in a rehab center?”

His manager shrugged. “You’re probably right.” He lifted his briefcase onto the table. “The other reason I’m here is I have some papers that need your signature.”

Austin leaned back on the sofa. His leg had been throbbing since his last session, but he refused to take any meds. So he wasn’t in the mood to go over any contracts, especially something new until he was sure of his future. “Just leave them and I’ll go over them later.”

Jay frowned. “They can’t wait, Austin. They’re tax papers. Look, just put your signature on the bottom where I made the X and I’ll do the rest.”

There were things about Jay he loved, like the fact that he’d taken him on as a client when he was a no-name bull rider. They both had made a lot of money on his talent and Jay’s business cunning. Austin trusted him, but he wasn’t foolish enough to sign anything blind, either. “Are you in town for a while?”

Jay shrugged. “I need to be in Dallas in a few days.”

He stood and started for the door, hoping he could get Jay out of the house before he woke Erin. “Okay, I’ll get them back to you before then. What hotel are you at?”

“Hotel? I thought you might offer me your guest room.”

Austin turned quickly to tell Jay he needed his space when he caught the end of the coffee table with his walker and it tipped him off balance. He did the windmill stroke with his arms, but he only managed to knock over a lamp, and they both crashed to the floor. Pain shot through his butt as he hit the hardwood.

Jay started over to help him when Erin came rushing out from down the hall, all that rich auburn hair flying around her sleep-ridden face. What got his attention was her state of undress. She was wearing his T-shirt that hung to midthigh. Oh, boy, those legs.

“Austin, don’t move,” she called and was kneeling down at his side. Her hands went to work examining his legs and arms. “Do you hurt anywhere?”

He brushed aside her concern and sat up. “Yeah, my bony butt.”

She frowned. “Not your leg?”

A shadow appeared over them. He glanced up at Jay.

“Well, I can understand why you didn’t need me here. Seems your therapist has everything under control.”

* * *

TWO HOURS LATER, the sun was setting over the mountains as Austin sat at the kitchen table enjoying the quiet peacefulness. In the dimming light, he could also see his brother Cullen’s horses grazing in the pasture. Thanks to the heavy rainfall over the past few months, the grass was high and green. Soon, the snow would come to the area. Great for the ski resorts around Hidden Springs, but hard on the cattle rancher. He didn’t have to worry since he hoped to be gone by winter. He glanced down at his injured leg. Already he’d gained more physical strength.

His attention strayed when he heard the rattle of the old water pipes from the bathroom. He’d convinced Erin to take a shower here so she could go straight to the center for her night shift.

Bad idea. His imagination was going wild. All he could picture was her naked body covered in soap, the spray massaging away her troubles and tense muscles.

Suddenly a knock sounded and Austin jumped as the door swung open and his twin brother walked in, carrying a large container of food. “Delivery for Austin Brannigan.”

Well, that sure threw cold water on his erotic thoughts. Austin started to get up. “Hey, good to see you.”

Cullen motioned for him to stay seated. “Let me come to you, A.” He put the food on the stove, then came and sat down with him. “You’re in for a treat tonight—Shelby’s lasagna. There’s also a green salad and garlic bread.” Cullen hit the switch and turned on the kitchen light, showing off the room’s flaws. Old knotty-pine cabinets and tiled counters, though the appliances were in much better condition.

“Are you sitting in the dark for a reason?”

“No, just watching the sun go down over the mountains. It’s an incredible view.”

Cullen straddled the chair across from him and gazed out the window. “It does look good. I like the repairs I put in, a lot of painting and new fencing. All in all, the place looks good.”

“And I want to pay you for my share,” Austin insisted.

“Let’s get you in better shape first, and I’ll have you work it off. The kids that come here to ride would get a kick out of meeting you.” Cullen held up his hand. “I know—we’ll wait until you’re better.”

Austin had to admit he was glad to be in his new home. “Not a bad place to recuperate.”

“I guess if you get lonely, I can bring that trailer back here. I can see how you’d miss all that sparkle. The kids were all curious about that ‘sparkly’ house.”