Page 25 of Take Me to the Valley

“My nurse said one girl quit last night, so they are short-staffed. I don't want to bother her.”

“Okay, well, trial by fire, since this is what I'll be helping you with at home,” I say. “Now, do you have anything on under the gown?”

“Yes, Don brought me boxers because I was not letting my ass hang out of the hospital gown,” he cringes. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cuss in front of a lady,” he says ruefully.

“I fucking cuss worse than Cody now. Don't hold back on my account,” I say, smiling.

For a moment, his jaw drops, and he looks startled. Then, he grins at me.

“Of course, I don't cuss in front of Skye,” I add.

“I appreciate that.”

After I pull his pants from the duffle, it takes some maneuvering to get him to the side of the bed and then get them on. Already a little flustered, I've never been happier my dad grabbed a button-down shirt for Evan to wear. But when I look up with theshirt in my hand, my eyes widen. Evan has dropped the hospital gown, and his tan and toned abs are on display, along with a few tattoos on his chest and upper arms.

Damn, he’s hot. But this isn't going to help me keep a wall up around him or ignore these weird feelings that are taking over at the thought of living with this man for a few weeks. It’s obvious he feels slightly awkward as well.

“Listen, I'm a nurse. I help patients get dressed all the time,” I tell him, trying to make him feel more comfortable, but it’s also a reminder to myself.

Watching his muscles ripple as he moves to get dressed gives me thoughts I've never had for a patient before. Then I immediately try to shake the very inappropriate thoughts from my head of what I'd like to do to those abs and finish getting him dressed.

Then we wait because the nurse takes about an hour to come in with the discharge paperwork and instructions. There are pain meds for us to pick up, along with a bunch of papers to take home.

The nurse helps get Evan into a wheelchair and takes him to the front door while I go grab my car.

“Good thinking on skipping the truck,” Evan says once the nurse and I have him all situated in my car and the rest of his stuff loaded in.

We swing by the pharmacy to grab his prescription, and then I make the drive to Whiskey River.

“Cody is getting me the paperwork today to get you added for pickup and drop off of Skye for school. I talked to them last week about getting you added and why, and they are working with me on it,” he says as we leave Helena behind.

“Let me know what you need from me. I know most of the teachers there anyway,” I smile at him.

Quiet a few of the girls I went to school with who stayed in the area are teachers in Whiskey River now.

It's quiet for a while before he breaks the silence.

“I don't think I ever thanked you,” he says.

“Thanked me for what?”

“For saving me that day. The Chief swears I'm alive because of you,” he says.

I fight the emotions that are trying to push through and overwhelm me.

“You don't have to thank me for that. There was no way I'd have let you die that day or any time soon. Cody would kill me himself,” I say, forcing a smile.

We make small talk the rest of the way home. He tells me about Skye's schedule and what she likes and doesn't.

Once we get to his house, it's just the two of us. Thankfully, his ankle is feeling better, and he can walk a short distance on it.

“Let's get you to bed,” I tell him, wanting to get him settled soon so Cody can bring Skye home.

“No, I want to be on the couch. I know I need to rest, and I will, but I still want to be as involved as I can with Skye. She will have homework, and I want to hear about her day. But if it makes you happier, I will stay in bed all day until just before she gets home,” he bargains.

“I can live with that as long as you don't overdo it,” I tell him, then help him settle on the couch.

“You can take the bedroom across the hall from Skye. You will have to share a bathroom with her, but my bathroom has the better tub, and you are welcome to use it,” he says.

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