Page 21 of Stealing His Human

Nedrick grinned. “Thanks.” The doctor turned away and headed out of the room, pausing in the doorway to add, “And of course, if you have any problems or questions, my cell number’s on the paperwork. Just call.”

Brett nodded even as he wondered how many doctors gave patients their personal numbers.

Must be a country doctor thing.

“Okay, Brett.” Nedrick crossed to the bed. “Are you ready to get out of here?”

“Yeah.” Brett slid to the edge of the bed and eased to his feet. “Let’s go.”

As Brett found his feet, Nedrick rested a hand on the small of his back, as if ready to catch him if he dropped. It’d nearly happened when he’d exited the SUV. It’d been damn embarrassing.

Fortunately, whatever medicine the doc had given him was stronger than the over-the-counter stuff, and his arm no longer throbbed. Unfortunately, his head did feel a little woozy from it. Brett wasn’t a big fan of drugs, but he was willing to take the heavier stuff for a day or two before switching to lighter stuff.

Not my first rodeo.

“Come on,” Nedrick encouraged. He stuck by Brett as they headed down a hallway to a lobby-type area. Once reaching it, Nedrick asked, “Stairs or elevator?”

While they’d been waiting for the X-ray results, Nedrick had explained that Lark and Declan had added an addition not too long ago. They’d created a large screened-in porch at the back of the house to support a second-story addition. They’d expanded Lark’s clinic while adding an exterior entrance on that side of the house with both stairs and an elevator large enough to handle a stretcher.

“Stairs are fine,” Brett claimed, and they headed out into the afternoon sun. Making his way down them slowly, he gripped the railing with his right hand. “Hey, uh, do you know where I can get some plastic bags to protect my cast?” Brett really should have thought of it before. “I could really go for a shower right about now.”

“There’s some in the bag,” Nedrick claimed, holding it up. As they reached the bottom, he eyed Brett with a worried expression. “Not sure you’re up for a shower at the campground.” Just as quickly, Nedrick grinned. “I know just the thing, though. Come on.”

Nedrick led the way to hisJeep. The second park ranger—Dixon—had popped into the room to not only take both of their statements but to give Nedrick his keys. The man had even asked Brett if he wanted to press charges against Karissa for pushing him, which he hadn’t. He understood that it had been an accident, after all, no matter how possessive and bitchy she was turning out to be.

To Brett’s surprise, Nedrick opened the door for him. He even touched his hip, as if ready to help him inside if need be. Once inside, the man grinned as he shut the door.

After hurrying around the hood of his vehicle, typing something on his phone as he went, Nedrick climbed behind the wheel. They both buckled their belts before he fired up the engine. Nedrick turned around in the large driveway and headed onto the road.

“How are you feeling?” Nedrick asked as he drove. “Really?” He gave him a quick searching look before returning his focus to the road. “I can’t imagine that you could scrub or pour shampoo with one hand.”

Brett grimaced, having not thought of that. “I’ll figure out a way to manage.”

“You don’t have to manage,” Nedrick countered, glancing his way again. His voice deepened a little as he murmured, “That’s why I’m here. To help.”

Confusion flickering through him, Brett furrowed his brows as he eyed him. “How are you going to do that?”

Nedrick smiled widely. “Just leave that to me, handsome.” He winked. “Leave it to me.”

Uncertain of what to say or what Nedrick was thinking, Brett lapsed into silence. Soon, Nedrick was turning theJeepinto a driveway, and a medium-sized log home appeared between the trees. The graying logs showed off its age, but it appeared to be in great shape. The stone chimney off to the right stretched toward the sky. A large porch encompassed the front with a couple of rocking chairs on one side of the steps and a two-seater swing on the other. Two dormers revealed the home had at least a loft-style second floor.

“It’s beautiful,” Brett murmured, leaning forward and taking it all in. “Is it really as old as it looks? Or was it built to emulate age?”

Appearing pleased, Nedrick told him, “It was built in the early nineteen-twenties.” He parked theJeep, turning off the engine, before adding, “When I bought it, it was pretty run down. It took a few years, but I fixed it up. Modernized the interior, of course.” With a wink, Nedrick slid out while saying, “I love modern plumbing and great water pressure.”

Brett nodded. He could understand that. He couldn’t imagine living in a time before showers and hot water.

“Come on, Brett,” Nedrick urged, having rounded the hood and opened his door while he was still checking out the home. “I have something to show you.”

Instead of leading Brett into the house, Nedrick headed between the structure and a free-standing garage to the back. There was a large patio that led to a back door. A woodshed could be seen a bit further on with several rows of stacked wood inside it.

Nedrick stopped before a six-by-eight structure attached to the back of the house and opened the door.

To Brett’s surprise, it wasn’t a storage shed. Instead, he found himself staring into an outdoor shower. There was a bench seat on the left side with rounded corner shelves above it containing several bottles. The large showerhead came out of the back wall to the right and boasted a detachable head.

“Wow,” Brett murmured, lifting his brows. “I wouldn’t have expected this.”

Chuckling, Nedrick placed Brett’s bag of meds, which he hadn’t even noticed the man had been carrying, on the nearby patio table. “Told you. Love my modern conveniences.” Pointing at the woods, Nedrick explained, “I love running in the woods, but I don’t like tracking anything inside, so I shower out here first.”

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