Page 26 of Stockman's Stormcloud

Dex’s eyes darkened as his jaw clenched with anger.

‘Morning, Dex. I’m here to do a check.’ It hadn’t been Sophie’s idea to drive an hour out of town, to the middle of the outback, to visit Dex. But Dex’s brother had paid for the service, and Jenny, who normally did these road trips, was their hospital’s only midwife who was busy attending to a few incoming babies. Which left Sophie to do the job.

The sooner she got this done, the sooner she could leave. ‘We’re to do the breathing exercises and I’m to top up your medications. They’re kept…?’ Dragging her work tablet from the medical pack, she peered around the room.

‘We keep them in the fridge to ensure all medications are kept below the Northern Territory’s above average heat and humidity.’ Bree rummaged around in the large fridge near the kitchen counter where loaves of fresh bread rested on cooling racks beside large bowls of assorted fresh fruit andvegetables. Herbs hung in bundles from the windowsill, and jars of coloured vegetables lined the shelves. There was even an old-fashioned, dome-shaped glass cloche that covered a plate of scrumptious-looking cupcakes.

Sophie’s stomach rumbled at the sight.

‘Here they are…’ Bree passed her the small container of pharmaceutical blister packs, and plastic bottles with the chunky child safety lids. ‘Do you need anything else from me?’

‘No. You can go, Bree.’ Dex stalked across the room to what Sophie assumed was the bathroom, and slammed the door shut behind him.

‘Well, didn’t you wake up on the wrong side of the couch, Stormcloud.’ Bree grinned.

Sophie didn’t think Bree’s attitude was fair to an injured guy who’d just woken up.

‘Care for a drink?’

‘No, thank you.’ Sophie checked over Dex’s medications but felt Bree watching her. ‘You should go. There is this thing called patient confidentiality.’

An evil laugh came from the redhead, making Sophie take a wary step back.

‘If Dex isn’t playing the obedient patient, tell his brothers. Not me.’

‘Why not? This is your place, isn’t it?’ It wasn’t Sophie’s style, not with all the retro cowboy stuff plastered across the walls. It also wasn’t her style to be this protective over a patient, or to be rude to their partners.

‘This is my grandfather’s place. Dex is here as Charlie’s guest.’

‘Right. And your job is to annoy Charlie’s guests?’ Sophie arched an eyebrow at the bossy britches who was so mean to a wounded man. But she’d never been this rude, either.

Bree took a step closer, her green-eyed stare unflinching. ‘What I do and who I do it with is none of your business. I don’t work for the Riggs brothers. But you do, and you’re on their clock.’ Bree waited a beat, as if daring Sophie to speak,before she casually strolled out the back door. ‘Dex? I’ll be in the smithy’s shed if you need me.’

The toilet flushed, and a tap ran, and the bathroom door opened.

Sophie had never been so grateful for Dex’s return to the room. That redhead was scary.

‘Um, so why are you here?’ Dex ran fingers through his messy, dark hair.

She squeezed harder on her pen to fight the urge to run her fingers through his hair, to grip it hard and yank him down for a punishing kiss.

‘Breathing exercises.’ She exhaled to get rid of the heat pumping out of her pores and those rampant thoughts running through her mind. Or was that because of her confrontation with Bree?

Which was wrong.

Sophie had no right to be so rude, nor to be so protective of Dex. Not when it was obvious Dex and Bree were a couple. Bree had remained beside Dex inside the ICU, holding his hand all night, like a partner would. She’d seen similar, countless times throughout her career.

Or, they may not be a couple, but Bree had somehow manipulated the situation enough to have Dex sleep on her couch during his recovery.

Or they were a couple, but they were having issues—that seemed obvious, given the way they spoke to each other, calling each other names, and making bets over Dex’s ribs—but his illness was now rekindling their relationship.

Whatever it was, Bree and Dex’s relationship was more than just a friendship.

It was also none of her business.

Sophie had to remember that she had no right to interfere. The way she was feeling right now, she shouldn’t even be in the same room as this man, who wore no shirt and was blessed with the perfect set of abs.

She nearly dropped the paperwork to drool. Struggling to push all her personal fantasies aside and focus on her job. It’s allshe had left—her cat and her job. ‘How are your breathing exercises?’

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