Page 23 of Reaching His Heart (The Sartoris 3)

Chapter 8

Solette stood before Cason as he struggled to his feet. Sweat beaded his forehead, and his jaw was tight, but he did great. “You want to take a step?”

He grimaced. “I’ve stepped all over this house! You’re a taskmaster. Did your last patient fire you for being so unsympathetic?”

Her annoyance with him wasn’t so easily aroused after six months of grueling work. She knew every which way he tried to get her worked up, and she wasn’t falling for it. Cason grew really grumpy when he was hurting, and sometimes his tongue cut like a knife. Then there were times he was so sweet, she found her heart pounding. Not a good sign. Somehow over the last months, although the attraction was still there, they hadn’t slept together again.

Well it’s there for me. He’s probably lost interest.

“You will most likely be able to wear the braces soon.”

He looked aghast. “That’s not sexy.”

“Were you trying to be?”

“Move, woman. Let me prove to you I don’t need them.”

“Cason, don’t push yourself too fast.”

“I’m going to be a whole man, and I’m not going to stop until I am. Get used to it!”

He swayed. She reached up to place her hands on his waist. Not that she could stop him if he tumbled, but a little added stability wouldn’t hurt. She expected him to shove her aside with the mood he was in, but he stilled, looking down at her. The blue eyes pierced through her, and her throat dried. She’d known he was tall, and she had seen it all this time. Yet, it impacted her more than before. For the first time, she felt petite standing in front of this big man, and her heart was about to alert him to the effect he had on her.

“What is that scent?” he demanded.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

He swooped down. She thought he was about to fall, but his nose touched the column of her neck, and he breathed in. Her knees wobbled. One would think she was the patient here. She raised her hands higher to push his chest but thought better of it. The heat from his body burned her palms.

“You know what I’ve wanted all this time?” A dangerous glint entered his eyes when he straightened.

“W-what?” She was short of breath and coughed.

He grinned. Cold and rugged, he sent chills racing down her spine. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know his desires and rushed to suggest an answer before he spoke.

“You wanted to walk. Well, you’re doing it. I told you, you could.”

He chuckled low in his throat. “You’re running away, little mouse. That’s okay—for now.”

“Don’t play games, Cason. Now, come on. Sit down and rest a minute.”

He ignored her command and kept looking at her. She felt like he could see the desire burning inside her core. Not just desire but loneliness too and a sense of helplessness. She knew better than to let thoughts of something more than patient-nurse relations with Cason steal into her mind.

“Arrange for a cane,” he said.

She sighed. “You’re not strong enough for a cane yet. Besides, you’d need two if you were to—”

“Then get me two.”

“Cason.”

“If you don’t get it, my brother will.” One of his knees started to shake, and he sank to the chair behind him. Sweat beaded his forehead and ran down his temples. He shut his eyes and breathed slowly for a few minutes. Then that brilliant blue gaze drew her in again. It was filled with angry determination. “I’m getting surgery on my face in a few days, and my eye is already better. You’d better believe I’m going to get my life back.”

“Of course you are.”

Solette knew her role in his life would soon be over. He wouldn’t need a nurse to come in as often as she did or a physical therapist for that matter. His moods still fluctuated, but occasionally he cracked a smile or two for his family. She would be looking for anoth

er position, and maybe he and Bambi could get married.

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