deep in his gut. Damn.
She moved closer to the bed. “And I guess you forgot how bad you need me.”
He might like this. He’d been without a woman far too long. “Oh, darlin’, you have no idea.” He caught the frown from Trent and Cullen, but ignored it.
The new nurse put her fists on her hips as her gaze moved over his body, stopping at the sheet. “Oh, I think I do.” Quickly, her gaze returned to his face. “Okay, Mr. Brannigan. We can do this a few different ways, easy or hard. We work together as a unit and I’ll help with your recovery, or we fight, which I guarantee will make it more difficult, or you can just tell me to leave. What will it be?”
He was used to being in charge. People did what he wanted, not the other way around. But he had a feeling this woman knew what she was doing. He glanced again at his brothers in the doorway. “Do you mind leaving us alone?”
Trent looked at the woman. “Erin, it’s up to you.”
“I’m fine.” She looked back at Austin. “I have a black belt in karate.”
That brought a smile to Cullen’s and Trent’s faces. “Good luck... Austin.” The door closed, shutting them in silence.
The woman spoke first. “My name is Erin Carlton, Mr. Brannigan. I’m a registered nurse and I’ve had some training in physical therapy, but I’m not certified. I know your sister-in-law, Brooke, from a time when we both lived in Las Vegas. I understand you’re someone famous and you don’t want anyone to know you’re here during your rehab. Just so you know, I’d never reveal a patient’s confidentiality.”
He began to relax. “It’s Austin.”
She nodded. “Would you mind telling me what happened?”
Yeah, he did, but he began the story anyway. “My brothers might have told you some already. I was competing in the short round at the Frontier Days Rodeo last July and leading in points.” Damn, he’d played the accident over and over in his head and never could understand how everything went so wrong. “I was thrown and got caught up in my rigging on my way down, and a two-thousand-pound bull named Sidewinder had his way with me.”
He rubbed his thigh absently, trying not to relive the nightmare. “The doctor put my leg back together with the aid of a titanium rod. Now all I want to do is rebuild the strength in my leg and get back on the circuit.”
Erin didn’t react to his announcement. “Have you had any therapy?”
“Some, but I just got here this week.” He nodded to the door. “There’s a boatload of equipment in the bedroom across the hall. Dr. Michael Kentrell did the surgery. You should talk to him.”
She nodded. “I plan to, if I take your case.”
He frowned. “And I haven’t decided you’re the person for this job, either. What’s your experience?”
“I told you, I’m a nurse and I presently work with Alzheimer’s patients.” Her gaze met his. “I do some therapy with my patients at the Mountain View Convalescent Center, but my most intense sessions were with my husband. He was wounded during his deployment in Afghanistan. I worked nearly a year on his therapy.”
She was married. He glanced down at his ringless finger. “What were his injuries?”
She straightened. “Jared caught shrapnel in his calf and thigh, tore his muscles to shreds. He also had head trauma.”
“Was he able to walk again?”
She shrugged. “Some, but he never gained total strength in his leg.”
Austin wasn’t sure what to say next, seeing the pain in Erin Carlton’s eyes. Those pretty green eyes.
Did he want this distracting woman around all the time? Having her close, touching him, causing him to react? So far she was also the only person who’d dared to stand up to him. He doubted she’d be easy on him.
“If you work for me, how soon could you start?”
She blinked at the question, then recovered and said, “That all depends. I need to talk with your physician.”
He nodded toward the dresser. “There’s my medical file and instructions for my therapy.”
She picked it up and began to read it.
* * *
“I WAS HOPING that you could work every day. My goal is to get well enough to get back on the circuit. So I’ll need someone who’s dedicated to work with me. I’ve lost my top ranking for this year, but I plan to be back on the circuit as soon as possible.” Most importantly, before he lost any product endorsements.
She looked up from her reading. “Firstly, I’ll be working with you. And secondly, I have a full-time job at the center.”
“That isn’t going to work for me. I need you full-time with me.”
She straightened. “There are only so many hours in a day, Mr. Brannigan.”
“It’s Austin.”
“Austin. Like I said, I can’t be in both places, and I can’t function on no sleep.”
“Then work with me exclusively.” He tossed out an amount of money that was crazy even to him.
She couldn’t hide her shock. “I won’t give up my job at the center. Let’s see what I can come up with. But if I agree to work with you, I’ll have a few rules. Unless you’re an invalid, which you’re not, I won’t clean up after you.” She looked at the mess on the floor.
“That was an accident.”
She didn’t look convinced and held up the file. “May I take this with me to study your case?”
“If you’re taking me on.”
She nodded. “If we can work out a schedule.”
He was suddenly excited she was working with him. He stared at the pretty redhead with those big green eyes. Her complexion wasn’t pale or pasty; she had more of an olive skin tone.
Stop! he chided himself. He couldn’t think of her as a woman. Besides, she was married to a soldier. That makes her off-limits. Not that he was in any shape to do anything.
Erin started for the door. “I’ll get back to you tomorrow as soon as I make arrangements with my supervisor.” She studied him. “Are you sure you want to pay the amount? It’s twice the going rate.”
He nodded. “It is if you’re dedicated to helping me get back on my feet.”
She smiled. “You’re the only one who can accomplish what you need. All I do is help rebuild the strength in your leg. I’ll help you walk, Austin, but you’ll have to get yourself on a bull.”
“Guaranteed, I’ll do it.”
“Good. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.” She walked out, and he found he wanted to call her back.
