Hero by Nature (Reed Sisters: Holding out for a Hero 3) - Page 40

With a deep, soulful sigh Webb unfolded himself from his chair and rose, crossing the room to drop a light kiss on Autumn’s forehead. “Okay, I’m going. You’ve got a genuine doctor here to take care of you now, so I can leave with a clear conscience. Don’t let me see you at work until at least Monday, you hear?”

“I hear,” Autumn muttered, her head moving restlessly on the pillow. Jeff had disappeared into her kitchen, quite probably after a glass of water. It seemed she’d be taking the pain pills after all. Why wouldn’t everyone go away and let her die in peace? she bemoaned silently as Webb let himself out the front door.

“Not a very gracious patient, are you, honey?” Jeff’s voice was amused as he sat carefully on the edge of the couch at her side.

“No, I’m not a gracious patient,” Autumn grumbled, glaring at him. “I’m ill-tempered and foul-mouthed and horrible. I refuse to do what anyone tells me, and I don’t want those pills because they’ll make me loopy and I hate being that way. And I don’t like being called honey!”

To her surprise, Jeff laughed softly and leaned over to place a soft kiss on her sullen mouth. “Trying to scare me away, Autumn?”

“Yes,” she answered recklessly. “If you had any sense at all, you’d admit that I’m totally wrong for you, take to your heels and never see me again.”

“And if you had any sense at all, you’d realize that you are exactly right for me. I’m not going anywhere. But I will stop calling you honey. I didn’t know you disliked it. You should have told me long before this.”

She bit her lip, closing her eyes and trying to fight down a surge of disappointment at the thought of never hearing him call her honey again. Lord, what was the matter with her?

“Take the pills, Autumn.”

“Not now, Jeff. I’ll take them later.”

“Now, Autumn.”

Her eyes flew open at his tone. When and how had sweet, smiling young Dr. Bradford learned to inject pure steel into his voice? His gaze met hers, and her mouth opened automatically to take the small pills he was holding to her lips.

“That was sneaky and underhanded,” she complained when she’d swallowed the pills with a sip of the water he’d brought her.

“What was?” The steel was gone now, replaced by the familiar gentle amusement.

“I didn’t know that you could sound like that.”

“It comes in handy with stubborn patients.” He set the glass on the coffee table and brushed a stray curl away from her forehead. “You’ll feel better in a few minutes. You have to expect pain from a cut like this, but there’s no need to suffer unnecessarily.”

“So you think I’m acting like one of your patients, do you? Are you calling me a child?”

Jeff chuckled. “You’re determined to pick a fight, aren’t you, hon—uh, Autumn? It won’t work, you know.”

She sighed and closed her eyes. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I thought you and Webb understood that. So how come you’ve both been treating me like a helpless airhead?”

“Autumn, we care about you and you’re hurt. It has nothing to do with your capability or intelligence. Now why don’t you come down off that feminist soapbox and admit that you’d do the same for Webb—or me, I hope—if the tables were turned. You would, wouldn’t you?”

Autumn immediately had a mental picture of Jeff hurt and in pain, and she admitted to herself that she would, indeed, do whatever she could to help him. Webb, too, she added in a quick afterthought. And, dammit, she was acting like a whining child. She sighed again and looked apologetically up at him. “Yes, I would. I’m sorry I’ve been so grouchy.”

“S’okay. I’m a lousy patient myself. All doctors are, you know.”

Slowly relaxing, she settled more comfortably against the pillow. “I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight.”

“I know. I was going to call first, but I couldn’t wait that long. I wanted to see you.”

“As you can see, I’m not very good company tonight.”

“That’s okay. Just lie back an

d let me take care of you. Are you hungry? Would you like for me to make you a bowl of soup?”

“Thanks, but that’s not necessary. I’m not very hungry.”

“Actually, I am. I’ll make us a light supper, and maybe you can eat just a little.”

“Jeff, really, you don’t have to stay.”

Tags: Gina Wilkins Reed Sisters: Holding out for a Hero Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net
readsnovelonline.net Copyright 2016 - 2024