“So Derrick asked me to show you where you’ll be staying and then I’ll take you up to the main house where Jason’s at.”
I nod, following behind her. There are men working outside the barn, and they all wave and say hello. Olivia tells them hi and keeps walking, not stopping until we’re around forty feet past the barn. “This is you.”
I look up at the beautiful, quaint-looking house. “What? Are you sure? Derrick called it a line cabin or something like that and made it sound like I wouldn’t be pleased with it. This is huge. Way bigger than what I need.”
Olivia smiles and opens the door, gesturing for me to walk in. “Well, this is the guesthouse. I’d actually been staying here while my house was being renovated, but I moved out so it’s free now. All the sheets and towels have been laundered, and the housekeepers came in and cleaned yesterday.”
Instead of looking around, I stop next to Olivia. “Oh my God, I kicked you out of your house!”
But she laughs, not seeming concerned in the least little bit. “Actually, Derrick’s been looking for a way to get me into the main house, so this definitely worked out the way he wanted.”
The way Olivia’s cheeks are red, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t have a problem with the way things worked out either.
She continues walking around the house, showing me everything when there’s a knock on the door. “Come in,” Olivia hollers.
In walks a man, one I recognize from the barn, carrying my suitcases. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but Jason called down to the barn and asked me to grab your bags from your car and bring them in.”
I rush toward him to help him, because he seemed to grab it all in one haul. “You didn’t have to do that, but I really appreciate it. Thank you.”
The man takes his hat off and holds it against his chest. “You’re welcome,” he stutters before walking back out the door.
“Well, that was nice of him,” I mutter, referring to the man carrying everything in.
“Yeah, Jason’s pretty considerate, especially when it comes to you it seems. He’s been driving us all crazy the last two days making sure that we had everything ready and perfect for when you got here.”
I may have meant the man carrying the suitcase, but Olivia’s right. It was nice of Jason to have it taken care of so I wouldn’t have to lug them all in on my own. But I don’t need to start thinking that Jason is a good guy. By doing that, it’s only going to be harder to keep my distance. No, I need to just keep thinking he’s an ass. Or at least a considerate ass.
I’m shown to the main house where Jason is now living. He’s been home for three days, and I can tell he’s let his exercises begin to slip without daily therapy just by the way he walks.
Olivia leaves us alone so we can begin the therapy.
Jason is sitting next to me at the kitchen table. “Are you mad at me?”
I shake my head, not understanding what he’s saying. “What do you mean? I forgave you for being an ass back at the hospital.”
He grins. “Yeah, well this time I mean uprooting your life, bringing you out here in the middle of nowhere, having my brother practically forcing you to work with me.”
I shrug. “Honestly, I don’t think anyone can complain about being here. Your ranch is beautiful.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you agreed to take this job. I’ve been working on my own, but without the equipment I’m not getting the same results.”
“I’ll show you the new regimen that you’ll be following now that you’re at home,” I say, opening up the binder I brought where I have printouts of different exercises and stretches so he’ll have them on hand.
“Karly, are you sure this stretch is necessary?” he asks, pointing out a stretch that is particularly difficult because of his injury.
I need to set the limits now, from the start so there’s no misunderstandings.
“You were allowed to call me Karly when I wasn’t your nurse and you weren’t my patient. Now that you’re my patient, I’d prefer for you to address me as Nurse Berry.”
“And you shall call me Sir Jason Keller the third of Forest Grove,” he says, making his voice sound grand.
I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling and laughing.
“Let’s begin with stretches.”
10
Jason
I am really feeling the stiffness that settled into my legs in just the few days I stopped working out with Karly. I slacked off the few days it took her to get settled and then come to Forest Grove, and I’ve been on everybody, trying make sure everything is perfect. I know I should feel even more guilty for taking her away from her job and life in Knox, but I already feel better having her here. I know she can help me, but it’s more than that. Even now when she’s still playing the part of a prickly cactus, I’m glad she’s here.