Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 57201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Or how I’m feeling…
CHAPTER 27
Jake
Two Weeks Later
“Someone told me there was a pretty blonde ready to bust out of this joint,” I joke as I walk into Katie’s room.
She’s sitting in a chair by the window looking outside. Her hair is pulled up in a sexy, messy heap on her head. She has a little make-up on and an orange Longhorn tee on with faded blue jeans. Katie has always been beautiful, that has never changed over the years. Right now, though, she takes my breath away and she’s not even trying.
“I’m definitely ready, I’m just not sure my body is,” she jokes.
I keep rolling the wheelchair I grabbed from the nurse’s station, then latch the brakes on it when I get in front of her.
“Your body looks pretty good to me,” I respond with a grin, reaching out my hand. Katie rolls her eyes but puts her hand in mine.
“You’re such a natural born flirt it’s scary,” she grumbles. I shift my body around so that I can help her stand and move her more smoothly over to the wheelchair. “You’re getting to be a pro at this,” she mutters as she settles into the chair.
“I’ve had a few weeks to practice.”
I’ve been here all but two days since Katie was hospitalized. I didn’t want to leave then. I just didn’t have a choice. I needed to go home for clothes and spend time with Lennon who missed school because of strep throat.
I had to take him to the doctor because Miss Hazel was sick with the same stuff. While I was there, I found out Katie had given my name as a consenting adult over Lennon’s care if she was unavailable. Finding that out felt so damn good that I didn’t really have words. I’m not going to wait much longer to tell Lennon the truth. I want to shout from the rooftops that Lennon is mine. I just need to figure out how to convince Katie it’s time.
“Don’t remind me. I know you have to be sick of dealing with me.”
“That’s not how I would describe it,” I murmur.
“It will be better when I get home. I’ll be able to care for myself better in my own surroundings.”
“I know,” I respond. I’m not about to argue with her. There’s no way she can take care of herself. That’s why I’ve already moved into Miss Hazel’s. She’s probably going to fight me on it, but she’ll learn that it won’t do her any good.
I grab the small bag of belongings and the stuff the hospital gave her and gently put them in her lap.
“I’m serious, Jake. I can take care of myself.”
I kiss her forehead.
“Do you realize you touch and kiss me a lot anymore?” she asks, sounding somewhere between annoyed and confused.
“I hadn’t really thought about it, but you can probably expect it to happen a lot more.”
“I’m not sure that’s so smart,” she argues.
“I see your ride is here Miss Smith.”
“Yeah,” Katie answers.
“Oh, gosh! You’re Jake Ryan!”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Great a buckle bunny,” Katie murmurs under her breath. My lips twitch with the need to laugh, but instead I slide my fingers against the back of her neck, sliding them against her warm skin.
“You are amazing. My girlfriends and I watched you win the championship in Vegas. You rode that bull… crap what was its name.
“The Undertaker,” I respond.
“Yeah! You rode the hell out of that bull.”
“I tried.”
The Undertaker is one of the hardest bulls to ride I’d ever been on. He’s also the one who yanked my arm out of socket. I held on until the buzzer went off, but it was the longest eight seconds of my life. Hell, I’m prouder that I’m one of only two riders to stay on that son of a bitch that season than I am of my buckle.
“Are you going to be competing next year? I read somewhere there are rumors you’re retiring.”
“I’m not sure what I’m doing next, but I’ll stay active in the sport somehow. Once a cowboy always a cowboy,” I tell her tipping my hat.
“Yay. That’s a win for your fans for sure. I’m definitely a lucky girl. I get to escort you out of hospital.”
“Yay,” Katie responds, her voice full of sarcasm. My lips twitch. I could be fooling myself, but she sounds jealous. I can definitely work with that. “Actually, I think you’re supposed to escort me, but I’ve already signed the discharge papers and I’m in the wheelchair my floor nurse had home health send up.”
“But—”
“That means I don’t really need you. You can go pay attention to your other patients and leave me in the capable hands of my son’s father.”
I blink. Well damn…
“You have to be escorted out by a nurse,” the girl points out.
Katie looks around. “Carla, can you follow us down?” she asks the older nurse who has been Katie’s day nurse almost every day.”