Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Help me, Stacy,” I yell just as she starts down the hall with my phone.
“He doesn’t need help, but the concussion might be worse than we realized,” she says nice and loud for me to hear before a door is shut, and I can’t hear any of the lies she’s telling them.
My mom hands me a glass of water. “What in tarnation is going on, Brandon?”
“You tell me, Mom. You’re hugging on her like she’s—”
“There seems to be a misunderstanding,” Autumn says, returning with the confidence of a lunatic who got away with murder. With my phone still in her hand, she crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m here as a caretaker. This was all arranged through the hospital and your insurance.”
My mom moves around the couch to hand her a glass of water, which she takes and slowly sips as a natural-born predator would right before eliminating their prey. Calculated—Why the fuck am I still sitting here? I tuck the covers on the right side of my leg because, apparently, somewhere in my concussed state, I must have decided that would protect me. Fuck. I’m a sitting duck.
Standing by Autumn’s side, my mom looks pleased watching her take the calculated, murderous sip. Mom asks, “You’re the home healthcare provider, Autumn?”
Autumn saunters back to her suitcase, still holding my phone hostage. She can’t seem to bother hiding the satisfied smirk she’s currently directing at me. “Day and night for one full week.” I’m in trouble. She digs through her bag and pulls out papers. “The job requires twenty-four-hour, seven-days-a-week supervision.” The job? I’m just a job to her. Just grand . . .
My mom cups her hands together, the loud clap ripping my attention in her direction. “That is absolutely splendid, dear.” She shoots me a look with a smile blinding the rest of her expression. “Autumn will be here taking care of you for the week. Isn’t that wonderful news, Son?”
“Yeah,” I reply, staring back at the traitor I formerly called Mom. “Just wonderful.” And to think I was contemplating giving this woman the pleasure of seeing me shirtless, and then she shows up out of nowhere when I happen to be half naked. I eye her, not quite sure I should let my guard down just yet.
“I couldn’t agree more.” Her hair has fallen from the elastic she was wearing during the scuffle over the phone, I assume, and she tucks some strands behind her ears on approach. She drops the papers on my chest and says, “Here’s the contract for the week so you’ll understand exactly what my duties are, and what they are not.” Pulling the bag handles to her shoulder again and gripping the suitcase, she starts toward the hall again. “Now that we’ve got that all settled, where will I be sleeping?”
CHAPTER 9
AUTUMN
Brandon’s bed is huge. King-sized.
After the way he handled my arrival, the size of the bed fits his ego. But where does the rest of him sleep?
“I’ll be here all week, folks,” I whisper to myself, laughing as I punch the pillow to get it into shape for him. I walk around to the other side to grab the other pillow, feeling like I just clocked enough steps for a 5k to get here. This bed makes my queen size look small in comparison.
The golden hue flooding the room dims as the sun begins its final descent. I move back to the window to take it in. That view peacefully washes through me, bringing a welcome reprieve from the past few hours. My chest feels looser, and breathing comes easier. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to breathe like I have time to spare.
This job is coming at the right time, and despite the circumstances of my arrival, I refuse to let the patient’s attitude sway me from doing my job. I’ve dealt with difficult patients before. Brandon aside, with this view to wake up to, I should be grateful for the change in scenery and the slower pace, which will keep me grounded in the here and now. I’ll take this mountain view to sterile hospital hallways any day.
What I don’t like is the sea of bland browns everywhere. He has a whole landscape outside, the trees and ocean in the distance, and he chose to surround himself with brown. Utterly uninspiring. Says a lot about Brandon’s dating life over the years. The most eligible bachelor title comes to mind again. He might be the king of his domain, but there’s not a queen’s touch to be found in this place. The walls, the sheets and blankets, and the curtains are all in varying shades of brown, from beige to chocolate. I want to relax into sleep, not be bored into it.
Stacking another pillow, I punch it into place, setting my thoughts on tasks to be accomplished and off the man with those incredible biceps lying on the couch in the other room. Wait . . . ugh. Don’t go there, Autumn.