Keelee is aware of your restrictions.”
Danny snorted. “Between Keelee, Tori, and Aunt Betty, I’m sure I won’t be allowed to do a thing. The boss is going to be… disappointed.” Danny shook his head.
“Let’s move over here and get you into position. I’m going to go out and tell Keelee what’s up.” She helped as Danny got onto the gurney and Jeremiah lowered him down to a prone position. “Be right back.”
She hung up her lead-lined cloak and dashed out to the exam room where Keelee was pacing.
“Frank was right, it is a dislocated shoulder. I’m sending the x-rays to Belle to the radiologist for confirmation. We’re going to numb that shoulder and then put it back into place.”
“We’ve got insurance and I’ll pay any copay.” Keelee handed her an insurance card.
“No worries. I’ll take down that information while we’re letting the numbing agents work. The county will bill the insurance company and let you know what isn’t covered.” She unlocked the medicine cabinet and withdrew what she needed. “Danny said your sister is back. I hadn’t heard that.”
Keelee sighed. “Yeah, she was in a big accident back East. Broken and battered, but she’s getting stronger every day. Physically.”
Eden hesitated at Keelee’s last comment. “Mental trauma from the accident?”
“I think so. I hear her crying at night. The nightmares and such. I’ve talked to Dad and we’re going to ask her to see someone, but damn, that would be a day’s drive there and back. Whatever, we’ll deal. We always do.” The woman gave a closed-off, tight smile.
“Right. Let’s get Danny patched up.”
An hour and a half later, Eden turned off the light and followed Jeremiah out of the clinic. He went outside and picked up their two half-empty beer bottles. “Looks like we didn’t get that drink.” Jeremiah took them to the trash can at the corner of her clinic and deposited them.
“I’m sorry. Some weeks I can go days without a patient, and then there are days like this.” She rubbed the back of her neck. Jeremiah stepped up to her and turned her around, placing his hands on her neck and rubbing. The heat and pressure about melted her into a puddle of ooze on the wooden platform in front of her clinic. It had been so long since someone had taken care of her. She sighed and relaxed under his skillful massage.
As he kneaded the tight muscles of her neck and shoulders, he leaned forward. “Coffee tomorrow? I’ll bring it over here. We can watch the sun come up instead.”
She turned around and stared up at him. So damn handsome. Even this soon, she couldn’t deny the draw she felt to this man. He’d meshed into her life tonight. There wasn’t a moment of awkwardness while she worked on Danny. His support was silent yet there. “I’d love to have coffee and watch the sun come up with you.” She lifted onto her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Until then.” Eden stepped backward as a fire ignited in his eyes. She smiled. She’d done that. She’d put that hunger there, and for the first time in four years, the possibility of what was to come excited her. Even if it was short-term. She turned and went into the clinic, locking the door behind her. If she hadn’t been so tired, she’d have floated up the stairs; as it was, she pulled herself up with the handrail. A smile slid into place. She had a date at sunrise.
Chapter 9
”Take this, too.” Gen handed him a small cardboard container as he filled the thermos she’d dug out from one of her closets upstairs.
Jeremiah opened the box and smiled. Gen had settled two warm cinnamon rolls into the box on small paper plates. She’d also snuggled napkins into the side, avoiding the frosting. “Thank you.”
“Absolutely. I’m so happy you and Eden are talking. She’s a great friend and a wonderful person.” She took a tray of biscuits out of the oven and grabbed the melted butter to brush over the top.
“You realize this is nothing serious, right? I’m only here for a short time.” He capped the thermos and grabbed two of her paper to-go cups with caps. “Does she take sugar or cream?” He hadn’t noticed yesterday.
“Cream, no sugar. Don’t use those. There are thermal cups with caps in the pantry. Grab a couple from there. I didn’t say anything about it being serious. I’d love it if it were, but you’re both adults and she’s a great