Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
When they were out of seeing and hearing range, I turned back to Dr. Parnell and sighed.
“Don’t worry, Gavin. You only have to stay quiet for the next two days. Then you can start to use your voice again, slowly and carefully. The silence will only last forty-eight hours.”
Forty-eight hours. Might as well be a lifetime.
An hour later, Granddaddy returned wearing a bright smile with no bags. And no Suzie. He only had a small dry erase board and a marker. “Ready to blow this joint?”
I nodded and sat up to swing my legs over the bed. It had taken some time, but the grogginess was gone, along with the pain.
“Here you go. Got you one of those boards for talking. Miss Suzie said it would make sure you didn’t use your voice for the next couple days.” He handed it over and flashed a brighter smile. “I like her. She’s cute and smart as hell, and she doesn’t take any shit from anyone. Can’t wait to hear what’s going on with the two of you.” He winked like it was some secret just between us.
“Friends,” I wrote furiously and shook my head. Suzie would kill me if the whole world found out.
“Yeah, right, and I’m the Duke of Earl.”
I underlined the word again and shoved the board in his face.
“If you say so,” his voice boomed again and he looked around the room that was empty except for us. “We’ll talk about it at home.”
“How will we get there?”
“Oh that? Your friend, Suzie has offered to drive us home when you’re discharged. Said you’ve been driving a pickup truck loaner from the auto shop?”
I nodded and scribbled another note. “Stick shift.”
“Dammit. The arthritis in my right hand is too bad to fiddle with that.”
Which was exactly why I’d had Alex arrange a nice safe, sedan with automatic steering for him.
“You’re early,” I wrote and pointed at the board. “Automatic waiting for you at the airport.”
He waved off my words. “I’m your emergency contact, and your friend thought you might like to see a friendly face when you woke up so I changed my flight.”
“Thanks.” I grabbed my clothes and dressed quickly. “I can drive. I just can’t talk.”
“Too temptin’,” he answered quickly with a shake of his head. “Suzie said anything that might startle you could cause you to use your voice before its time. Now, come on, boy. We’ve got food, one of those steam treatment machines, booze for me, and a cute little driver to escort us. Best not keep her waiting. Wouldn’t be very friendly of us.”
Suzie
“Rumor has it that you’ve been spotted around town with one Gavin Ross.” My brother Drew smiled at me from across the small table at Cowboy Café, a knowing gleam in his eyes.
I rolled my own eyes and let out a huff of laughter meant to hide the truth. “Rumor has it? I guess you’re settling back into Jackson’s Ridge better than you thought if you’re already listening to and reporting on the gossip. What’s next, you’ll be itching to be the first with the news?”
His dark brows dipped into a scowl and his blue eyes darkened, but his lips curled up in a smile. “You wish. All I’m saying is the hospital is buzzing with the news that you and Gavin are a thing.”
Were we a thing? “He helped me when I twisted my ankle outside of his place and I helped him and his grandfather after his surgery. That’s all.”
“Hmm.” Drew stabbed at his steak like an animal, shoveling a big hunk in his mouth after a mountain of mashed potatoes had just gone in. “I’m just saying, you used to love him so much.”
I frowned and held my hand up to block his open mouth. “Gross, Drew. You’re a grownup now, a surgeon. Act like it, please.” The truth was, I had missed having my baby brother around, and now that he was back, I enjoyed these monthly dinners and his childish antics. “And I still do love him.”
Drew’s gaze perked up, a gleam entered his big blue eyes.
“As a musician.” I laughed when his shoulders fell in disappointment. “The older ladies must love having a handsome man to share the gossip with.”
His smile widened. “They do love to call me man candy. It’s strange because some of them are older than Nana, but it’s nice to be appreciated.”
“Plenty of women appreciate your looks.” And they would love to share a meal or his bed, a fact he well knew judging by the frown on his face.
“I’m not ready,” he growled angrily.
“I know you say you’re not ready, but it’s been three years and she wouldn’t want you to be alone.” Drew hadn’t dated or attempted to date since he lost his wife in a freak avalanche on a ski trip he couldn’t make because he’d been stuck in surgery.