Project Detour (Castle View Book 3) by Lynn Cahoon Read Free Book Online

bus.
    “I’m fine. Just tired.” He took a sip of his water. “Maybe a soda? Do we have any lemon lime?”
    “I’m sure we do.” She took the tray and moved toward the door.
    He hated himself, but before she left the room, he had to ask. “Mom, have you heard from Destiny?”
    Just then, he heard the front door open. Destiny came through the door of the room, her coat still on and her eyes wild. She looked around. “I’m so sorry I took so long. There was an accident on 95 and they had the road closed for over an hour. My cell died and I didn’t have a charger in the car. Besides, I was behind Bald Mountain and cell service there is non-existent.”
    “No worries, dear, Brad and I were doing just fine.” Sandy nodded to the kitchen. “Why don’t you come with me and eat. I bet you’re starving.”
    She shrugged out of her coat and set her purse down. “Let me check on Brad, then I’ll be right there.”
    She disappeared into the bathroom and he could hear the water running. When she came back to his bedside, he had already moved the table away and lowered the bed. “Help me to the bathroom. I’m dying here.”
    “Didn’t you ask your mom for help?” Destiny swung his leg over the side of the bed. They were getting faster at the process.
    “I wasn’t going to ask my mother to help me get to the bathroom. Besides, she’s too fragile for me to lean on,” he groused as he eased backward into the chair. He reached down and undid the brakes, wheeling himself into the bathroom.
    “I think she knows you pee,” she called after him. “I’m going into the kitchen to heat up my dinner and grab something to drink. Do you want something?”
    “A scotch and soda.” He called back from the bathroom, using the bars to lift himself out of the chair.
    “Funny.”
    He heard her walk out of the room and smiled. As crazy as it sounded, Destiny was back and he felt like all was right with the world. He shook his head at the happiness that floated through himpla. He really needed to heal and get that woman out of his life and home. Before he became attached.
    Later than night, Destiny came into the room with a basin filled with hot soapy water and a pile of towels. He narrowed his eyes as he took in the scene. “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “You need a bath and you’re not cleared for a shower. So it’s sponge bath time.” She didn’t look at him as she set up the table with the items. She moved the covers down the bed and then placed towels under his legs and around his body. When she reached his torso, she said, “Lean up.”
    “No.”
    She paused, looking at him. “What?”
    “You aren’t going to bathe me.” He started to pull off his t-shirt. “I can do it myself.”
    “In some places, yes, you can. But you still need towels set up so you don’t have to sleep in wet sheets. So stop being a baby about this and lean forward.” She met his gaze and Brad realized she was right. He couldn’t reach his back.
    “Fine, but I’m not just lying here like some invalid.” He handed her the t-shirt and leaned forward as she’d asked. “And next week, I’m taking a shower.”
    “Fine by me, as long as the doctor approves. You think I enjoy giving you a sponge bath?” She cocked her head and waited for a response. “Well?”
    He relaxed into the bed. “It’s been a long day,” he said as some kind of apology that didn’t feel like him giving up to her.
    “How long did you work?” She ran a warm washcloth down his arm. He had to admit, it felt pretty good.
    He shrugged. “Just the hour you watched me.”
    “And you’re a liar.” She reached behind him and lifted him to a seated position, then started washing his back. “I know when Sandy thought you were sleeping you were actually working.”
    “I just had to deal with a crisis about the Spokane tasting.” He closed his eyes, trying not to enjoy the feeling of the washcloth and her wet hands on his skin. “So where were you