Page 42 of Lulu

He just laughed as he worked the needle through Brody’s flesh, closing up the wound. “When I’m done, I’ll give him a shot for pain and antibiotics, and leave you pills for the rest. Keep him hydrated and still, at least for a few days.”

“Now I know I’m going to need help,” I smiled, watching as Doc bandaged and taped the wound before moving to Brody’s arm.

“I know a nurse I can ask to assist you for a few days so you can go to work.”

I wondered if she’d worked in Doc’s clinic.

“Her name is Harlow Cogan.”

“From your clinic?”

Doc hesitated a minute before saying, “Yeah. She also works independently.”

I had a feeling there was more to it than that, and that this was his condensed answer. “Thanks.”

He finished bandaging Brody’s arm and began putting his supplies away. “I’ll come back in a couple of days to check his wounds, but if you need me sooner call.”

“Thank you so much, Doc.”

He stood up. “Sweetheart, anytime you need me. Yeah?”

I walked him to the door. He stepped through to the outside and then turned back around. “Until we know what’s going on I’m going to move his bike. Is there room in your garage for it?”

The garage was separated from the house and off to the side. I pressed my lips when I thought how full it was inside. It was jam packed with crap that the prior owners of the house had left behind. I just hadn’t had time to go through it yet. I shook my head. “Put it on the other side. At least it won’t be visible from the road.”

“Will do. You go back inside and lock up tight. Expect Harlow’s call.”

I nodded and then did what he said. I locked the door behind me and then leaned against it for a minute, my mind racing with all that had happened. I knew that I should be worried about why Brody had shown up here with two bullet wounds. My gaze dropped down to his bag. I opened it up and skimmed through it, recognizing it for what it was. I’d seen a few at the clubhouse, and I had my own. I caught my breath.

Brody had been getting ready to run!

I was glad that Doc had thought to hide his bike. Someone was after Brody. Someone who obviously wanted him dead.

I couldn’t wait for him to be well enough to fill me in on what was going on.

Chapter 17

Lulu

Harlow was as beautiful as she was sweet, and she had eagerly responded to Doc’s request for help. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened my door to her that first day, but the model-perfect woman with striking blue eyes and Marilyn Monroe hair hadn’t been it. She hadn’t been wearing scrubs either, but had been dressed in lemon yellow capris, slip on sneakers and a feminine lavender cold-shoulder blouse. A Pandora bracelet adorned her wrist, and she wore a wedding ring on her finger and silver hoops in her ears. I knew that some women paid a fortune to achieve the casual elegance that she radiated.

Her help was appreciated, as it had allowed me to leave Brody and go in to work. The first day Elizabeth had insisted that I stay home with Brody. I felt bad for not telling her the truth about what had happened to him, leading her to believe that he’d a little accident on his bike and needed someone to stay with him. The truth was, I still didn’t know his story, as so far he’d only been awake long enough to take in some fluids and relieve himself in the plastic urinal Harlow had provided.

That first night I’d slept on the couch. There was room enough for both of us in my bed, but I was afraid I’d bump him during the night. He seemed to be in a lot of pain and couldn’t get comfortable. I’d heard him groaning and moving around most of the night. Doc had told me liquids and rest were key to his recovery, and I intended to make sure that happened for as long as I could and for as long as Brody allowed me to. I sensed that once the stubborn man started feeling better, he’d be hard to handle.

He’d slept just about round the clock the first three days, for which I was thankful, and which Harlow informed me was normal considering the pain meds Doc had him on. On day four I arrived home to find Brody awake and reclining against the pillows, looking surprisingly good, considering. His color had returned. And was his hair wet? Harlow was sitting on the edge of the bed with her back towards me, changing the bandage on his arm.

I paused in the doorway. Brody must have sensed my presence because he glanced my way. We locked eyes for a minute, and I couldn’t deny that I felt something pleasant flush through me, a feeling of intense relief that he was going to be okay. That hewasokay, if the sudden smirk spreading across his face was any indication.

“Were you worried about me, Hellcat?”

He’d read the truth in my eyes, which I planned to ignore. I walked further into the room. “Hell no,” I said, meeting Harlow’s eyes when she crooked her head my way. “You ruined a set of my best Egyptian cotton sheets.” I noticed that Harlow had changed the bed with the clean set that I’d put out that morning.

Harlow spoke up. “His wounds are healing nicely. And he was able to get a shower.”

That explained his wet hair. She taped on the new bandage. I could see that Brody was naked from the waist up, but what was hidden beneath the sheet at his waist was a mystery. Well, not exactly a mystery, since I knew his body well, and the prominent bulge between his legs was more than noticeable.

“Why is he awake? I liked him better when he was knocked out.”