Chapter 14
Chapter
Fourteen
“What do you know about this man?” her father asked the moment the door closed behind Andy.
She was still processing his offer of her staying with him so that her parents could go on their trip. Not to mention dealing with the surge of irrational excitement, considering her current predicament, that Andy hadn’t hesitated to help her.
Her earlier fear that he was somehow involved in all of the things that had happened to her had disappeared with the offer.
Working in HR, she’d done a few courses on reading a person’s body language.
It had been helpful in weeding out good and bad candidates for any vacancies that she was trying to fill.
Andy hadn’t triggered any of the red flags a person who was trying to hide something usually did.
“Narelle?” her mum prompted her.
“Sorry, a lot has happened over the last few days. As for how well I know Andy…” She paused.
How much should she tell her parents? If she shocked her parents with what she was about to tell them, they’d have to deal with it.
She was almost thirty. She’d lived by herself for almost seven years.
She wasn’t a monk. But she also wasn’t easy either.
“We met in Bali my last night there. We slept together, and then I left. I hadn’t seen him again until I woke up here and he was in my room.
But I haven’t stopped thinking about him since our night, and I wished I’d asked for his details before I left. ”
It was cringeworthy talking to her parents about her private life, but she wasn’t going to fabricate a story about how they’d met.
Her father nodded. He didn’t seem uncomfortable with her confession. “How do you feel about him now? Do you think you’ll be safe with him if we go?”
The fact her father was asking that suggested he was taking Andy’s offer seriously. How ever she answered was going to be the difference between if her parents went on their trip, or they lost thousands and thousands of dollars.
The thing was, she felt totally comfortable with saying what she was about to say.
“If he wasn’t invested in getting to know me, he wouldn’t still be by my side.
Hospitals and injuries can be very telling on how committed a person is.
I know he’ll keep me safe. He didn’t say it to you, but he said it to me.
He and his colleagues are looking into what happened today.
He’s a former SAS soldier. If I’m not safe with him, then I don’t know who I’m safe with. ”
“He does have a protective air about him,” her mum said. “How would it feel if we did go on our trip, not that I’m saying we will, but if we did?”
Narelle smiled at her mum. “I want you to go. You both deserve to enjoy everything you’ve worked so hard for.
I’m totally okay with you leaving.” Even if Andy hadn’t offered his place, or to help her out, she would’ve managed so that her parents could go.
It would’ve been difficult, but she would have figured something out.
“It’s, I don’t know, sweetie. My mother’s heart is staying I should say, but I also want to see the places I’ve spent years pouring over pictures of.”
“We will do what you want us to do,” her father said, as if he needed a nudge that what he wanted was okay with her.
“I want you to go,” she said firmly. Both her parents smiled big, and she joined in with them. “Go have a wonderful trip, and I want you to send me daily pictures.”
“We were planning on doing that anyway,” her mother said with a laugh. “And you are sure this is what you want?”
“Very sure.”
So what if she had people chasing her? If she could give her parents this little bit of joy, then that’s what she would do. Not to mention, they would be safe, and that was so very important to her.
She also trusted Andy to protect her and find those responsible. The question was, how long would it take for that to happen?
“Are you ready to spring this joint?” Andy asked, as he walked into her room, looking deliciously handsome in faded jeans that hugged his legs so sexily, it was almost criminal. He wore a plain white t-shirt that stretched enticingly across his chest and arms.
“More than ready.” Narelle licked her lips, vividly remembering what lay beneath all that fabric.
Ever since they’d reconnected, Andy had had a starring role in her dreams, and she’d relived their one night together over and over.
She had an itch that couldn’t be scratched.
And she wasn’t talking about her plaster clad arm and leg.
Although before she left, she should be losing the cast on her arm.
The break was healing well, and so the doctor was going to put her arm in a brace instead.
It would give her a bit more freedom, but she wouldn’t be able to use crutches for a couple more weeks.
So she would be wheeled out of the hospital, and Andy had promised he would get her one of those one leg scooters.
She could wield it one handed. At least she thought she could.
But she would have a wheelchair as back up.
“Excellent. Let’s get you seated, and then we can leave.”
With an ease she’d forgotten he had, Andy scooped her off the bed and placed her in the chair. He was so close she could kiss his neck. His clean, spicy scent teased her senses, and warmth seeped into her veins.
In the two weeks she’d been in hospital, he hadn’t made any overt moves to pick up where they’d left off in Bali, not that it would be easy, considering her physical limitations, but she wouldn’t have minded a kiss or three.
Her parents had finally left the day before. Andy had arranged for Reed, one of his colleagues, to take them to the airport.
She was pleased her parents were more comfortable now.
It helped that Andy had been a regular visitor to her room, and they’d all chatted up a storm.
She knew his parents had died while he’d been in the Army, and he was an only child.
She’d also had a couple of visits from his boss’s wife, Tabby, who always brought delicious baked treats with her.
Tabby was friendly and had promised to tell her how she and her husband met.
Not to mention, she’d gotten to know the rest of Andy’s team as they’d taken turns sitting with her if Andy couldn’t be there.
She didn’t know how he’d managed it, but Andy stayed in her room most nights, even after visiting hours were over.
Whether it was because of all the extra security, or the people who’d been after her had given up, she hadn’t had any more attempts on her life.
And she hadn’t had the feeling of being watched, even when she’d been sitting in the garden getting some vitamin D with Andy.
She startled as Andy brushed the back of his hand down her cheek. “You good?” he asked.
Narelle smiled up at him. “More than good.”
“You were deep in thought there. Are you having second thoughts about coming to my place? Because if you are, I’m sure Steve and Tabby would be happy to have you.”
She reached out and took his hand, holding it tightly. “No. No second thoughts. I was just thinking about the last couple weeks. What we shared with each other. Your friends who were here when you and my parents couldn’t be. How everything has been quiet.”
Blurting out every single thought she’d had in the last few minutes hadn’t been her plan, but she wanted Andy to know that she was okay with everything that was happening.
“Okay. Good, because if you were having some, I would’ve done whatever I could to persuade you that you needed to be with me, and not with anyone else.
” Even though his spoke with a light tone, there was a hint of desperation lingering underneath, as if the very idea of not having her close was one he didn’t like.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what gourmet meals you’re going to tantalize me with,” she teased, as they headed out of her room and to the occupational therapist’s rooms attached to the hospital where she would have the cast on her arm swapped out to a lighter one.
After that, they had to return so the doctor could officially discharge her.
“I hope you like steak, because I grill a mean one.”
“What would you say if I was vegetarian?” Which wasn’t true. He’d seen her eat the meat dishes that had been served to her at mealtime.
Andy laughed, the sound deep and gruff. “I’d say that you were messing with me.”
“True, but what’s life if you can’t tease every now and then?”
“Boring and monotonous,” he whispered.
Was that what his life was life before they’d met again?
Her life had been routine, but even before Bali, she didn’t do much more than go to work, come home, and eat by herself. She’d take a walk if she felt like it, but she hadn’t done that recently because of the sensation of being watched.
They’d arrived at the OT’s rooms, and she was ushered in immediately, something she was sure wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t still been an inpatient of the hospital.
Andy stood to the side, his pose looked relaxed, but she’d been around him enough to know that he was on alert, assessing everything to make sure no harm would come to her.
Seeing how protective he was, and always looking after her, she couldn’t believe that she’d thought he was involved in everything that happened to her. Looking back, she’d put it down to her being overly emotional after the attack, and the lingering effects of her surgery.
Tabby had had nothing but kind words to say about Andy and the rest of the guys at Power Security.
The other woman had also promised that she would have Andy and her over, along with the others, for a dinner when she felt up to it.
Narelle had protested, knowing Tabby ran a café/restaurant, and hadn’t wanted to burden her even more, but Tabby had assured her that it wouldn’t be an issue.
“The doctor said he’d like to see you again in ten days, where he’ll take another x-ray,” the therapist said, pulling her back to the present.
She’d deliberately lost herself in her thoughts so she didn’t have to think about what was happening.
It wasn’t as if it was invasive, but after being poked and prodded so much over the last couple of weeks, she was over it.
“Great.” She moved her arm a little, the cast a lot lighter than her previous one. There was a pinch of pain, but nothing as bad as it had been.
“I still want you to keep your arm movements to a minimum and try not to put too much weight on it. I’m confident that we’ll have you in a support brace in no time, and you’ll be able to do a lot more.
Your leg is going to take a little longer, but when you come back for your arm, I’ll look at seeing if we can get a lighter cast on your leg to ease up movement. ”
“Okay, and when do you think I’ll be able to go back to work?
” She wasn’t sure this doctor would have the answers, but she hoped it would be soon.
She was right-handed, and it was her left arm that was broken.
She could type one handed for a couple more weeks.
Although, she wiggled her fingers and didn’t experience any pain, maybe she would be able to type with both hands.
“I’m thinking after your next appointment you should have the all-clear to go back.”
“Okay, thanks.” Narelle nodded, a bit disappointed that she couldn’t go back sooner, but she knew her limitations, and, as she still needed an afternoon nap, it wouldn’t do anyone any good to not be almost one hundred percent when she went back to work.
Her employer had been fabulous and assured her to take all the time she needed.
It helped, even after her trip to Bali, she still had some annual leave she could dip into once she’d used up all her banked up sick leave.
They said their goodbyes and headed back to her room, where she was met by the doctor with all her discharge papers.
“Finally free.” She inhaled deeply as they exited the hospital. She got a lungful of exhaust fume/fresh air, but it was still better than the antiseptic smell she’d been breathing in.
“Yep. Are you hungry?” Andy asked, as he wheeled her to his car. She had no idea what he drove, but she imagined it would be an SUV. He looked like an SUV type of guy. Isn’t that what all guys who worked in security drove? It’s what happened on TV.
“I am. What’s the time?” She didn’t have her watch on, and her phone had been smashed in the accident.
“It’s one-thirty. Do you feel like anything in particular? Something you’ve been craving during your stay?”
“Nothing really. Just so long as there’s no applesauce, chocolate pudding, or Jell-O for dessert, I’ll be happy.”
Andy laughed again. “Duly noted. I also know just the place. Be prepared to have your tastebuds dazzled.”
She didn’t know if it was because she was finally out of hospital, or the man beside her, but Narelle felt lighter than she had in months.
The specter of her attacks that had clung to her in the hospital disappeared. She was safe and with a handsome man who showed her in so many ways how important she was to him.
A thought from earlier resurfaced, that people who wanted her were no longer after her, and she could move on with her life—without threat.