Lawfully Committed, page 2
“How long do you think it’ll take until my legs are fully healed?” he asked.
“Nothing heals overnight, but I think if you came to see me three times a week for a month, I’m sure you will feel like a new man.”
“You would be my personal therapist the whole time?”
“Yes, unless of course, you feel uncomfortable having a woman help you.”
A grin broke out across his face. “Me? Feel uncomfortable with a woman?” He shook his head. “I don’t see that happening.”
“Good, then we’ll get along wonderfully.”
Christine moved around to the back of the wheelchair and pushed Aedan to her desk. His gaze kept moving toward the mats and the tables. When she moved to sit behind her desk, he pointed toward the exercise area.
“Why aren’t we going there?”
“We will tomorrow. Today I need to get to know you and your injuries a little better before I start working on you.” She unlocked her computer and clicked open the program. She had previously entered in his information about his name, address, phone number, employer, and insurance, and so his name popped right up. “Okay, Aedan. Tell me exactly how you injured yourself yesterday.”
His gaze dropped to her desk as he toyed with some blank notepads nearest to him. “I was playing racquetball. I dove toward the ball without realizing how fast I was going. I hit the wall, breaking it. In the meantime, my legs decided to slide in opposite directions. I landed on my side.”
While he talked, she typed notes into the computer. “Where is the majority of your pain located?”
“The inside of my thighs around my knees, but my calves also burn whenever I step on my feet.”
She nodded and typed in his answers. “The doctor has strapped ice-packs to your legs. Have you kept them on this whole time unless changed out by your nurse?”
He leaned his elbows on the table and looked at her. “My legs feel like human popsicles. I doubt they’re going to get much colder than they are now.”
Christine tried not to chuckle. He even looked like he tried not to grin. “Good description.”
She typed a little bit more into the computer, and he was suspiciously quiet. When she peeked at him, she found him watching her intently. He had dreamy green eyes, even though she shouldn’t think that way about him.
“Tell me, Christine,” he said, his voice deeper than before. “What do you like to do for fun?”
Her mind tripped over the information she entered into the computer, and came to a screeching halt. She met his gaze head-on. “You don’t think this is fun?”
One side of his mouth lifted higher than the other. “No, do you?”
“Yes. I love my job.”
“What do you like to do away from your job?”
She wasn’t exactly sure she liked being asked such personal questions. “Okay, Aedan...” She swallowed hard. “Just one more question. What is your pain level right now?”
“On a scale from one to ten – ten being the worst?”
She nodded.
“I’d say it’s about an eleven.”
Men! They’d never be able to handle anything really painful. She quickly typed it into the computer before saving and closing the program. She moved away from her desk and back around to him. She maneuvered the wheelchair slightly until she could kneel in front of him.
Gingerly, she touched his calves, concentrating on the muscle under her fingers. Certain places on his skin were hotter than the other spots, which was normal for this type of injury. As she made her way toward his knees, he grimaced and his jaw tightened. He closed his eyes and breathed slower.
“I’m not trying to hurt you,” she told him.
“Yes, I know.” His voice was squeaky.
She tested his kneecap to make sure that hadn’t been torn, and so far from what she felt, it hadn’t. “How long will the doctor keep you in the hospital?”
His eyes opened. “If I had my way, I’d go home today.”
“I can give the doctor my report so that he’ll release you, but you have to promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“You stay off your feet as much as possible. And absolutely no running.”
A hint of humor crossed his face again. “What if my house is on fire?”
She couldn’t stop the smile pulling at her mouth. “Then you crawl to safety. Haven’t you heard of stop, drop, and roll? I expect you to do this and roll out of your house if it’s on fire.”
He nodded. “And I’ll make sure to take a video of it while I’m doing it, just so you’ll know that I followed your instructions.”
She stood and folded her arms. “And I’ll wait with bated breath to watch it.”
He laughed which brought a twinkle to his eyes. “What time do you want me to return tomorrow?”
“Mornings are better for me, so what about ten o’clock?”
“I’ll be here, ready and willing to get my legs healed.”
“Good. I hope you’ll keep that positive attitude. Some days will be more painful than others, but just remember that I’m only trying to get you healed faster. And also keep in mind that this can either be a good experience for you, or it can be torturous. The decision is yours.” She paused briefly. “Now, do you have any questions for me?”
Slowly, he nodded. “Just one.”
“Okay.”
“Have you ever dated one of your patients?”
THREE
Aedan thought of his upcoming therapy session as a mixture between Heaven and Hell. Having her touch his sore muscles yesterday was extremely painful, and yet, her touch was so tender that it nearly had him begging for more.
Another bonus about having Christine for his therapist was that she had a pretty face. Her brown eyes were like melting chocolate and very hypnotic. Her oval shaped face had high cheek bones and a perfect nose. Her raspberry lips were heart-shaped, and her teeth were straight and white.
Her blonde hair had streaks of a strawberry color, and each side of her hair was tucked behind an ear. She had adorable ears, too.
He’d always been attracted to women who took care of their bodies like he did – except for crashing into walls, of course – but because of her long doctor’s jacket, he couldn’t tell much about her shape. But her neck and wrists were thin, and so that gave him an indication of what she might look like underneath.
Aedan was a little worried about their session today, mainly because of the way he’d flirted with her yesterday. She hadn’t verbally answered his question about dating patients, instead, her answer came with an eye-roll and her telling him I’ll see you tomorrow.
The best way to start out today’s session would be by not bringing up that question again. He still wasn’t too sure if she’d be able to help him, but he was willing to give her one chance. Today was her only day to prove to him if she actually knew how to do her job or not.
As his father’s limo driver wheeled Aedan into the physical therapy room, he found Christine right away, but she was with another patient. A small girl, approximately eight or nine years old with braces on her legs was trying to walk from one bar to the other. The expression on the little girl’s face let Aedan know that each step was a struggle for her. Christine walked beside her, coaching and praising each time the girl moved forward. When the girl finally reached the bar, she sighed heavily and leaned against Christine who wrapped her arms around the child, giving her a hug.
“You did so good Mary. Just think, if you keep on doing this well, you’ll soon be walking without braces. Wouldn’t that be great?”
“Yes.” Mary said breathlessly as happiness beamed on her face.
Mary’s mother, who had been standing over by the wall, went over to her child. “We’ll see you tomorrow, Christine.”
“Albert,” Aedan said to the limo driver, “help me up.”
Once the brakes were set on the wheels, Aedan struggled to stand. Standing wasn’t the hard part – it was the getting up and down that nearly killed him.
“Goodbye.” She answered back, watching them walk out of the room. That was when her gaze met with Aedan’s. She smiled and walked toward him. “Aedan, I’m glad to see you came today. And you’re standing. I honestly didn’t know if you’d be here or not.”
“Oh, I think you knew I was coming, and that’s why you prepared to have that touching scene for me to witness.”
Confusion filled Christine’s expression. “What touching scene?”
“You know... the girl with the braces and making it to the bar – you hugging her and giving her praise.”
Christine folded her arms. An eyebrow lifted on her pretty face. “I’ll have you know that I didn’t prepare anything. Mary is the appointment I have before yours. She’s been coming to see me for two weeks now, the same time every morning. She was in a terrible hit and run accident and it will take a while for her legs to get back to normal.” She paused as she let the information set in. “But I’m glad it touched you. I guess you are human, after all.”
His cocky grin left his face. Was she joking with him or just insulting him? He wasn’t sure. She was the one who was acting all high and mighty right now, not him, but he was the one feeling like a complete idiot.
“Are you ready to get started?” She asked.
He shrugged. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Yes, but are you ready to start? If your mind isn’t ready for the therapy, then your legs won’t be either.”
He laughed harshly, still stinging. “Are you a head shrinker also?”
“Sure, why not?” She told him as she reached for his arm to help him walk, but he wouldn’t let her see his weak side and started walking by himself to the lounge-looking table not far from them.
“The first thing we are going to start on you today is giving you the cold and hot packs.”
“Excuse me? Isn’t that what the doctors have been doing for the past two days?” He arched his brow.
“Yes, but were you repeating this method when you were discharged from the hospital yesterday?”
Inwardly, he groaned. Point one for Christine. “No, I wasn’t.”
“Which is why we’re going to do it now.”
She took hold of his upper arm and assisted him to the table-bed. The ugly, worn vinyl brown lounger reminded him of the couches that would be found in a psychiatrist’s office. Well, at least this wasn’t his torture chamber, so he might as well lie down on it. Once again, his legs screamed in pain but he made it to the table to lie down.
She took two steps away from him to the cooler filled with ice-packs. She wrapped them in thick cloths before bringing them back to place on his calves and thighs. He inhaled sharply from the sudden coolness. He wore his sweat pants, and the cooler temperature was definitely noticeable.
“I’m going to leave these on your legs for ten minutes. Can I get you a magazine to read while you wait?”
“What? You mean I’m not privileged to have your charming company during those ten minutes,” he teased.
She chuckled. “Unfortunately, I’ve got some paperwork to do. Otherwise, I would be happy to sit and talk with you.”
“What kind of magazines do you have?”
“Why don’t I just bring you a variety of them? How does that sound?”
“Peachy,” he answered with sarcasm.
Christine walked away from him again and his eyes followed her. Dare he think she was prettier today than yesterday? The white jacket she wore was slightly shorter than the one she had on yesterday, and the first two buttons were undone. Underneath, she wore a blue shirt with a collar, but that’s all the white jacket would show. She had on black jeans that fit nicely to her slender legs. She wore comfortable shoes, nothing too flashy, which was good.
Her eyes looked a brighter color of brown today. She wore the same hairstyle, and like before, tucked it behind each ear.
The time passed annoyingly slowly as he tried to keep his mind occupied. It took forever to wait through the ten minutes of ice-packs, but once the heat was put on his legs, it only took seconds before he was too hot. Of course, he doubted this was even part of the torture he’d go through. How would he be able to sit while she massaged his legs?
CHRISTINE DIDN’T KNOW if she was ready, and as she walked toward him, she kept telling herself you are a professional!
For some reason, she hadn’t been able to get him off her mind last evening. By the time she went to bed, she was frustrated beyond belief. How could one man – as cocky and charming as he was – not leave her mind at all? She must be crazy. However, she was determined to change his mind about physical therapists.
But then she saw him this morning, standing, no less, as he leaned against the wall by the door with his arms folded across his wide chest, her heart did a little flutter of excitement. His cheesy grin on his handsome face let her know that their session was going to be difficult – as much for her as well as for him.
A few times yesterday, he’d flirted with her, and she actually liked it. But it wouldn’t go anywhere. She was the therapist, and he was her patient. Dating him would ruin her career.
He looked so much taller this morning, and definitely so much stronger. His sweat-pants made his legs appear more muscular, and she couldn’t help but become breathless. She had a hard time looking directly at him because his green eyes pierced right through her and warmed her insides. That type of feeling was very dangerous in her profession.
“Umm, Christine?”
She snapped out of her indecent thoughts and looked at Aedan. “Yes?”
“These packs are quite warm. Isn’t it time to take them off yet?”
She glanced down at the alarm she kept on her desk. “No, Aedan.” She met his gaze. “It’s only been five minutes.”
“Well, could I have a cold drink or something cold to put in my body to compensate for all the moisture that I’m losing due to sweat?”
She laughed. “Yes. I guess you are allowed a drink.” She pushed away from her desk and moved away. “Which would you like, water or orange juice?”
“Water, as long as it’s cold, please.”
She grinned. He definitely lived a healthy lifestyle.
Christine retrieved a mini bottle of water from the small refrigerator on the other wall, and then took it back over to him. “I’m sorry the hot packs are uncomfortable, but it will only be like that for a few minutes longer.”
“Don’t worry. I’m tough. I can handle a few more minutes of sweating,” he joked.
He struggled to sit up a little as he lifted the bottle to his mouth. She quickly helped him, holding him upright as he drank. He nearly emptied the mini-bottle. When he was finished, he gave her a grateful smile and lay back down.
As she turned to leave, he reached out and took hold of her jacket, stopping her in her tracks.
“Christine? Couldn’t you just stay and talk to me? I’m really bored.”
Without being able to stop herself, she glanced down at the open magazine which rested on his lap and noticed the pictures of women wearing skimpy bikinis. “Are you trying to tell me that talking with me is more interesting than looking at women in bikinis?”
He winked at her. “I know you don’t know me, but I’m not one of those men who enjoys seeing pictures of half-naked women. I’d rather get to know a woman first and judge her by her personality rather than her body.” He answered in a husky voice as he raised his eyebrows up and down.
“Oh.” She said, then paused a moment as she looked for a chair to sit on, and because she needed a moment for her heartbeat to calm down a bit. The deepness from his voice somehow made her lose her breath there for a second.
“You can sit right here by my legs.” He told her as he patted the small space by his left thigh.
Since the nearest chair was several feet away from her, she went ahead and sat beside him. “So, what did you want to talk about?” She began, looking into his dreamy eyes.
“We could talk about how hot I am right now and how these packs are burning right through my sweat-pants.”
She grinned. It surprised her that Aedan hadn’t turned that statement into gutter-talk. Most men would have. She was glad that Aedan was different. “I’m sorry about that, but you only have a few more minutes until we’re done with the packs.”
“I know. I’m just teasing.” He paused a second, then continued. “So, Christine? How long have you been a physical therapist?”
“Four years. I began right after graduating from college.”
His gaze narrowed on her. “How old are you? I hope you don’t mind me asking, but you don’t look very old and I’m not used to seeing such young doctors.”
She laughed. “I’m not exactly a doctor. In fact, I took about half of the schooling that a regular doctor does. But I’m twenty-six, so you were wrong. I am old enough.”
“No, you aren’t old, at least not in my book. I don’t consider myself very old and I’m twenty-eight.”
“You are right. We are still young. In the prime of our lives, in fact.”
“Definitely.” He gave a sharp nod. “I tell myself that every time I play basketball or racquetball with the guys and get my butt kicked because they are younger.”
She laughed heartily. “I suppose athletes are more inclined to feel that way than those of us who are not.” Her laughter eased. “But I think you are much too built to be beaten by some younger guy.”
He shrugged. “Well, okay, so I fibbed a little. Actually, the only guy I ever lost to was this last time when I lunged for the ball, while playing racquetball, and ended up doing the splits instead.”
She laughed again. “And why, I wonder, is that? Was the floor slippery? Too much wax, perhaps?”
“No. The reason I got hurt was because I was trying to impress my friend’s girlfriend. I don’t know why. It wasn’t like I wanted her or anything. I guess I was just trying to show off just to get noticed.”
“That should teach you to hit on your friend’s girlfriend,” she told him.
“It did.”
From her desk, the timer went off. She quickly hurried to her desk to stop the beeping before coming back to him. As she removed each heating-pack, he sighed a heavy breath.
