Work. I groaned. Today was the day I was supposed to be assigned to my team. To find out what kind of projects I’d be a part of. And now I wouldn’t be doing any work at all, at least not for a while.
Concern filled me. What was I going to do? I couldn’t even move my leg, let alone walk. It was elevated by a little bar that hung from the ceiling. And the fuzziness and ache in my head made it hard to even think, never mind work.
Spencer held out my drink, then put it down when he saw the look on my face. Instead, he took my hand. “It’s going to be okay, Alyssa. They know you won’t be back for quite a while. Your boss said to take as much time as you need.”
“You’ve talked to him?”
“Yes. They called this morning after they saw the article.”
His voice was calming, but I couldn’t stop the stress that filled me. “I was only there for one day.”
“They said your job will be there for you whenever you’re ready.”
Really? When I’d barely even begun? “I think it might take me a while.”
Spencer’s gaze was understanding, but then he grinned. “Do you really think they’re going to fire the young woman who saved the local principal’s son?”
“No, but I was only there one day.” If I owned a company, I’d be doubtful of an employee who bails after nine hours.
“Think of it like taking sick leave.”
God, I hadn’t even thought about benefits. This hospital stay must be costing a fortune. The HR people had gone over everything yesterday, but I didn’t even know when the health insurance started—if it even still applied to me.
“Please, Alyssa, don’t worry about any of this. Your job right now is to rest so that you can heal.”
“But—but I can’t even drive.” For the first time, the significance of breaking my right leg washed over me. Then I moaned again.
“What?” Spencer asked.
Feeling overwhelmed, I shook my head, which immediately made it hurt, and I hissed in pain.
“Here.” Spencer handed me the little button that controlled the pain medicine. I pressed it once, but there wasn’t an immediate effect like yesterday. Probably they’d adjusted the dosage.
“Have some of this.” Spencer handed me the lemonade, but I was no longer interested in it. “Drink. As a father and a principal, I’ve learned that cool, sweet drinks make people happier.”
He had a point. I took the glass and sipped the sweet liquid. I swirled the straw and watched the perfectly crushed ice move around in the cup.
“Better?” Spencer asked with a soft smile.
“It’s a start.” My facial muscles felt stiff as I tried to return his smile. It was like I’d forgotten how. While I took another drink, I glanced up at Spencer. I wished he’d pull a chair up. He was so tall I had to crane my neck to see him.
Then suddenly, I got a mental picture of another dark-haired man in a chair. “There was another man here this morning.”
Spencer nodded. “That was my brother-in-law. I had a meeting I couldn’t skip, so he came instead.”
Brother-in-law. Did that mean his wife’s brother? It must—he was a father, of course he was probably married.
My stomach sank a little, which was stupid. I’d come to Lake Boise for my career, not to meet men. But the two times I’d talked to him, Spencer had looked at me like I was someone special. Someone he cared about.
But he must already have someone like that at home. A man like that, someone kind, caring, and incredibly handsome, would definitely be married.
“His name is Raphael. You’ll see him later.”
“I will?” Confusion filled me, and then I remembered we were talking about his brother-in-law. But why did Spencer think I’d see him again?
“Of course you will. You don't think we’re going to abandon you after you get out of the hospital, do you? Which, by the way, they said will be tomorrow.”
“Abandon me?” Between the pain meds and the ache in my head, I wasn’t following this conversation very well.
“You’re going to need help during your recovery, of course. No one expects you to be cooking meals, doing laundry, or making the bed for a while.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I never made the bed. But then a new thought hit me like a ton of bricks. “My apartment’s on the third floor. And there’s no elevator.”
“Not a problem,” Spencer said.
Huh? It certainly seemed like a hell of a problem to me.
“You’re staying with us while you recover.”
My jaw dropped. “What?”
“You can’t stay by yourself, obviously. And trust me when I say I owe you one.”
“But—”
“You’re new in town, so I figure you don’t know anyone else who can help you. Unless you want to go back home. Your driver’s license said you’re from Colorado. Do you want to go back there once you’ve healed enough to travel?”