For His Brother's Wife

“In other words, you aren’t going to give him a choice,” she said, knowing that what Luc said was right on the mark. Cole was so dedicated to R&N Builders he bordered on being a workaholic.

“Well, let’s just say instead of not giving him a choice, we’re sending him a strong message that it’s something he doesn’t want to delay,” Luc answered, laughing. “Besides, it will be arthroscopic surgery and relatively simple. You’ll be able to take him home tomorrow afternoon. But he’ll have to stay off that leg and keep it elevated for a few days to keep the swelling down.”

Paige wondered how Cole would take the news that she was going to take care of his recovery. Because she was the closest thing to family that he had, she was the obvious choice. “Does Cole know about all of this?”

“I told him right after we took a look at the MRI.” Luc laughed. “I thought I’d better tell him and get him to sign the consent forms while he was between doses of pain medication and relatively lucid.”

Paige smiled. “That was probably a good idea. He’s not quite himself once he takes that.”

“Most people aren’t,” Luc said. “Looks like duty calls,” he said as a nurse approached with a metal chart in her hand. “I’ll see you first thing in the morning, Paige.”

As she walked down the hall toward the waiting room to tell Aaron and Stella about the surgery, she couldn’t help but think about the upcoming week or so. The first few days might not be too bad. Cole would be on painkillers to keep him comfortable. And if his behavior today was any indication, they wouldn’t be discussing their indiscretion; she would be trying to avoid another one.

But there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that there would be a day of reckoning when he had recovered enough to stop taking the medication. She just hoped things weren’t extremely uncomfortable for either of them when that day came.

* * *

The following morning, Paige sat in a corner by herself in the surgical waiting area while Cole was in surgery. She had spent a restless night thinking about what would happen when she took him back to the ranch. There was no way she was going to try to get him upstairs to his bedroom. There were too many steps and she could only imagine how hazardous it might prove to be with him using a set of crutches.

“Have they taken Cole back to the OR?” Lark Taylor asked when she walked into the waiting room.

Looking up at the pretty registered nurse, Paige nodded. “They took him into surgery about ten minutes ago.” She smiled. “I didn’t expect to see you today, Lark.”

“I’m on break and thought I would come out and check on you,” Lark answered. “It won’t take too long, and Cole’s in the very best hands possible,” Lark assured her as she lowered herself onto the chair next to Paige. “Dr. Campbell is the best orthopedic surgeon on this side of the state, and you know Luc Wakefield’s reputation. Both of them are top-notch.”

“I have no doubt everything will go well.” Paige gave Lark a meaningful smile. “I’m just wondering how much of a bear Cole is going to be during his recovery.”

The nurse laughed. “Men will be men. I haven’t seen one yet who isn’t a total grouch when he’s sick or injured.”

“How are the wedding plans coming?” Paige asked as their laughter faded. Lark was engaged to Keaton Holt, another member of the TCC, and Paige had never seen the woman happier.

Lark’s green eyes sparkled with excitement. “Our families are working together for a change and I think it’s actually going to come together by June. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Keaton told everyone they better not disappoint me or they’d have him to deal with.”

Paige was a bit surprised that things between the two families were so harmonious. The Taylors and Holts had been feuding for some time and it had surprised everyone when Lark and Keaton had fallen in love.

As she stared at Lark, Paige couldn’t help but feel envious. The woman was about to marry the man she loved with all her heart, and her excitement was palpable. Looking back on her own wedding day, Paige wished she could say that she had been happy about starting a new life with Craig. But all she could remember feeling was a deep sense of desolation. She had disappointed her parents and had been entering into a marriage with a man she didn’t love and who didn’t love her. It was supposed to have been the happiest day of her life, but for her it had been one of the saddest.