There was still that relief shining in his eyes.
‘Positive. Though there were a few spots before my eyes earlier, when I was bent over trying to touch the floor. But they didn’t cause me to up-end.’
He sounded definite, and since his pulse couldn’t lie she let the matter drop.
But she’d have to keep an eye on him all day. There went her sleep...
She lifted his good arm to put over her shoulder and wound her arm around his waist. ‘Come on. Let’s get you back on your feet.’
Michael held on to the edge of the bench with one hand and between them he was soon upright—though his face was white and his grip on her shoulder tight.
‘Thanks, Steph. I wouldn’t have blamed you for leaving me there.’
‘It was tempting.’ She smiled, wanting to get back on side with him. ‘Shall I give some more eggs a whirl?’
‘You going to join me?’ Caution laced his words, held him still.
‘Those drumsticks hardly touched the sides!’
It didn’t take long to clean up the mess and start again.
‘I rang Max and Jock to see if one of them could give you a bed for a couple of nights. You don’t need me to change those bandages. Any nurse could do it. But seems they’ve both got family coming to stay.’
Michael rolled his eyes. ‘Their parents all live within ten kilometres of their houses.’
‘I figured. Anyway, I reckon you’d probably go spare in someone else’s house so I’m going to stay for a couple more nights.’
Had she really just said that? She needed her head read.
He pushed up on to his feet, walked across so he stood directly in front of her. His hands caught hers. ‘About that earlier conversation... We were stepping on things I don’t like to talk about, even though I started it. Can we put it behind us while you’re here? You know a little more about me, but it doesn’t have to change anything.’
Too late. Everything had changed.
‘I’ve forgotten what you said already. Just try not fall on the floor again, will you? I might be taller than average, but weightlifting was never my favourite sport.’
If they could muddle along together without any more upsets until he was safe on his own then she’d stay. She mightn’t be able to persuade him to look at her as a potential future wife, but she’d take what she could get.
Pathetic. But true.
CHAPTER TEN
‘SIT, ZAC.’ STEPH STOOD at the side of the road by Michael’s house, waiting for Zac to park his haunches. ‘Good boy.’
She shivered in the cool, wet night air and hunched into her jacket. Winter was the pits. If she hadn’t been so restless she might’ve stayed inside and made Zac miss out on a walk. Another walk. This was his third today. Every time she needed to put space between her and Michael she picked up the lead.
She wondered what Bill had come up with as a sale price on her house. He was going round there after golf. Hopefully he’d leave a message on her phone. Her phone that was on Michael’s bench—not her brightest move.
When she got back, three cars crowded the driveway. Max and Jock were clearly visiting, and Chantelle was here for dinner. Steph now had her number, and had texted her to ask her to come round.
In light of their conversation about hiding behind his duties to his family, she wanted Michael to take a look at Chantelle when neither of them were on edge about doing things for each other. Of course it would probably all backfire and she’d be the one going home tonight.
The guys dropping in was a bonus. They’d lighten the atmosphere with their jokes and cheek. She’d like to meet their wives sometime...
Hello? That would mean being more involved with Michael.
‘Hey, Steph, get this into you.’
Max must have seen her coming up the drive, because he stood in the doorway with a large glass of wine in his hand.
‘Michael said you like a Pinot Gris, same as him.’
‘Sure do—thanks. Is he still grumpy?’ she asked as she shrugged out of her windbreaker. ‘He brought in a bucket of logs earlier, hopping on one foot and swinging his crutch precariously. It’s a given that he dropped the bucket on his foot.’
Max scowled. ‘Stubborn idiot. But no worries. I’ve brought in enough wood to last you a couple of days, and Jock chopped up some more for later on.’
A couple of days?
‘He’s already pushing the boundaries on how much he can do, which is a fair indicator that I won’t be needed much longer.’
Zac plonked down on the mat in front of the fire, stretching out his paws and laying his head on top of them, his eyes fixed on Michael as if this was home, thank you very much.
Sorry, boy, but this is temporary.
‘I see the dog’s made himself comfortable.’ Jock grinned. ‘Getting to be like a regular family around here.’
‘Butt out,’ Michael growled, with no smile within range.
For once his friends didn’t say another word. Instead they busied themselves with pouring drinks, pulling chairs closer to the fireplace and tipping chips into a bowl.
‘Your phone’s rung twice,’ Michael told her when she sat down by the fire. ‘I tried to answer it...’
‘But you were too slow?’ She laughed.
‘I hope it wasn’t anything important.’
Michael was watching her closely. Looking for what?
Her laughter died. It was hard to keep it rolling when the person she was trying to share it with was looking like a storm on the horizon.
‘I doubt it.’
Probably Bill. She went to get her phone, saw that there was a phone message and a text from the agent.
Looking up, her eyes clashed with Michael’s. Still under scrutiny. She shoved the phone in her pocket. She’d call back when everyone had left. Right now it was fun to have company and dilute the Michael atmosphere.
Sipping her wine, she sighed. ‘Just what the doctor ordered.’
‘Not this doctor,’ Michael quipped, appearing to relax now that she’d put her phone away.
Aaron climbed up onto Michael’s good knee, attracting his attention, and she relaxed further. It was fun to be able sit and t
alk and not be on edge about everything she said.
After Max and Jock had left, making comments about her and Michael to wind up their friend, Chantelle cooked rice to go with the slow-cooked pork Steph had made and poured them both another glass of wine to enjoy over dinner.
At nine Chantelle gathered Aaron from his bed and headed for the front door. ‘Thanks for dinner, Steph. Are you okay staying for another night or two?’
‘I think so.’
‘Give me a shout if you change your mind!’
And Michael’s sister was gone.
Steph closed and locked the door, suddenly all her energy gone. Time for a decent night’s sleep. Which was really pathetic, considering she was sharing a house with the man she loved.
‘Stephanie? Are you all right?’ Michael appeared before her.
‘Couldn’t be better.’ She pushed away from the door. ‘Let’s do your dressing.’
Then she could escape to her room down the hall and bury her head under the pillow until the alarm told her it was time to get up and go to work.
* * *
‘As far as nightcaps go, that has to be the worst I’ve ever been offered,’ Michael grunted, before heading to the bathroom and those bandages.
But it had to be done, and the sooner the better, because then he could find something to watch on TV and stop wondering why Auckland’s number one real estate salesman was trying to get in touch with Stephanie.
He’d seen the man’s name flash up on her phone’s screen. It had been hard not to demand what was going on. If Stephanie was thinking about leaving town again he’d be devastated.
‘Your injury’s looking a lot better,’ Steph commented minutes later. ‘The swelling’s going down. You’ll be running soon.’
‘With or without the crutch?’ He intended leaving it aside as much as possible from now on.
‘There—done and dusted.’ She looked up at him. ‘What’s bothering you?’
He could lie, say nothing, but he didn’t. ‘That phone call from Bill Summers.’
Her face lightened. ‘I need to call him back now that everyone’s gone.’
‘A bit late, isn’t it?’