The Romeo Arrangement: A Small Town Romance by Nicole Snow

Author:Nicole Snow [Snow, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ice Lips Press
Published: 2020-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

An hour later, after Bebe’s gone—satisfied for now and so willing to help, gag me—I walk to the cabin, talk to Nelson, and then Grace.

He’s still in bed but sitting up without looking like he’s about to fall over again. He doesn’t look as ash-grey as he did a few days ago.

Progress.

“Feeling better?” I ask.

“Getting there.” Nodding, he adds, “I owe you a lot, Ridge. An awful lot. I know I’m a real pain in the butt, but hell. You made the right call, making me cool my heels.”

I smile at Grace and the nurse. “If you don’t mind, I’d like a chance to talk to Nelson alone, please.”

Grace looks at me, nervous and concerned.

“It won’t take long,” I assure her. “And I promise I won’t wear him out.”

“Sure,” Jackie says, throwing back a kind smile. “We’ll be in the other room.”

I’m sincere about not wanting to cause Nelson setbacks, but I need him to know I’m trying to help. Sitting down on the chair beside the bed, I fold my hands in my lap and look at him.

“Remember boot camp, Nelson? Probably different in your day, I’m sure, but if it’s anything like the grind I went through...you had a drill sergeant, who put you through the ropes every day, so when the time came, you didn’t have to think. The response, the instant, was drilled into you.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” he says with a twinkle in his eyes. “How could anybody ever forget that circus?”

I smile, grateful he’s able to pull a little humor out of this. “That’s what we need now. Drills, practice, so we’ll be good and ready when the enemy shows up.”

The laughter leaves his eyes. “No, we’ll leave before they come. You’re crazy if you’re planning to turn your place into a battlefield against those sorry thugs.”

“The two of you don’t stand a chance alone. You have nowhere to go,” I tell him, raking a hand through my hair. “Enough running. It’s time to stand and fight.”

He’s shaking his head fiercely, even though he knows I’m right.

“I know this isn’t how you wanted it, Nelson. Not for you or Grace, and I’m willing to help you change it. Give you both a fresh start, but it’ll take all of us working together.”

He shakes his head, then nods, then shakes his head again.

“I’m no good to you, can’t even help fix this crap. That drill sergeant of a nurse won’t let me out of this bed except to piss,” he groans.

“Yep, that’s her job. It’s how you’re going to get better. Strong enough to help me out.” I don’t want to hint that I know as much as I do about his past, so I shift focus. “You’re paying for her, so you’d better get your money’s worth.”

“I’m not paying—”

“The VA is,” I interject, bending the truth. “You’re a veteran.”

He is, yeah, but I know full well the hoops veterans have to jump through to get decent medical care outside of an authorized facility. Of course

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