he did, but he began the story anyway. “My brothers might have told you some already. I was competing in the short round at the Frontier Days Rodeo last July and leading in points.” Damn, he’d played the accident over and over in his head and never could understand how everything went so wrong. “I was thrown and got caught up in my rigging on my way down, and a two-thousand-pound bull named Sidewinder had his way with me.”
He rubbed his thigh absently, trying not to relive the nightmare. “The doctor put my leg back together with the aid of a titanium rod. Now all I want to do is rebuild the strength in my leg and get back on the circuit.”
Erin didn’t react to his announcement. “Have you had any therapy?”
“Some, but I just got here this week.” He nodded to the door. “There’s a boatload of equipment in the bedroom across the hall. Dr. Michael Kentrell did the surgery. You should talk to him.”
She nodded. “I plan to, if I take your case.”
He frowned. “And I haven’t decided you’re the person for this job, either. What’s your experience?”
“I told you, I’m a nurse and I presently work with Alzheimer’s patients.” Her gaze met his. “I do some therapy with my patients at the Mountain View Convalescent Center, but my most intense sessions were with my husband. He was wounded during his deployment in Afghanistan. I worked nearly a year on his therapy.”
She was married. He glanced down at his ringless finger. “What were his injuries?”
She straightened. “Jared caught shrapnel in his calf and thigh, tore his muscles to shreds. He also had head trauma.”
“Was he able to walk again?”
She shrugged. “Some, but he never gained total strength in his leg.”
Austin wasn’t sure what to say next, seeing the pain in Erin Carlton’s eyes. Those pretty green eyes.
Did he want this distracting woman around all the time? Having her close, touching him, causing him to react? So far she was also the only person who’d dared to stand up to him. He doubted she’d be easy on him.
“If you work for me, how soon could you start?”
She blinked at the question, then recovered and said, “That all depends. I need to talk with your physician.”
He nodded toward the dresser. “There’s my medical file and instructions for my therapy.”
She picked it up and began to read it.
* * *
“I WAS HOPING that you could work every day. My goal is to get well enough to get back on the circuit. So I’ll need someone who’s dedicated to work with me. I’ve lost my top ranking for this year, but I plan to be back on the circuit as soon as possible.” Most importantly, before he lost any product endorsements.
She looked up from her reading. “Firstly, I’ll be working with you. And secondly, I have a full-time job at the center.”
“That isn’t going to work for me. I need you full-time with me.”
She straightened. “There are only so many hours in a day, Mr. Brannigan.”
“It’s Austin.”
“Austin. Like I said, I can’t be in both places, and I can’t function on no sleep.”
“Then work with me exclusively.” He tossed out an amount of money that was crazy even to him.
She couldn’t hide her shock. “I won’t give up my job at the center. Let’s see what I can come up with. But if I agree to work with you, I’ll have a few rules. Unless you’re an invalid, which you’re not, I won’t clean up after you.” She looked at the mess on the floor.
“That was an accident.”
She didn’t look convinced and held up the file. “May I take this with me to study your case?”
“If you’re taking me on.”
She nodded. “If we can work out a schedule.”
He was suddenly excited she was working with him. He stared at the pretty redhead with those big green eyes. Her complexion wasn’t pale or pasty; she had more of an olive skin tone.
Stop! he chided himself. He couldn’t think of her as a woman. Besides, she was married to a soldier. That makes her off-limits. Not that he was in any shape to do anything.
Erin started for the door. “I’ll get back to you tomorrow as soon as I make arrangements with my supervisor.” She studied him. “Are you sure you want to pay the amount? It’s twice the going rate.”
He nodded. “It is if you’re dedicated to helping me get back on my feet.”
She smiled. “You’re the only one who can accomplish what you need. All I do is help rebuild the strength in your leg. I’ll help you walk, Austin, but you’ll have to get yourself on a bull.”
“Guaranteed, I’ll do it.”
“Good. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.” She walked out, and he found he wanted to call her back.
Damn, he had to get himself together if he was going to make this work. He had to forget that Erin Carlton was a woman. If he needed some stress relief, he had plenty of phone numbers of plenty of women. No. He shook his head. He needed to concentrate on regaining his status as top bull rider.
There was a knock on the door, and then Cullen stuck his head inside. “So you managed to find someone to help you with your crazy scheme.”
“It’s not crazy, bro. It’s my profession, and I’m good at it.”
Austin had grown up with the fact that Cullen was the good twin. The best student, a college graduate, and he even became a cop like their dad. Now he was the town sheriff with a smoking-hot wife, Shelby, and an adopted son, Ryan.
“I heard what the doctor told you when you came to from your concussion. Your leg is pieced together with metal rods. It might never be as strong as before. You’ve already gotten to the top in ranking, won every championship possible and made a fortune on endorsements. Why can’t you retire now?”
“How would you like to retire from police work?”
“I would in a second. I’ve learned what’s important, A.” His brother tossed out the nickname as if they were still kids. “Find a nice woman and settle down. You own half this ranch—the possibilities are endless.”
“I haven’t found anything or any woman who I’d give up my lifestyle for.”
“Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox, for now.” Cullen checked his watch. “I need to get to the station. Shelby will bring you some lunch. Do you need anything before I go?”
He sat up and slowly swung his legs over the side. “No, I can get around okay. Sorry I’ve been such a pain.”
Cullen grinned. “Why should anything change? You’ve always been a pain in the butt, little brother.” He walked to the door.
“Hey, you’re only five minutes older than me.” He sobered. “Hey, about Erin Carlton. Her husband... I take it he was in the military?”
“Yeah, Jared was a decorated marine. On his third deployment his Humvee was hit by an IED. There were complications to his injures.” His brother held his gaze. “Sergeant First Class Jared Carlton died eighteen months ago.” His brother started for the door, then stopped. “Just a little warning. This isn’t your rodeo, so if you hurt Erin, you’re going to have to deal with me.”
“Hey, I’m the one with the bad leg.”
Cullen didn’t say a word as he walked out.
There was no need. Austin knew what his brother was talking