Christmas Home (The Coming Home #6)

11. Ruther

eleven

Ruther

D amn, way to make a fucking impression , I thought, as the guy I couldn’t stop thinking about all but ran out of the exam room. I really was losing my cool.

Of course, as I looked down at the burn scars on my swollen ankle, I doubted a man as handsome as Clyde would look my way again. Damn good thing he was there when I needed him, and damn lousy timing for my…well, shit, I was a freak show. Who was I kidding?

The only men interested in me were just after my family’s wealth. In my miserable life, you’d think I’d have figured that out by now.

I sighed heavily as the tech showed up to take me to get an X-ray. While they worked, I laid back and thought about everything. When I’d spoken to Emanual, he’d said there was a significant need for development, but so far, the small town just wasn’t enough to attract a reliable developer for the job.

Of course, I’d let the cat out of the bag, just asking the question. Emanual and Amos both knew of my family’s business dealings. It wasn’t a secret we’d been in real estate for the past century. If I did dig into a project here in Crawford City, there probably wasn’t much money in it, but that didn’t matter. I’d be doing it more to keep myself occupied while my mind healed than for any profits I might make.

If the project fell flat on its face before I could get started, so be it. I thought of Clyde again. He was handsome, yes, and he talked like he’d just walked out of a Del Shore movie, which was part of what made me go weak-kneed around him.

Had it not been for the fire…shit, no, don’t go down that road. I all but screamed at myself and almost screwed up my X-ray by letting the trauma freak me out again. I rarely had flashbacks like I used to, but—

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the image of a beach with the waves slowly rolling onto the shore. Imagery sometimes helped calm me, stopping the thoughts that sent me into a panic attack.

Thankfully, it worked this time, and the tech finished the X-rays and took me back to the exam room. Shit , I have to call Corey .

He’d know my interest in the project had gone from curiosity to action when he found out I’d been snooping around the property. Oh well, it’s not like I’d be doing the project without him. Before we’d liquidated the business holdings and my father’s estate, Corey had handled a majority of the details. Over the years, he’d become as integral to helping manage my business dealings as my personal life.

I doubted I’d do a very good job managing a new project, even a small one, without Corey’s assistance. I didn’t know if this would make him happy or angry. Angry, I guessed, since Corey belonged in the hustle and bustle of New York City, not a gossipy small town like Crawford City.

I know he said he would stay, but I didn’t expect him to. Before he left, though, I did need him to help me set up the process so I could manage the project on my own. If, that is, I decided to go ahead with it.

I chuckled at myself acting like I hadn’t already decided. Yes, I needed a feasibility study to ensure I didn’t lose my pants on a development deal. The liquidation of the business and my father’s assets had given me more money than I’d ever be able to spend, but that didn’t mean I should throw money away.

Years spent watching my father hoard money like a dragon hoarded its treasure was too ingrained in me to throw caution to the wind. However, the more I thought of it, the more I was convinced a project was just the thing I needed to keep my mind on task long enough to face my Crawford City demons.

Demons that were somehow tamed at the moment, though I’d actively avoided visiting the old homestead. Sweat popped out on my forehead at the thought, but Dr. Ash walked in just in time to distract me.

“Well, the good news is it’s not broken. You’ve got yourself a mild sprain.”

“And the bad news?” I asked.

He sat down across from me. “The bad news is Jake has heard rumors that you were snooping around the property behind the motel. He’s going to hound you like crazy if he catches the scent of you wanting to make some improvements to our town. He’s even worse than my father in that regard, like a dog with a bone.”

I shook my head. “Jake Hudson? How would Jake know where I was?”

Dr. Ash just laughed. “Welcome to Crawford City, Mr. Crawford ,” he said, emphasizing my last name. “The gossip flows faster here than high-speed internet ever could.”

I chuckled. “I seem to remember that from my earlier days.”

“And I assure you, it hasn’t changed. The good news is, if you are seriously looking at the motel property, Jake is the one you want to talk to. He has his finger on the pulse of Crawford City more than anyone else, except maybe my dad.”

I smiled, thinking of Emanual and Amos. “Okay, so what about all this?” I asked, pointing to my ankle. “Just keep it elevated?”

“Yep and soaking it in Epsom salts will help too. I’ll get you a wrap to help with the swelling, but keep your weight off it for now, and I’d avoid trampling through the woods until it’s healed.”

I nodded. “Oh, the man who brought me in said his name is Clyde. I don’t know his last name, but he works at the café. What can you tell me about him?” I asked. I knew I was overstepping and that this would probably help fuel the flames of gossip, but didn’t care that much. I’d been the subject of gossip and speculation most of my life anyway.

Dr. Ash shrugged. “I don’t know much. He’s as new as you are, newer considering I don’t think he has much of a past here, but if you want the scoop, you’ve only to ask Mrs. Cole. She owns the café and if she’s hired him, you can bet your entire bank account she’s researched him. Mrs. Cole is a kind, welcoming person, but she doesn’t suffer fools.”

I chuckled at the old saying. “I’m sure you’re right. No matter, though. He rescued me, and I thought it’d be nice to thank him.”

Dr. Ash studied me a moment, clearly seeing where my interest lay. “Well, the man could probably use an ally. As far as I know, he’s not got anyone here, and we can all use a friend. Wouldn’t you agree?”

I smiled. “Yes, I do.”

I heard Corey asking about me through the thin walls of the clinic, and I smiled at the doctor. “Speaking of friends, I think my ride just arrived. Is there anything else I need to know?” I asked, and he looked at me funny.

“About the foot,” I quickly added.

Dr. Ash laughed. “No, just what I’ve already told you. Clara Sue will check you out, and you can take regular acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the pain. As long as you don’t put weight on it, it shouldn’t hurt you much.”

I nodded and stood to follow him out. He helped me hobble into the waiting room, where Corey had clearly already given my insurance information to the receptionist. By the time I reached them, the woman smiled and said we were all set.

Corey didn’t say anything. He just slipped his arm around me and let me lean on him as we walked outside to our rental car.

“Don’t start,” I said when he climbed into the driver’s seat.

He pursed his lips and started the engine. “You get one day’s pass. Then you’re going to tell me what’s going on in that scheming mind of yours.”

“Might I remind you that you work for me?” I said, teasing him like I always did.

“You might provide the paychecks, but I do the work, and you had no excuse crawling around the woods of this backwater town without someone knowing where you’d gone. You didn’t even take your phone!” He shook his head. “Now, see, you’ve got me arguing with you, and I promised myself I would give you time to heal before I did.”

I chuckled and put my hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, Corey. I’ve got some ideas, but I wanted to see if it was worth the effort before I got you involved.”

“More like you wanted to scheme behind my back,” he said, sounding annoyed, “but your business is your own. I will remind you, though, that my business is to keep an eye on yours.”

I smiled but didn’t respond. I’d been thoroughly chastised, and, honestly, Corey had let me off the hook easily. Had I not been injured, he would’ve come down on me like the overprotective diva he was. Not that he still wouldn’t, but ultimately, I’d dodged a bullet this time.

On the short drive to the condo, we stopped at the drugstore and Corey ran in to buy me crutches and over-the-counter pain medicine. Given stairs were no longer an option, we rode the elevator to our second-story accommodations. Corey helped get me situated in bed, checked the bandaging, and gave me the pain meds before retiring to his own room.

The last image that came to my mind before I fell asleep was that of my very handsome rescuer. Clyde . What an old-fashioned name for such a young man. It didn’t match his persona. He looked more like a Kyle or Drew to me.

A smile curled my lips as sleep began to take me. Leave it to me to feel entitled enough to change someone’s name. Must be the Crawford blood running through my veins.