Stockman’s Stormcloud (Stockmen #3)

Nine

Dex looked so beautiful, and at peace, asleep on the large couch inside the stone-walled cottage.

‘Hey, twinkle toes, you’ve got a visitor.’ Bree tickled Dex’s ear.

He angrily swiped it away. ‘Rack off. I’m doing what you told me to do.’ He went to roll over, but his sore rib must have rubbed him the wrong way. ‘Son of a—’ He opened those dark eyes to face Sophie. ‘Nurse Kitty?’

‘What did he call you?’ Bree arched her eyebrows at Sophie.

He did not just say that!

Dex’s eyes darkened as his jaw clenched with anger.

‘Morning, Dex. I’m here to do a check.’ It hadn’t been Sophie’s idea to drive an hour out of town, to the middle of the outback, to visit Dex. But Dex’s brother had paid for the service, and Jenny, who normally did these road trips, was their hospital’s only midwife who was busy attending to a few incoming babies. Which left Sophie to do the job.

The sooner she got this done, the sooner she could leave. ‘We’re to do the breathing exercises and I’m to top up your medications. They’re kept…?’ Dragging her work tablet from the medical pack, she peered around the room.

‘We keep them in the fridge to ensure all medications are kept below the Northern Territory’s above average heat and humidity.’ Bree rummaged around in the large fridge near the kitchen counter where loaves of fresh bread rested on cooling racks beside large bowls of assorted fresh fruit and vegetables. Herbs hung in bundles from the windowsill, and jars of coloured vegetables lined the shelves. There was even an old-fashioned, dome-shaped glass cloche that covered a plate of scrumptious-looking cupcakes.

Sophie’s stomach rumbled at the sight.

‘Here they are…’ Bree passed her the small container of pharmaceutical blister packs, and plastic bottles with the chunky child safety lids. ‘Do you need anything else from me?’

‘No. You can go, Bree.’ Dex stalked across the room to what Sophie assumed was the bathroom, and slammed the door shut behind him.

‘Well, didn’t you wake up on the wrong side of the couch, Stormcloud.’ Bree grinned.

Sophie didn’t think Bree’s attitude was fair to an injured guy who’d just woken up.

‘Care for a drink?’

‘No, thank you.’ Sophie checked over Dex’s medications but felt Bree watching her. ‘You should go. There is this thing called patient confidentiality.’

An evil laugh came from the redhead, making Sophie take a wary step back.

‘If Dex isn’t playing the obedient patient, tell his brothers. Not me.’

‘Why not? This is your place, isn’t it?’ It wasn’t Sophie’s style, not with all the retro cowboy stuff plastered across the walls. It also wasn’t her style to be this protective over a patient, or to be rude to their partners.

‘This is my grandfather’s place. Dex is here as Charlie’s guest.’

‘Right. And your job is to annoy Charlie’s guests?’ Sophie arched an eyebrow at the bossy britches who was so mean to a wounded man. But she’d never been this rude, either.

Bree took a step closer, her green-eyed stare unflinching. ‘What I do and who I do it with is none of your business. I don’t work for the Riggs brothers. But you do, and you’re on their clock.’ Bree waited a beat, as if daring Sophie to speak, before she casually strolled out the back door. ‘Dex? I’ll be in the smithy’s shed if you need me.’

The toilet flushed, and a tap ran, and the bathroom door opened.

Sophie had never been so grateful for Dex’s return to the room. That redhead was scary.

‘Um, so why are you here?’ Dex ran fingers through his messy, dark hair.

She squeezed harder on her pen to fight the urge to run her fingers through his hair, to grip it hard and yank him down for a punishing kiss.

‘Breathing exercises.’ She exhaled to get rid of the heat pumping out of her pores and those rampant thoughts running through her mind. Or was that because of her confrontation with Bree?

Which was wrong.

Sophie had no right to be so rude, nor to be so protective of Dex. Not when it was obvious Dex and Bree were a couple. Bree had remained beside Dex inside the ICU, holding his hand all night, like a partner would. She’d seen similar, countless times throughout her career.

Or, they may not be a couple, but Bree had somehow manipulated the situation enough to have Dex sleep on her couch during his recovery.

Or they were a couple, but they were having issues—that seemed obvious, given the way they spoke to each other, calling each other names, and making bets over Dex’s ribs—but his illness was now rekindling their relationship.

Whatever it was, Bree and Dex’s relationship was more than just a friendship.

It was also none of her business.

Sophie had to remember that she had no right to interfere. The way she was feeling right now, she shouldn’t even be in the same room as this man, who wore no shirt and was blessed with the perfect set of abs.

She nearly dropped the paperwork to drool. Struggling to push all her personal fantasies aside and focus on her job. It’s all she had left—her cat and her job. ‘How are your breathing exercises?’

‘They suck.’

‘Are you still getting light-headed?’

He nodded.

‘How many seconds?’

‘I’m doing three by three now.’

‘That’s a huge improvement in one night.’ She smiled, hoping to show him the right type of encouragement. Not Bree’s brash kind of encouragement.

Dex shrugged it off, standing barefoot in a pair of denim jeans that were low on his hips. How easy would it be to pop open that button and let those jeans fall?

‘Do you want a drink or something, Sophie?’

The way he said her name made her internal heat climb higher. ‘Um, yes, please.’

Dex turned away. As he pulled down the tap on the large office-type water cooler the ink work on his back moved with his muscles, as if alive. ‘Bree filters it. Didn’t believe in it until I tasted it, but I think I’m hooked.’ He handed her a glass.

He should have just tossed the cold water in her face at the mere mention of that other woman’s name.

Sophie had no choice but to take the glass, because Dex wasn’t the type of man who’d do things for people, even something as simple as fetching her a glass of water. This was an honour.

Their fingers brushed, and the static electricity tingled all the way up her spine. She’d never been this aware of a male, especially a patient.

Gulping the water, she had to turn away from the demon of sexy sin. ‘Nice place.’

‘It’s Charlie’s.’

Yeah, she knew that already. ‘Where is your place?’

‘On the far side of the sheds. Bree’s painting it at the moment. Taking advantage of me while I’m down and can’t say no.’

Of course, Bree would. That’s why Bree and Dex were Charlie’s guests, because Bree was doing up their love shack.

But weren’t homes meant to be where two people decided on the décor? Or maybe they were at odds with their personal tastes, considering the woman drove a yellow Kombi van while she could picture Dex driving some muscle car. ‘What do you drive?’

His brow crinkled as if in surprise.

It was pleasing to catch him off guard with her question. ‘I picture something with a loud engine.’

Dex leaned against the kitchen counter, all lean and muscular perfection. ‘It’s a V8 Holden ute.’

‘Black?’

‘Correct.’

‘So the yellow Kombi van wasn’t yours?’

‘That’s Bree’s. The mattress in the back is comfy.’

Why did he tell her that for!

She emptied her glass and put it on the counter a little too hard. ‘I need to listen to your breathing.’ She rummaged through her bag for the stethoscope.

‘Sure, where do you want me?’

Naked and on the couch. ‘Um, standing will be fine. I’ll do it from the back.’

This was torture. Pure flipping torture. Her fingers trembled as she pressed the end of the stethoscope to his back and tried to focus on her job. Yet that was a struggle with the large Spartan tattoo covering his shoulder, which was as powerful as the man who wore it. ‘I like the ink work. It’s so detailed.’ Her finger delicately traced the outline, even the intricate fur on the lion that overshadowed the powerful ancient warrior.

‘Sophie,’ his voice was low and edgy. ‘You keep doing that and we’ll have issues.’ He turned his head to stare at her over his shoulder, his eyes dark and hungry. It was the look of a predator.

‘I’m so sorry.’ She flinched as if she’d just touched something scalding hot. And he was. Every single inch of him was gloriously masculine, it had all her feminine parts crying out in need.

‘Turn away.’ Her own voice seemed foreign. ‘I need to concentrate.’

His lips curved into a grin, amused by her foolishness.

How stupid was she when Dex was with Bree? It was a big no-no. She would never get in the middle of a couple. Never.

‘Breathe in…’ She listened to his lungs, careful to not touch his smooth skin and muscles that she was pretty sure were solid. ‘Breathe out…’

He exhaled.

‘Good.’She walked away from him, putting her gear into her bag, then entered notes on the tablet. ‘It’s a vast improvement.’

‘Don’t tell Bree that. She’ll think it’s all her doing.’

Of course, someone like Bree would take all the credit. ‘So how is the pain?’

‘Manageable.’

‘I’ve topped up your medication. Please take them as directed.’ She put the pills back into the fridge, which was filled with assorted foods, roasted meats, pastries, and more. The various food aromas had her salivating. It was a reminder that she needed to go shopping on the way home. ‘Have you done any walking yet?’

‘Not yet. Why? Do you want to go for a walk?’ He slid on a shirt and boots, before opening the front door. Only to lean against it, dropping his head to breathe.

‘Hey, maybe tomorrow.’ She squeezed his arm. ‘Let’s stick to the couch for today.’

‘But I need to do something. This sitting around is not me. I’m usually building something with these…’ He opened his powerful hands.

‘I might have something in my bag to amuse you. You can walk me to the car and get it.’

His wry smile and the shine of hope in his dark eyes had her stomach doing cartwheels of joy for the guy.

Come on, this was not happening. Even her ex hadn’t affected her like this.

‘But I want you to take your oxygen with you.’

‘Hmph.’ His grunt matched the scowl he gave the oxygen cart.

She lifted the oxygen tank, testing the weight. ‘I’ve got a spare tank in the car. It’s important for you to use the oxygen during this early stage of your recuperation. I expect one of these tanks to be empty by my next visit.’ She untangled the cords from his oxygen mask, holding it out to him.

He leaned in so close to her, his hand covering hers that held the mask. ‘How do you know I won’t empty it outside?’

She swallowed hard, licking her lips that were desperate to taste his. ‘Because I trust you.’

He scowled, stepping back from her as if she’d sworn at him, and his eyes went as cold as the glare he gave her.

‘It’s your health, Dex.’

He turned his back on her, holding the door open for her as a signal to leave. ‘What do you need from the car?’

What did she say that was so wrong?

Scooping up her bag, she rushed through the front door to the hot outback air, but the breeze from the fragrant flowers was refreshing. The harsh daylight was also a good dose of reality, reminding her that Dex was just a patient, and she was his nurse. Nothing more.

‘What the flip!’

She turned around. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘The stupid wheels on this thing aren’t designed for off-road excursions.’ He struggled with the oxygen cart’s skinny rubber wheels, that were trapped between the crazy stone paving. Then he picked it up like a handbag, and they were heavy canisters.

‘Don’t exert yourself, Dex. Most patients stay inside with those oxygen carts, which are—’

‘Don’t tell me what to do.’ He gave her a fierce scowl. ‘I get enough lip from Bree. I don’t need it from you, too.’

Her temper flared like a shot of fire. ‘Just because you’re fighting with your girlfriend, don’t take it out on me. I’m only trying to do my job.’ She pointed at her work uniform. ‘Me, nurse.’ She then pointed at him. ‘You, patient.’

‘My what?’ He screwed his face up at her as if he’d tasted something bad. ‘You don’t think that Bree is my girlfriend, do you?’

Her face pulsed with embarrassed heat. She couldn’t face the guy. Instead, she unclipped the wrought-iron gate and headed for the vehicle’s back door.

But he snuck up on her so fast, only to breathe in pants as he gripped her arm while dumping the oxygen trolley with a thud on the red dust.

‘Take it easy, Dex, and breathe.’

‘I am, dammit.’ He wore the mask but spoke through gritted teeth. ‘Bree is not my girlfriend.’

‘Are you sure?’

He rubbed his temple as if to hide his light-headedness—or a headache coming on. ‘What the hell gave you that idea?’

‘Bree acts like it. Doing up your place, sitting by your bed all night.’

Dex shook his head.

‘She’s not?’ Why was her heart daring to do some weird happy dance in hope?

‘Hell. No.’ Even sick, he was powerful, standing squarely in front of her with his tight t-shirt accentuating his toned chest. ‘Bree is just a mate.’

Nope, Bree was more than a mate. She had to be. Why else would Bree go to all this effort, except to make this guy her partner.

But it was also none of Sophie’s business. Dex was a patient, and she was leaving.

She dragged out the spare oxygen canister from the back seat of her work car. ‘This is for you.’ She then rummaged around in her backpack, pushing her camera lenses aside to dig deeper into her bag.

‘That’s a lot of camera gear. Are you a photographer? ’

‘I’m learning. It’s why I moved out here. I wanted to take photos of the outback landscape and lifestyle.’ She was expecting him to tease her, or roll his eyes at her, but Dex said nothing.

‘Got it.’ From her bag, she pulled out two boxes and passed them to Dex.

‘What’s this?’

‘Dominoes. And a pack of playing cards.’

‘Why?’

‘You can play solitaire or build a house of cards. And Dominoes are fun to knock over.’

He arched an eyebrow at her like she’d gone and lost her marbles.

‘Look, this will allow you to build things with your hands while staying indoors and resting.’

His eyes narrowed at her for only a second. ‘And you’ll bring out Battleship?’

She shouldn’t. She should swap her shift with someone else and lose that mud map to never find Elsie Creek Station again.

‘Come on, Sophie.’ He lowered his head, his dark eyes solely on hers as if she was the only other person on the planet to share oxygen with him. ‘Give me something to look forward to.’

She didn’t want to. She had to fight this attraction for someone who might be taken, and in any case was her patient. She could do this, she was a strong girl. She could say no.

Aw, who was she kidding? She wanted to. She very, very much wanted to, and nodded.

‘Good. Drive safe, Sophie Pendleton. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ He stepped back wearing a smile hidden behind the oxygen mask, but it was the sinful shine in his eyes that made her pulse quicken.

‘Remember to do your breathing exercises.’ Like she needed to remember to breathe herself.

He gave her a wave that said, let the woman think she was in charge . It was obvious Dex had no intention of following doctor’s orders. Dex did what Dex wanted.

The only problem was, she wanted him too.