The sound got Erin’s attention. “Something wrong?”
“Just frustrated. I want to be able to do more, and not have it be so difficult to get there.”
“Then use that frustration to drive you to do more, to go an extra step.” She grinned. “You’ll need it when I turn your sixty-minute sessions into ninety. And I’m not even going to charge you for the extra pain.”
He straightened at her comment. Hell, she was right. He had to stop letting his pride get to him, or he’d never get strong enough to ride a bull. “Okay, you’re on. I can deal with whatever you dish out.”
“Good attitude.” Her smile quickly turned into a yawn. “I hate to end this party, but I need to go home and get a few hours’ sleep before I’m due back here.”
Suddenly he didn’t want her to leave. “Sure.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Hey, you’re not going to get much time.” He got a crazy thought. “Why not just stay here and sleep?”
Erin looked at him and tried not to be shocked at his suggestion. “Oh, I can’t.”
“Why not? There’s a bed in the other bedroom. It’s only a twin, but I think you’ll fit.” He raised a hand. “Before you argue, by the time you drive to your apartment, sleep, then drive back again for the later session, you lose nearly two hours.”
Erin couldn’t deny she’d like the extra time. She hadn’t been sleeping well lately. Maybe she was taking on too much. She’d rather it be that than this man distracting her.
“Okay, I’ll just lie down for a while.”
“No, you’ll sleep until our next session. That’s nearly six hours.”
That sounded heavenly. “Okay, I’m too tired to argue. I’ll stay. This one time.”
With a nod, he reached for his brace and put it on. He stood with his walker and started out the door. “I’m not sure if there are any sheets that would fit it, but you can make do with a flat sheet.”
Erin followed him out into the hall, and he opened a linen closet. There were stacks of towels and two sets of sheets for his king-size bed.
She took the linens from him, and their hands brushed in the awkward exchange. She jumped back and he frowned.
“I can make this work.” Was she crazy? The man was her client. Yet she found that the simplest touch from this man sensitized her nerve endings. Why had her dormant sex drive suddenly been reawakened?
She glanced at Austin. Or was her condition just the result of this sexy cowboy? It was pretty bad that a man with a walker turned her on. Either way, she needed to keep a safe distance from him. And if she weren’t so exhausted, she’d walk out the door. Instead, she was going to sleep in his house.
“I should go make up the bed.” She turned and walked into the small bedroom. There was a pillow and a comforter covering the mattress. She quickly went to work adding the sheets. By the time she was finished, there was a knock on the door.
She answered it. Austin smiled as he reached out his hand, holding a T-shirt and a new toothbrush. “I thought you might like something to sleep in.”
* * *
“WHAT ARE YOU doing back here?”
Later that afternoon, Austin stood in the doorway, blocking the entrance to keep his business manager from coming in. Erin was still asleep, and the last person he wanted around here was Jay. He already made too much of her being his therapist.
“What do you mean, what am I doing here? You’re not just my client, but also my friend, Austin.” With briefcase in hand, Jay stepped over the threshold and into the house. “And I wanted to make sure you’re doing okay.”
Austin wasn’t buying it. “I have two brothers and my father around.” Not that the old man cared about him. “My two sisters-in-law keep me fed. So enjoy your off-duty time. Go on a vacation.”
Jay frowned. “I wouldn’t do that, not when you’re still recovering. Besides, I need to keep all the fires going so people won’t forget you. We’re going to need to plan some big promotion for your comeback.”
Damn, why did that make him feel so old? Hell, he was old. He made his way to the sofa and sat down. “Let me get through this rehab, Jay. Then we’ll talk.”
The older man frowned. “Why? What’s wrong? I knew it—that therapist you hired isn’t working out. I can fire her for you. I know of this private rehab center outside Denver.”
“No, Jay. I told you, I want to stay here while I recuperate. This is my home, my ranch.” He realized he liked having his own place and his brothers around. “Besides, wouldn’t the media find me easier in a rehab center?”
His manager shrugged. “You’re probably right.” He lifted his briefcase onto the table. “The other reason I’m here is I have some papers that need your signature.”
Austin leaned back on the sofa. His leg had been throbbing since his last session, but he refused to take any meds. So he wasn’t in the mood to go over any contracts, especially something new until he was sure of his future. “Just leave them and I’ll go over them later.”
Jay frowned. “They can’t wait, Austin. They’re tax papers. Look, just put your signature on the bottom where I made the X and I’ll do the rest.”
There were things about Jay he loved, like the fact that he’d taken him on as a client when he was a no-name bull rider. They both had made a lot of money on his talent and Jay’s business cunning. Austin trusted him, but he wasn’t foolish enough to sign anything blind, either. “Are you in town for a while?”
Jay shrugged. “I need to be in Dallas in a few days.”
He stood and started for the door, hoping he could get Jay out of the house before he woke Erin. “Okay, I’ll get them back to you before then. What hotel are you at?”
“Hotel? I thought you might offer me your guest room.”
Austin turned quickly to tell Jay he needed his space when he caught the end of the coffee table with his walker and it tipped him off balance. He did the windmill stroke with his arms, but he only managed to knock over a lamp, and they both crashed to the floor. Pain shot through his butt as he hit the hardwood.
Jay started over to help him when Erin came rushing out from down the hall, all that rich auburn hair flying around her sleep-ridden face. What got his attention was her state of undress. She was wearing his T-shirt that hung to midthigh. Oh, boy, those legs.
“Austin, don’t move,” she called and was kneeling down at his side. Her hands went to work examining his legs and arms. “Do you hurt anywhere?”
He brushed aside her concern and sat up. “Yeah, my bony butt.”
She frowned. “Not your leg?”
A shadow appeared over them. He glanced up at Jay.
“Well, I can understand why you didn’t need me here. Seems your therapist has everything under control.”
* * *
TWO HOURS LATER, the sun was setting over the mountains as Austin sat at the kitchen table enjoying the quiet peacefulness. In the dimming light, he could also see his brother Cullen’s horses grazing in the pasture. Thanks to the heavy rainfall over the past few months, the grass was high and green. Soon, the snow would come to the area. Great for the ski resorts around Hidden Springs, but hard on the cattle rancher. He didn’t have to worry since he hoped to be gone by winter. He glanced down at his injured leg. Already he’d gained more physical strength.
His attention strayed when he heard the rattle of the old water pipes from the bathroom. He’d