Read Online Cedar Bluff's Most Eligible Bachelor (Cedar Bluff Hospital) by LAURA IDING - Free Book Online

the last fourteen months.
    She swallowed hard and tried to keep her voice from betraying her by trembling. “My fiancé.”
    Simon’s eyes widened and she noticed he glanced at her ringless finger. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?” he asked in a rush. “I didn’t know you were engaged. We need to call Andrew to let him know you’re all right.”
    She fought the urge to close her eyes and bury her face in the pillow, avoiding the painful subject. But she’d learned the hard way that hiding your head in the sand didn’t make things go away. Simon wouldn’t let her off the hook that easily. “No. I meant he was my fiancé. Andrew—he died a little over a year ago.”
    Fourteen months, to be exact. And she’d spent three of them recovering from the injuries she’d sustained in the accident in which he’d died.
    But nothing would ever heal her heart. Or ease her conscience.
    The usual sympathy darkened his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said simply.
    Her stomach tightened painfully. She wanted to shout at him not to apologize. Why did everyone keep saying that? She was the reason Andrew was dead. She’d insisted on driving that night.
    She didn’t want Simon’s sympathy.
    Or anyone else’s.
    “I feel sick,” she murmured, changing the subject as she put a hand over her abdomen. She wasn’t lying, she really did feel sick. Throwing up would only make a bad day even worse, so she fought the urge and drew an uneven breath. “Would you mind bringing me a few saltine crackers?”
    Instantly, he rose to his feet. “Of course not. Stay put, I’ll find them.”
    “Third cabinet on the right,” she murmured as Simon headed for the small kitchen. She took several shaky breaths. He rummaged around for a few minutes, and then returned with water and the promised crackers.
    “You don’t have any white soda,” he said. “But don’t worry, I’ll run to the store and pick up a few things.”
    “There’s no need,” she began, but he cut her off.
    “Don’t argue. I’m going. It’s not like you can live on jail fare,” he said, gesturing to her water and crackers, “for the next few weeks.”
    “Rach can pick up some things for me,” she pointed out stubbornly.
    He didn’t even look at her or acknowledge her statement. He simply stuck her door keys in his pocket and walked back to the kitchen. From her position on the sofa, she could hear him opening and closing the cupboard doors and her fridge, muttering to himself. Good thing she couldn’t hear what he was saying, because it was no doubt something scathing, considering the bare state of her cabinets.
    Old Mother Hubbard, went to the cupboard…
    She wasn’t destitute, but she did tend to buy sparingly because she had to lug everything on her bike. Or walk, which was actually much harder. At least on the bike she could cover the distance more quickly.
    But she wasn’t about to explain that to Simon.
    After a good five minutes he returned, holding a list in his hand. A long list. “I’ll be back in a little while. Take a nap,” he suggested. “The best thing you can do right now is to rest.”
    Before she could think of a response, he left her apartment, softly shutting the door behind him.
    She scowled at the closed door.
    Sure. Take a nap. She grimaced as she tried to move into a more comfortable position. Except she couldn’t find a more comfortable position.
    Wearily she closed her eyes and did her best to ignore the throbbing pain in her leg. Why hadn’t she called Rachel for a ride to work that morning? What idiot rode a bike to work in a thunderstorm? Her ridiculous need to remain independent had cost her dearly.
    Now she’d be dependent on others for help over the next who-knew-how-long. Two weeks for sure. Hopefully not longer. And as a new employee she didn’t have any sick time to cover the time she’d need off work.
    Maybe once she had a walking cast on, she could manage to ride her bike. At least well enough to get to work