Read Online One Hot Momma by Cara North - Free Book Online Page A

us.”
    “Sorry.” Rafe closed his eyes. “I feel really weird.”
    “Well, you’re all drugged up, so I guess you would feel weird.” Heath snorted. “Come on, we need to get you in the wheelchair and get you home.”
    “Wheelchair?” Rafe opened his eyes. “What all’s broke?”
    “Just your arm, and a few ribs cracked.” Heath laughed. “A few inches farther and that bull would have landed right in your chest. Most of this damage came from the fall and the fact that you went up, hit the bull on the way down, and then hit the ground. You looked like a pin ball in a machine and everything was hitting.”
    * * *
    “Jan, you need to go to class. This is your last semester, and you can’t miss anything or you risk your grade point average.” Buck was trying to reason with her Rafe could tell.
    “I’m not leaving him,” Jan said stubbornly.
    “Go to school, Jan,” he croaked out. “Get me a glass of water, and then go to school.”
    “ Rafe , you’re awake.” She seemed so pleased by that he laughed. Laughing hurt.
    “Ah, still hurts.” He smiled. “What day is it?” It dawned on him if Jan was in school it sure wasn’t Sunday anymore.
    “Thursday.” She held out the glass of water Buck brought in. “You seem to be in and out, but most of the time you just sleep. The doctor said you would be like that for a few days.”
    He realized he was propped up, and Jan had the straw pointed his way. He reached up for the glass and knew why she was holding it. His right hand was in a cast. “Well hell.”
    “Yeah, you’re going to have to be a lefty for a little while.” She held the glass closer. He took a long drink of water.
    “I’ll stay with him, Jan. You need to get off to school,” Buck reminded her.
    “ Rafe ?” She looked at him.
    “Go to school. I’m awake now and fine, really.” He smiled when she kissed his forehead. “You’re my favorite little sister.”
    “I’m your only little sister.” She shook her head at him. Then she turned to Buck and whispered something in his ear. They shared a brief hug and kiss and an exchange of quiet words before she left.
    “You hungry?” Buck asked after a moment of looking at him.
    “Yeah, I think I am.” Rafe nodded. His head still hurt. He could definitely feel the ribs ache. He moved his legs, and his right ankle spiked a new pain for him to deal with. “Man, this feels like hell.”
    Buck nodded. “You look like hell, too, buddy.”
    “Thanks,” Rafe said.
    “Anytime.” Buck left the room.
    * * *
    Layla approached the house at the same time Jan was leaving. No doubt Rafe’s little sister was going to give her an earful.
    “I’m not happy about this,” Jan said to her point blank.
    “I understand.” Layla nodded. She did understand.
    “Well… okay then.” Jan seemed to have lost her argument when the children caught up to them. “Hi guys, how are you?”
    “Is Rafe awake today?” Savannah asked.
    “Yes, well, he was a minute ago…” The children ran past them into the house calling his name.
    Layla moved quickly behind them so as not to give her a chance to say anything else.
    “Hey there.” Buck, Jan’s husband, greeted her with a friendly smile. “You need help getting your things?”
    “No, thank you. I’ll grab it later… there really isn’t much to …” She looked away toward the stove. “He wants to eat?”
    “Yep.” Buck stirred the soup again. “I figured we might need to start with liquids first, see how that goes, then move on if he stays awake and keeps this down.”
    “Well, I guess there’s no time like the present.” Layla turned off the stove and poured the soup in a bowl. She grabbed a few napkins and the crackers Buck had laying out. “Don’t leave in case he doesn’t take this well.”
    “I’ll be in the hall if you need me.” Buck nodded. The giant grizzly bear Jan was married to was the easiest person to be around.
    Layla picked up the tray she had placed everything on and