Read Online Working It Out by Rachael Anderson - Free Book Online Page B

of
comfortable shoes beneath her dress or go barefoot.
    Seth smiled, remembering the night of the auction and how
her high heels dangled from her fingertips as her bare feet stalked away. At
the time, he hadn’t thought much of it. But now he wished he’d gone after her,
apologized, and found a way to get her to go out with him. Things were trickier
now that Seth was a patient. Grace had made it very clear that she didn’t date
patients—not even ones who’d already kissed her.
    “Give me three more,” Grace said to the guy in the
wheelchair.
    He strained to pull on the bands one more time, finally
dropping his arms to his side. Beads of sweat glistened across his forehead. “I
think I’m done for the day.”
    Grace pulled up a chair and sat down. Her elbows rested
on her knees and her palms came together as she looked at the guy. “Don’t hate
me for saying this, but I feel like you’re holding back. I wanted to start you
in the pool next week because you need cardio as much as strength, but we’re
not making as much progress as I’d hoped. Are you holding back?”
    The guy leaned forward and held out a staying hand.
“Listen, Grace, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, I really do, but you’re
right, I’m not giving it my all, because I don’t want to give it my all.
This isn’t me anymore, and the sooner you realize that, the better.” He paused.
“It was a mistake for me to start coming here.”
    Surprise and concern reflected in Grace’s wide eyes. “Hey,
if you think I’m pushing you too hard, I’ll back off, okay? Just please don’t
give up. Not yet.”
    The guy shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
    He started to wheel himself away, but Grace placed her
hand on a wheel, stopping him. “I don’t understand. What do you have against
working out? There are thousands of paraplegics who live wonderful, active
lifestyles. You can do this.”
    “How nice that you know so much about people like me.”
    She let out a sigh, still keeping her hand on the wheel.
“C’mon, Alec, you know that’s not what I meant. I just hate to see you hide
away all the time. There’s so much more to life than staring at a computer
screen.”
    Alec’s jaw stiffened. He sat up straight, looking Grace
in the eye. “You’re one to talk. When was the last time you went out? When was
the last time you did something for the joy of it? You sit here and accuse me
of not living my life, when you’re doing the exact same thing. You come here
then spend your evenings researching new therapy techniques or trying to coerce
me out of my apartment. At least I have a reason for the way I live my life.
What’s yours?”
    Grace visibly flinched, but said nothing. Only sat there
in her chair with her lips clamped shut.
    Seth’s protective instincts kicked in, and he found
himself taking a step closer.
    Alec began rubbing his temples, as though trying to ward
off a headache. “I thought if I came and did this a few times, you’d stop
pressuring me. But I was wrong. You’re worse now than ever before.” He shook
his head and let out a breath. “We both know you moved here because of
me—because you don’t think I can take care of myself. But I’m a big boy, Grace,
and I can. I need you to stop bringing me groceries, stop making me dinner, and
stop pressuring me to come here. I need you to back off.” He paused. “Please.”
    Grace’s hand fell from the wheel, and Alec pushed himself
forward, wheeling himself directly past Seth without a second glance. He paused
to hit a small button in a recessed opening on the side of the wall then waited
as the door opened wide and stayed open long enough for him to wheel himself through.
Seth frowned, thinking about how many times he’d struggled to get through that
same door while Grace stood by and watched, probably laughing on the inside.
    Seth shook his head and took a step forward, ready to
give her a hard time about it. But when he saw the worry lines creasing her
forehead