Here With Me (8 page)

“C’mon,” she said, walking over to Ryan and grabbing him by the good arm.
“You’re going to sit down and rest even if I have to make you.”  She dragged him to the living room and practically shoved him onto the couch.

“
You’re the one telling me to relax and you almost pull my arm out of its socket!” Ryan laughed as he leaned back against the couch.

“I made sure it wasn’t the injured one,” she retorted. “Now, I don’t want to hear another peep from you and I don’t want to see your butt leave this couch.”

“What if I have to go to the bathroom?” he grinned.

“Don’t push me.” She pointed a finger at him and tried her best to shoot him a serious glare.

“Ya know, you’re kinda hot when you’re mad.”  He was grinning flirtatiously and her serious façade melted.  She felt her cheeks flush and she looked away momentarily before forcing the rigid line to form on her mouth again.

“Just relax,” she said and turned back to the kitchen.

“Whatever you say, boss!” his voice called behind her and she felt her mouth turn up into a smile. 

****

“Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes,” she said, sitting down on the couch beside Ryan.  Just as she’d ordered, he hadn’t moved.  As she prepared dinner, she noticed he’d nodded off and she found herself staring at him.  He looked so peaceful and that made her happy.  She figured in his line of work, peace and quiet was probably something he didn’t get very often. 

“It smells good,” he said, sitting up. “Can I get off the couch now?  I’m sufficiently rested and relaxed and I’d like to go put my bag away and take a leak.”

She just laughed, standing up and extending her hand to help him up.  He reached for the duffel bag on the floor and she shooed his hand away before he could grab it.

“I’ll get the bag,” she said, flinging it over her shoulder.

He opened his mouth to protest, but decided against it and he smiled before he turned to walk down the hall.  She followed him into the bedroom and looked around.  It was simple, just like the rest of the house.  A double bed rested below the small window and it was covered with a plain white comforter.  There was a small TV on the dresser, but that was it.

“It
kinda looks like a prison cell in here,” she said, setting the bag on the bed.

“Yeah, I know, but I just sleep here and it won’t be for that long, so I don’t care,” he said as he began unzipping the duffel bag.  Mallory felt her heart sink for a moment when she thought about him leaving.  She didn’t know why it saddened her.  She knew he was never going to stay
in Kennebunkport and up until four days ago when he’d shown up unexpectedly at the hospital, she never thought she’d even see him again, but it still made her sad to think of Ryan leaving.

He pulled the clothes out of the bag and threw a few things in the hamper before placing the rest in the dresser.

“I think Nate over-packed for my stay in the hospital,” he laughed. “I was in that lovely gown the whole time.”

“Which the nurses seemed to enjoy.”

He closed the drawer and turned to grin at her.

“The nurses enjoyed my hospital gown?”

“Oh, yes.  You were the talk of the nurse’s station.  Handsome stranger injured in a gun fight at Kennebunkport’s most famous landmark…you were very intriguing,” she said slyly.

“I wasn’t aware of this.  Everyone was very professional.”  He was leaning against the dresser now and she tried not focus on how good he looked.

“They have to be…to your face,” she added and he let out a light laugh.

“And Nurse Leyton, were you part of this talk?” He was grinning smugly and she felt her heartbeat quicken.  Luckily the oven timer went off and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’ve gotta get dinner off the stove.  Finish up in here and then come eat.”

His laughter echoed down the hall as
she made her way back to the kitchen where she drained the noodles, tossed the dressing onto the salad and cut up the garlic bread.

“What do you want to drink?” she called down the hall.

“Water’s fine,” Ryan’s voice called back.

After filling them
each a glass of ice water, she set it on the small dining table and he appeared a moment later.

“Can I help with anything?” he asked, looking around.

“That’s a dumb question.  No.  You can’t help.  Just sit down.”

He did as she said and she p
icked up his plate, filling it with spaghetti and salad before placing it in front of him and then getting herself some. 

“This looks really good,” Ryan said
, picking up his fork and began twirling spaghetti around it. “This was really nice of you…to make me dinner.  I mean, I kind of coerced you to come back and help me get settled, but making dinner…well, that was never part of the deal.”

“I’m glad to do it,” she said, smiling at him. “Do you want some parmesan cheese?”
             

She picked up the jar and held it out to him.  He took it and began sprinkling it over the spaghetti. 

“This is delicious,” he said a few minutes later. “And this salad dressing is great.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“It sure beats a TV dinner,” he said, taking another bite.

“I would hope so.”

“I may have to keep you around for a while,” he said with a wink..

The rest of dinner was finished in comfortable silence.  Ryan scraped his plate clean and after he’d taken the last bite, Mallory stood up to clear the table.  She reached down for the plate, but he held out his hand to stop her.

“Now this is where I put my foot down,” he said. “You’ve spent your whole day taking care of me and making dinner.  You are not going to clear my plate as well.”

“It’s not a big deal.  You’re supposed to be taking it easy,” she said, reaching for the plate again, but he pushed it away from her.

“And I have been, thanks to you.”

“Just let me clear the plate.”

“Are you always this helpful?  I mean, do you take care of everybody?” he asked and she sighed, sitting back down in her chair, folding her arms and staring at the table.

“It’s habit, I guess.  It’s what I do now.”

“What do you mean
now
?” Ryan asked, leaning back in his chair.

“Ever since my mom got sick.
  I take care of people at work and now I take care of my mom.  So, like I said, it’s what I do.”  She looked up and he was staring at her with the soft green eyes she’d noticed that first day on the beach.

“Thank you for taking such good care of me today.” 

“You’re welcome,” she said, standing up and walking her plate over to the sink.  She didn’t bother taking Ryan’s plate and he was at her side a moment later, laying the plate in the sink. “Now, I know you think you can, but I’m telling you right now, you’re not doing the dishes.  I’ll do them and then you can get settled for the night and then I’ll leave you to rest.”

“What if I don’t want you to leave?” he asked with a soft grin on his face. 
Her cheeks blushed as she ignored his comment and he watched her for another moment before he began clearing the table.

“Hey,” she protested. “I said I’d do the dishes.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t bring the dishes to you.”

She knew arguing was futile
, so she didn’t say anything.  He was going to do what he wanted and she would let him, considering he’d actually been a pretty good patient.  She knew it was killing him not to be able to do everything for himself. 

Once he’d put all the dishes on the counter next to the sink, he disappeared down the hall.  It didn’t take her long to finish up and when she did, he was still in his room.

“Ryan?” she called down the hall. “Is everything okay?”

“Um…I’m not sure,” he called back and she made her way down the hall. 
Standing in the doorway to his room, she had to stifle a laugh.  His shirt was hanging from his neck with only one arm out. “Yeah…this is kind of embarrassing.”

“You look to be in a bit of a pickle,” she said, walking over to him.

“I got some spaghetti sauce on my shirt, so I thought I’d change, but I can’t seem to get my shirt off.  My shoulder doesn’t want to bend.  A nurse helped me get dressed this morning.  I didn’t think it’d be so difficult to do it myself.”

“Need some help?” she said with a playful smile.

“If you wouldn’t mind.”

R
eaching down for the hem of the shirt, she gripped it, her knuckles brushing over the tight skin of his abdomen and she stopped. 
This is no big deal.  I help people get dressed all the time.  This is no different.
The words raced in her mind, but she knew it was very different this time. 

Before she could talk herself into being any more nervous than she already was, she lifted his shirt, being extra careful as she maneuvered around his injured shoulder, making sure to focus strictly on small parts of his body as she worked.  It was much more clinical that way, but once the shirt was removed, and she’d put it in the hamper, she turned back to him and couldn’t help but see Ryan standing shirtless only a few feet away.  She hoped the expression on her face didn’t betray what she was thinking.  He was lean and strong and his muscles were proof of that.  He wasn’t overly built, but she felt her eyes focusing on his defined abs for a few moments, before forcing herself to look away.  She knew she looked like a gawking fool, but luckily Ryan didn’t let on that he’d noticed.

“Where’s the shirt you want to change into?” she asked quickly, making sure not to look at him.

“On the bed,” he told her.  She walked over and picked up the gray Arizona Diamondbacks t-shirt.

“Diamondbacks fan?” she asked as she carefully slid the shirt over his head.

“
Gotta show my love for my home state,” he said and a moment later his head popped through the neck hole.

“I’ll forgive that since they’re in the National League and rarely face the Sox,” she said as she helped him slip his arm into the sleeve.

“I’m glad I’m forgiven,” he said, sliding the other arm in.  She pulled the shirt down over his stomach and she had to admit she was sorry to see his abdomen disappear. “Thanks for your help.”

“
Sure.” Her eyes found the pair of lounge pants sitting on the bed and then turned to him nervously. “Um…do you um…need help, with…with your pants?”  she asked awkwardly.

“No.  I think I can handle those.”  He was grinning, obviously enjoying how flustered she was.

“Alright.  I’ll leave you to that then,” she said and quickly walked out.

Her heart was pounding whe
n she entered the living room, unable to shake the image of a bare-chested Ryan and how smooth his skin had been against hers. 
We’re just friends.  I’m just helping him get settled.
  Her mind kept trying to insist this, but she knew she didn’t feel that way. 

“This is a bad idea,” she mumbled out loud to herself as she gathered her things.

“What was that?” She turned around to see Ryan.  He’d successfully changed into the pants.  He looked relaxed and comfortable and entirely too gorgeous.

“Nothing,” she said quickly. “I was just talking to myself.” She looked down at her watch and then back up to him. “I should probably get going.  It’s getting late and I need to check in on my mom.”

“Yeah, you probably should,” he said.  His voice was low and quiet and she couldn’t help but think back to his comment earlier in the kitchen when he’d said he didn’t want her to leave and she wondered if he meant it. 

“Now, just because I’m leaving doesn’t mean you can go crazy and start lifting weights and stuff, okay?” He smiled and nodded.
“Promise?”

“I swear I’ll take it easy.  Then again, maybe I won’t and you’ll have to come back to straighten me out.”

She blushed again and smiled nervously.  He flirted shamelessly, and she liked it. 

“Be careful,” she said, pulling her purse over her shoulder. “And if you need anything, give me a call, okay?”

“Will do.  Thanks for everything, Mallory.”

“You’re welcome,” she said as she turned the handle on the door and opened it.

“Wait, Mallory,” he said just as she was about to step out.  She turned to face him and he suddenly looked vulnerable. “When can I see you again?”

He wanted to see her again, just as she wanted to see him.

“I work first shift tomorrow.  I get off at five o’clock.”

“I’ll give you a call then.”

Smiling, she nodded and walked out.

Mallory had completely forgotten it was Sunday and in turn, she’d forgotten about dinner at Mabel’s.  She looked at the clock on the dashboard of her Corolla and saw it was seven o’clock.  Dinner would be half-way over, but maybe if she made an appearance her mom and grandmother would forgive her. 

She turned the car and followed the road to the crowded parking lot.  Sure enough there sat her grandmother’s Cadillac and her mother’s pick-up along with Kenna’s VW.  Quickly parking the car, she rushed into the restaurant, waving at Cathy before making her way through the dining room to their usual table.  Her family looked up and they did not look happy.

“Hey!” Mallory said enthu
siastically, pulling out a seat.

“Nice of you to join us,”
her mom said.

“I’m sorry.  It completely slipped my mind.  I hope you didn’t wait for me.”

“We did for a while, but we were starving,” her grandmother replied.

“Good, because I’m not hungry.”

“Where have you been anyway?  Even Kenna didn’t know where you were,” her mom said.

“I’ve been helping a friend.”

“Friend? What  friend?  The only people you talk to are Kenna and Cole and you weren’t with either of them.”

“For your information, Mother, I know more than two people and I was helping one of those people.  He just got released from the hospital today and I was helping him get settled.”

“He?  A guy?” her mom asked curiously.  She looked towards her grandmother who seemed just as interested.

“Yes.”

“What guy?” her grandmother prodded.

“Just a guy I know,” she said, praying they’d shut up about it.

“Who is it and why are you being so cryptic?” her mother asked, leaning in.

“This is none of your business, either of you.”

“What are you hiding?  You’re being weird.”

“I am not, Mom.  I just wish you two would butt out every once in a while.  You don’t need to know every detail of my life.”

“My, my, aren’t we touchy,” Grandma Jane said with annoyance.

“I’m not touchy.  You guys just never let up.”

“We’re just interested in your life.  You never just up and disappear like you did today,” her mom added.

“I wouldn’t say I disappeared.  I believe the police won’t even look for an adult unless they’ve been missing for 48 hours.  I was not missing for 48
hours, therefore, I don’t think you can say I disappeared.”

“You’re sarcasm is noted, Mallory,” her grandmother said, taking a long swig of her wine. 

“Mallory!” Kenna’s voice was unmistakable and she turned to see her walking towards them, a new pink streak added to her black hair. “Can I get you something?  They didn’t think you were gonna show.”

“I was busy and it slipped my mind,” she said as Kenna eyed her suspiciously. 

“I haven’t heard from you all week.  Is everything alright?”

“Don’t bother, Kenna.  She’s a vault tonight.  She’s not giving any details,
” her mother added.

Mallory just rolled her eyes.

“Can we get the check, please?” her grandmother piped in. 

“Sure.  Be right back.”

Kenna stepped away for a moment and no one said a word until she returned and set the check down.

“See you guys next week,” Kenna said.

“Of course,” her grandmother said, reaching into her purse and placing three twenties on the table.  They stood up to leave, but Mallory stayed in her seat. “Perhaps you’ll actually join us next week.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Mallory grinned as her mother and grandmother walked away from the table. 

“What’s up with them?  They seemed pissed off,” Kenna said, sitting down.

“I don’t know what their deal is.  I missed one dinner.  Shoot me.”

“Where were you?  You never forget anything.”

“I was helping a friend,” she answered, not sure if she wanted to tell Kenna about Ryan or not. 

“What friend?”

“I don’t need an inquisition from you as well.”

“This is not an inquisition,” she said and paused. “Well, maybe it is.  Now dish.”

She stared at her best friend and knew Kenna would not let up until she spilled all the details.

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“Would you expect anything else from me?” she smiled and Mallory sighed.

“I was with Ryan,” she finally said.

“Ryan?” Kenna exclaimed.
“The douchebag that blew you off?”

“He’s not a douchebag,” Mallory said defensively.

“Um…yeah…he is.”

“He was shot four days ago,” Mallory said bluntly and she saw
Kenna’s mouth fall to the floor.

“What the hell?  You
’re kidding, right?” Kenna gaped and Mallory shook her head. “What happened?”

“It had something to do with work.”

“What happened?  How’d he get shot at work?” Kenna continued and Mallory adjusted in her seat, unsure if she should tell Kenna about Ryan being in the Secret Service.  She wanted to, but thought maybe she should wait for his permission first.

“I don’t know.  There was a break in or something,” she lied.

“Mallory,” Kenna said with a glare. “What aren’t you telling me?  You seem antsy or something.  I’ve known you forever and I know when you’re not telling the truth.”

Mallory sighed and then looked up to meet
Kenna’s eyes, knowing she wouldn’t drop it till she got the whole story.

“Can you keep a secret?” Mallory whispered and she could see
Kenna’s face curl up in curiosity.

“That depends.  Is it a good secret?” Kenna grinned and Mallory nodded. “Then yes, I can keep a secret.”

“Well, you know how Ryan and Nate said they were here working for a security company?” Kenna nodded quickly. “That was a lie.”

“Why are they here then?”

“They work for the Secret Service…at the Bush estate.”  Kenna’s eyes were nearly bugging out of her head and she didn’t say anything for a while.

“Seriously?” she finally said and Mallory nodded. Kenna was quiet again, like she was thinking and then her ey
es lit up. “So that’s where I’d seen them!”

“What are you talking about?”

“That first night at the bar.  I knew I’d seen them before.  I’d seen them earlier that day when the Bushes came into the restaurant for lunch.  They kinda hung out in the corner.  Now I know why!  That’s crazy!” Kenna continued excitedly. “So how’d Ryan get shot?”

“He said there was some crazy guy trying to get on the property and he got shot in the shoulder and ended up in the ER when I was working.  We started talking while he was there and today I helped him get settled after being released.  That’s why I missed dinner.”

Kenna’s mouth was still dragging on the floor and Mallory waited for her to say something.

“I don’t get it.  He blew you off and now you’re his personal nurse?”

“I’m not his personal nurse,” she said, glaring at her friend. “I was just helping him.  He doesn’t have anyone here.”

“So, are you like seeing him or something?”

“No,” she said quickly. “I’m just helping him.  We’re friends, that’s it.”

Kenna was smiling coyly and Mallory tried to suppress the grin that spreading across her face.

“Friends.  Yeah…I don’t think so.  You’d better not keep anymore secrets from me, got it?” Kenna said, pointing at Mallory with a stern expression. “Now, I’ve gotta get back to work.”

“Have a good night,” she said as Kenna winked and walked away.