Color Blind (Able to Love) (2 page)

“I didn’t say come in.” Saul Sweeterman snarled.

Now she knew why everyone on the floor called him Meanerman. She rushed to identify herself. “Mr. Meaner—er—Sweeterman. I’m Annie Hays, your physical therapist.”

“I don’t need a physical therapist,” he answered. “I survived a punctured lung and a damaged spleen. I’m confident that in time, I’ll be able to walk just fine. What I need to do is get out of here.”

Annie counted to ten then employed de-escalation strategies, not wanting to rile his temper. With a light touch to his arm, she said, “Yes, in time, you will get out of here. But you’re looking at at least another month or so before you can walk on that foot.”

“Don’t patronize me. I’m not four years old!” In a swooping motion, he reacted, shrugging her hand off his arm. She wasn’t prepared for his strength and found herself flung across the room. She crashed into the food tray.

He swung his head in her direction. “I—ah—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.” His gruff manner depicted a man who was uncomfortable with apologizing.

Annie didn’t register his answer. Her mind was on two things. The first was that Saul Sweeterman had the most riveting pair of blue eyes she’d ever seen. The second was that they were unfocused and zoomed on a spot above her head. Sweeterman was blind. She’d read that when she reviewed his chart.

“Are you hurt? Ms. Hays, please answer me. I can’t see for myself.” He pointed out the obvious.

Annie nodded, before catching herself. She cleared her throat and found her voice. “Yes—I’m fine. No harm done.”

So the bear had a gentle side. Interesting. Since he couldn’t tell, she stared him down, taking in his blond hair and his imperial jawbone. He was super-hot. No one had mentioned that pertinent fact. And, those deep blue eyes reminded her of the clear Florida sky. Whew! She could stare into those orbs for days.

Then, he spoke. “You might as well leave and work on someone else because I’m not moving from this bed.”

And, the Beast is back
. Annie rolled her eyes but ignored him. She hummed, Tamela Mann’s, “Take me to the King” and pulled the sheet back away from his leg. She wasn’t going to chance a kick to her rib cage, so she notified him of her intentions. “Mr. Sweeterman, I’m going to examine your leg.” Though she was petite, she had strong hands.

He jerked his foot in protest. “Don’t touch me.”

“I have to if I want to help you get back to normal. Dr. Pryor removed the cast, but you still have pins and screws in your leg. You’ve been immobile, but Dr. Pryor is thinking you’re healing well enough to put you in a plastic walking cast.” She made sure to keep her tone firm, so he’d know she meant business. She’d handled football players and basketball players. Annie wasn’t about to let this one intimidate her.

“My left leg was broken in two places,” he growled. “But I’m able to get myself to the bathroom.”

“You shouldn’t be out of bed, Mr. Sweeterman. You need to wait for someone to assist you. She lifted his leg with expert precision. “Your muscles are sore and tense. I’ll work this out for you but you need to stay off your feet until Dr. Pryor says it’s okay.” She massaged both his legs.

He emitted a distinct masculine groan of pleasure, followed by a grunt of pain. Sympathy tore at her. “I’m sorry. It will feel better in a few minutes.”

The angry line that was his lips curved a little. She saw a hint of a smile. “I can’t wait to experience that feeling. It’s been awhile.”

She caught the double entendre. So, he was a flirt. She blushed and was surprised to find her heart beating faster. She cleared her throat and kept her tone professional. “I’m going to release the knots. It’ll be uncomfortable for a minute, but then…” she trailed off, continuing her ministrations, until she heard a distinct release of breath.

“Ahh, I had no idea I was in pain. My legs feel like butter.”

Annie had received this reaction from patients so many times in her career, that she’d been dubbed Magic Hands. With a pat on his leg, Annie said, “That’s it for today. Tomorrow we work on getting you fitted for your cast and on your feet.”

“Five more minutes please?” he begged.

Annie prided herself on her ability to remain detached. She had already stayed beyond the stipulated forty minutes. “A few more minutes, but then I have to go. I have other patients.”

She hummed while she continued the massage before she said, “I’ll be back on Wednesday to work with you again. In the meantime, please don’t overextend your leg.”

He nodded. “How many days will you be seeing me?”

“Twice a week.”

“Oh.” He sounded disappointed. She knew from the nurses that he hadn’t had any visitors. Why should she care?

“I’m here in the hospital every day, though, so I’ll swing by and check on you.” She could’ve bitten her tongue.
Had she really uttered those words?
She wondered as she departed his room.

“You survived Meanerman,” her best friend, nurse Sari Noonan, said.

Annie smiled and winked. “He was sort of sweet,” she mused, knowing she had a sappy look on her face.

Sari looked at her like she was crazy. “Sweet?

Annie grinned at the look on Sari’s face. As she strolled towards the elevator, she admitted she was actually looking forward to seeing Saul again. As luck would have it, she ran into Sari on her next scheduled visit.

Sari shook her head when she saw where she was headed. “Good luck with him. He’s in rare form. I told Dr. Pryor that I was through working with him. My job is to help and to heal not to be humiliated.”

“Keep your head up,” Annie reassured her friend. With a question in her eyes, she crept into the room. Her eyes scanned the tossed tray and the food contents splattered all across the room. Why had he done this?
Lord, please guide me and lead me.
She felt a tiny frisson of fear akin to Daniel entering the lion’s den. Annie berated herself. He’s a man, not a lion.

He could pass for one though. She placed a hand over her mouth with shock. Seeing his mane of hair all helter-skelter and his unshaven beard did sort of make him look like the king of the jungle.

“I can hear you breathing,” he spat. “So identify yourself. I’m blind, not deaf.”

His rudeness spurred her temper. She swooped all the contents off the floor and snatched one of the bed linens to clean the linoleum. She knew she could summon housekeeping, but Annie needed a moment to gather her wits or she was going to wring his neck with her bare hands.

“Are you going to answer me?” he hurled in her direction.

“Quit roaring at me,” she snapped and went into the bathroom to wash her hands. She strode towards the door. She didn’t have to put up with this rude behavior. Sari hadn’t warned her enough. “I don’t get paid enough to be insulted.”

“No, Annie, come back! Please!” he roared pulling himself upright.

Her hand stilled. He called her Annie. She spun around. “Being a patient doesn’t give you the right to be insufferable and mean.”

“You’re right,” he hung his head. “That explains why I’m alone.”

His puppy-dog face didn’t fool her. “Quit the act. You’re just trying to make me feel sorry for you.”

“Is it working?” He gave her a lopsided grin.

Saul Sweeterman could be nice when he wanted. She chuckled and moved to undo his cast. She picked up his leg to give him a quick massage.

“So how come you’re alone?” she asked, shifting the conversation into less dangerous territory.

He rested his head back against the pillow. “Well, I wasn’t completely honest. I ran off all my buddies from the dealership with my bad attitude. No one’s been to see me for weeks at my insistence,” he said.

“So, your being alone is your own fault. You need to call your friends and apologize. You have a long road ahead and you can’t do it by yourself.”

He had the grace to blush. She watched the red splash across his cheeks and her hands stilled for a second. She made herself get back to work.

“I also have a daughter and a granddaughter,” he chattered.

“What? You’re not old enough to be a grandfather.”

“I’m forty-three. Let me spare you the mental math by saying I was a young father,” he drawled. His face depicted bliss from the work of her hands.

“Where do they live?” She switched to his other leg even though it didn’t need massaging. “Make sure to keep exercising this leg. The other one you do with me.”

He nodded and answered, “They’re here in town.”

“Really?” Her unspoken question hung in the air.

He must’ve been in need of a listening ear because Saul spilled. “I don’t have a relationship with them because of my own stupidity. I didn’t approve of the man she married and I allowed that to interfere with our relationship. I haven’t even met my granddaughter. Her name is Emily.”

She heard the regret in his tone but was surprised that he’d revealed so much of his business to a virtual stranger. “Why don’t you call her?”

“Believe me, I would, if she’d let me. She’s changed her number so I can’t call her. Cassandra, that’s her name—she blames me for her husband’s death.”

Chapter Three

Chanel No. 5. He’d recognize that scent anywhere.

“I didn’t think you’d be back,” Saul declared. In his mind, he pictured the willowy brunette with her body angled against the door. Macy Masters didn’t stand. A top model, she was always striking a pose.

He didn’t give her a chance to answer. “And, please don’t tell me you have your secret agents lurking about,” he added, referring to the dogged paparazzi men who popped up in the most unusual places.

“Don’t worry, I know how to ditch those eels. It’s just me, here. I value my privacy as much as you do,” she replied, not hiding her contempt.

Saul nodded knowing how Macy detested the downside of having a recognizable face. He teased, “Are you hiding under sunglasses with your hair stuffed under a hat? I’m surprised no one recognized you.”

Her laughter tickled his ears. “Don’t laugh at my inspector Gadget getup. It has done me well. I didn’t feel right leaving you here alone. If I have to come incognito, then so be it.”

Saul was touched, but he didn’t want to share his feelings. So he threw out a useless taunt. “Didn’t feel right leaving me alone while you spend my money?”

He heard a huge sigh and the clip-clop of her signature five-inch heels. Not that she needed them standing at five-eleven.

“Why is everything with us about money, Saul? Why does it have to be so cut and dry? I have money of my own. In fact, I have quadruple what you have so I don’t need your pittance.”

“Pittance? I’ve more than doubled my fortune since we met two years ago,” Saul bragged. Her hand grazed his cheek and he lifted his chin in her direction. He inhaled. She smelled so good.

“I’m here because I love you and you’re going to have to accept that,” she whispered in his ear.

Deep down, he knew she told the truth. Macy was a beauty inside and out. He hated that he didn’t return the sentiment. His accident had been the perfect excuse to push her away. He loved her but not in the way she craved.

When he didn’t respond in kind, she groaned and stepped away. He knew he needed to say something to counteract her disappointment.

“I’m sorry, Macy. I’ve made no secret about the fact that while I have feelings for you, I don’t feel the same.”

“I know,” she replied.

Her voice sounded hollow to his ears. He knew that tone. Saul wished he could see her face but he had seen the woebegone expression so many times that it was committed to memory.

Moments passed before Saul asked, “What’s on your mind?”

“I’m thinking it’s time I moved out,” she said.

“If that’s what you feel you need to do…” He felt the opposite of the words. Saul wanted to beg her not to leave. He needed her now more than ever. How was he going to find his way around? But he knew if he uttered the words, she would take it a different way, and read more into his request.

“Stubborn man. I only said that because I hoped you would admit you needed me.”

“I do,” he conceded. “But, not in the way you want.” Even though he was on his face, he had to be honest with his feelings. He wasn’t about to lead her on. “You knew this from the get go. I told you Nora was the love of my life. There is no replacing her.”

“I’m not trying to replace your precious wife. But, frankly, she’s dead and I’m here.”

Her matter-of-fact statement jolted him. Saul knew he didn’t want to talk anymore. “I think you should leave,” he bit out.

“I didn’t come to upset you, although lately that’s all I seem to do.” He heard movements. She must be getting ready to leave. “I’ll be out of town on a modeling job. I tried to get out of it but that’s business for you. Signed contract and all. If you call me with your discharge date, I’ll make sure I’m here.”

“I understand. I’ll let you know when I know for sure,” Saul interjected, hoping his voice didn’t show the relief he felt. He puckered his lips and waited. Her lips touched his and they shared a brief kiss. As usual, it was pleasant but something was missing.