"When do you think they will let me leave?"
It didn't matter how comfortable Nolen made me feel, I didn't want to spend any more time in the hospital than absolutely necessary.
"Just waiting on the doctor to come in to clear you, and then we will be on our way."
"Well, the doctor needs to hurry up," I grumbled.
Nolen had the audacity to chuckle. "You certainly aren't getting the Patient of the Year award at this rate."
No, I wasn't, and that was a-okay with me. Someone else could gladly have that honor.
I was kept from giving him a piece of my mind when the doctor came into the room and announced that I was clear to go. Luckily the nurse wasn't far behind him with my discharge papers, and before you knew it, I was released to leave.
"Can we please go now?" I begged Nolen as soon as the doctor and nurse left the room.
"Your carriage awaits." He gestured toward the door with a little bow, and I rolled my eyes at the silliness of it all.
The walk out to his vehicle was slow going and full of agony. It took everything in me not to wince with each step. I knew if I didn't put on a brave face, Nolen would insist on helping me, and I didn't want that for a variety of reasons.
One being the fact that I found the man insanely handsome. Second, because I knew myself well enough to know that any time he was near, my body reacted to him. It was one of the many reasons I hid whenever he visited Sophisticated Sheen. There was no telling what I would do when he was near.
And well, third, because I was an independent woman who didn't need a man. Or at least that was what I liked to tell myself.
"What are you thinking about over there?" Nolen asked when we finally got into the vehicle, and I did my best to get as comfortable as I could.
"Just that I can't wait to be home."
I needed separation from this man as soon as humanly possible. Before, when we were in the hospital, it was okay because he provided the calm I so desperately needed, but now that we were alone? Nope, it wasn't okay. Not in the slightest.
The drive back to the house was rather painful. I didn't know if there were just that many bumps in the road or if Nolen was good at finding them, but either way, by the time we pulled up in front of my house, all I wanted was my bed.
"Here, let me help you." Nolen was out of the vehicle and at my door before I could fully protest that I didn't want the help. I was a fool for even thinking he would listen to me anyway because the man practically carried me into the house, and I hated to admit it, but it felt good to be cared for even if it was only a minute.
"Where did you want to go?" he asked as soon as we got over the threshold.
"The couch is fine." I could make my way upstairs to my bedroom just as soon as he left.
"Are you sure?" We stopped just short of the couch. "The doctor said you shouldn't exert yourself too much."
Was that something playful in his tone, or was I just hearing what I wanted? My mind immediately jumped to sex and how I haven't had it in forever.
"It's been five years since I've done the horizontal tango, so I doubt I will be doing any fun exertion anytime soon."
CHAPTER FIVE
Nolen
I choked at her declaration.
Five years?!
How was that possible when the woman was as beautiful as Vanessa?
"I'm sorry. What did you say?"
Vanessa's face turned a bright shade of red. "Oh my God, I can't believe I said that out loud."
She sure did, and now I couldn't stop thinking about Vanessa and sex. It was already hard enough to think when she was around but knowing what I did now? It would be even harder.
