“I’m sorry; I was surprised that you have so much knowledge aboutit.”
“I have a very good memory for things I read. I have many medical books in my computer lab and I’ve read them all. I don’t exactly have an eidetic memory, but it’s something likethat.”
His chest puffed out a little, and I could tell he expected me to beimpressed.
“I’ve never met anyone with an eidetic memory or anything remotely close to it before. I’m very impressed. You must be brilliant.” I wasn’t posturing. It was prettycool.
“I don’t know about brilliant.” He lowered his eyes, suddenly shy. It was adorable. “I just remember stuff. Anyway, the only thing we can really do for rib injuries is let them heal on their own. The binding will help you with stability, and we have plenty of ibuprofen for swelling. We’ll get you straight to a hospital as soon as wecan.”
I already knew everything he was telling me, but he was so sweet I didn’t want to stop him. A hospital likely wasn’t necessary unless the painintensified.
He stood and walked toward the kitchen. I didn’t have it in me to risk pain from my ribs just to see where he was going. I tried to relax into the couch again, hoping they’d leave me alone for a few minutes to assess my situation. I was injured, stuck in a gorgeous rustic log cabin with three drastically different, totally gorgeous men. I had no way to contact my family or my job, and no way toleave.
Despite the odds against me, I resolved to get out of here at my first opportunity to borrow one of their snowmobiles. If something happened to it, I’d beg my brothers to take care of the expense until I could pay them back. It was a bratty plan, but I wouldn’t stay under the same roof with such a horrible person any longer than absolutelynecessary.
I must’ve dozed off thinking about finding the snowmobiles, filling them up with gas I’d get from who knew where, and getting them out of the house without any of the men hearing. The next thing I knew, Chandler woke me. “Linda? The soup is ready. It’s been simmering a while. I didn’t want to wake you, but you need toeat.”
“You’re sweet, but I wouldn’t be hurt by missing a meal.” My jeans had been uncomfortably snug. It was time to drop a few pounds anyway. “It smells amazing inhere.”
Ellion placed a pillowed tray on my lap, filled with soup, crackers, and what looked like iced tea. “I hope you like sweet tea. I took a risk after you told me you were fromGeorgia.”
A wide grin split my face. “You couldn’t have known, but I’m pretty sure if you cut me, sweet tea would come out. I’ve got a box of black tea bags in my suitcase, stuck out there in the snow, in case wherever I go doesn’t have southern-style sweet tea.” I sipped the coldbrew.
Heavenly. Just enough sugar, and it was brewed strong. “Cheesy potato soup and sweet tea. Where are you guys from?” No way they’d grown up anywhere but the southern UnitedStates.
Chandler chuckled. “Nashville.”
“No way. That’s so close to us.” I was delighted to find another southerner so far away from home. “All three ofyou?”
Ellion tapped the tray. “Eat.” He sat beside me. “Yes, all three of us. We went to college together. Then we all went to work for Griffin when he started up his toycompany.”
I sipped the thick soup. They’d made it to perfection. Salted, baconed, cheesed perfection. “Mmmm, thank you,” I said between bites. “He has a toy company? Doesn’t seem thetype.”
“Well,” he said before clearing his throat and lookingaway.
Chandler picked up for Ellion. “That wasbefore.”
I set down my spoon. “Before? Before the fire, youmean.”
“How’d you know?” askedEllion.
“I’m a nurse. I recognized his scars. He went through a fire.” I resumed eating and let them decide when to pick the story backup.
“It’s his story to tell,” said Chandler. “But after the fire, he moved up here. We come three or four times a year and stay for a bit, try to convince him to come back home. He neverdoes.”
Chandler shook his head. “We run his company for him—let him do whatever it is he does up here when we aren’t around. One day, he’ll comeback.”
Heavy footfalls in the hallway alerted us to an incomingGriffin.
Ellion jumped up, all nerves again, and headed to the kitchen. “Come eat, Griff,” he called. “We madesoup.”
The footsteps paused behind me. I imagined what sort of glare he was giving me. They continued until I heard a kitchen chair scrape thefloor.
“Chandler,” I said. “Could you show me to a guest bedroom? If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.” The overbearing feeling of imposing on them all suddenly made me feel weighed down and cumbersome. The rib pain certainly didn’t help thefeeling.
“I’d be happy to,” Chandler said with an odd lilt to hisvoice.
I almost heard a hint of an accent but couldn’t place it. He stood and held out a hand, and I gratefully accepted the help rising from the couch. My time sitting inactive had stiffened my irritated musclesfurther.
