He was careful to never share the name of a patient, but he often told her some of the challenges they faced. "She's recovering from multiple fractures to her pelvis, femur, and shoulder. She can't bear full weight yet."
"Are you doing aqua therapy with her then?"
Gabe smiled. As usual, Mom was spot on.
"We did our first session of aquatic therapy today. I work with her at the office twice a week as well."
Grace broke in. "Do you want to join us for dinner tonight? I have lasagna in the oven."
His stomach growled, reminding him all he had at home were TV dinners and frozen pizza. "Not tonight. I just left Providence, so I wouldn't get there until after nine."
"Why so late?" Mom asked.
Gabe changed lanes to pass a semi. "I had a client who couldn't come in until after he got off work at five-thirty."
"And tomorrow is your early morning at the clinic in Pasco." Mom’s voice was full of sympathy.
"Yes." Gabe already regretted agreeing to the early morning shift in Pasco on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Six a.m. rolled around way too early when he didn't get home from Providence until almost nine.
"We'll save some lasagna for you to take home this weekend," Grace said.
"Thanks, Hermana."
"You're coming over on Saturday, aren't you?" Mom asked.
"Yes, I'll be over around noon."
He always went home on the weekends. Partly to help with the upkeep of the house and yard, but mostly to spend time with his mom and sister. They were the only family he had. He would always be there for them.
"Good, because I need your help."
CHAPTER 5
"So, what do you think of Paige Young?" Luke's out-of-the blue question did more to spike Gabe’s blood pressure than the exercises he’d been doing for the past thirty minutes.
Paige had pushed back her appointment, so he and Luke had been killing time by lifting weights. It wasn’t the first time this week they’d used the PT office as their personal gym.
"What do you mean?" Gabe’s attempt to keep his voice casual failed. He had been thinking about Paige way too often since their aqua therapy session two days ago.
"She's a hottie, don't you think?"
Gabe bit his tongue to keep from snapping at Luke. He doubted the kid meant for his words to sound derogatory, but they did. Or maybe Gabe took them that way because he felt protective of Paige, and he had no idea why.
Instead of snapping at Luke and telling him to stay away from her, he chose his words carefully. "Paige is determined and hard-working when it comes to her recovery. Which is good, because she has a long way to go."
Luke snorted. "That’s such a clinical thing to say.”
“Well, Iamher physical therapist.”
“You can't fool me,Dr. Rivera.I know she's awoman after your own heart." A teasing tone filled Luke’s voice.
Gabe clamped his jaw shut, willing himself not to react. It would only make it worse.
Even though Gabe dressed down in jeans and a polo on Fridays, instead of slacks and a dress shirt, he avoided exercises that made him work up too much of a sweat. It wouldn't look professional to be covered in sweat stains when the patients arrived.
Yet that’s exactly what happened thirty minutes later when Paige walked through the door, fifteen minutes earlier than expected. Like an idiot, he'd let Luke talk him into a push-up contest. He regretted it the moment he spotted her crutches and tennis-shoe clad feet.
Gabe froze in plank position.
