Page 28 of The Fault Next Door

Nolan met his gaze and smiled, though he could see worry shining in Nolan's eyes. "We'll take care of this, but I want to make sure your bone is intact. If it is, we can get this out and have you on your way, but if the bone was damaged or your tendon was injured, you'll have to see a surgeon."

Ryder nodded, unsure his voice wouldn't betray his attachment to Nolan. Could other people see how he felt now? What if someone picked up on the vibe between them? He hadto do something, but he wasn't sure what. Before he could come up with a plan, he was wheeled into another room with an X-ray machine and told to hold still. The injury freaking hurt like a bitch, but he held as still as possible. He glanced around but didn't see Nolan. Was he too dependent on the man? He wanted to see Nolan, but that worried him. What would people say?

Less than ten minutes later, he was back in the room with Nolan and getting a shot in his arm. "The bone looks good. I think we can get this out without causing any more damage." Nolan flashed him a smile that made his body heat, and panic swept through him.

“I can’t do this,” Ryder ground out.

"Well, you can't get up and walk out," Nolan said.

Ryder shook his head. “No, this. I can’t do this right now. If someone finds out?—”

Nolan's lips turned down in the corners, and he shot Ryder with a look that shut him up. A weird feeling slid through him, like he'd just been chastised, and he didn't like it.

Nolan leaned in so only Ryder could hear him. “I’m at work right now. Don’t you think I’m a professional?”

More heat filled Ryder, and he didn't know what to think. Of course, he knew Nolan was professional. He knew the man was serious about his career and wouldn't do something to put his job in jeopardy. So many thoughts were screaming through his mind, from how sexy Nolan was to the fact he would be off work for a while because of this injury. Maybe he could do some light office work, but the chunk of wood in his arm was serious.

Nolan started working again but didn't look at him. Instead, he was one hundred percent focused on Ryder's arm. Nolan was very professional, and Ryder felt bad for assuming the worst. He'd worked in labor-intensive jobs, and though the guys kept it professional when the boss was around, they did cut loose and say things that were very inappropriate for a work environment.But Ryder didn't think Nolan was like that. Sure, when they were naked and in bed together, it could get raunchy, but Nolan had never given him any indication that he would make advances in public.

The pain was gone, which must have been from the shot. Nolan and the nurse worked on his arm. A man came in and checked their progress, saying what Nolan had done was good. After a moment, the man introduced himself.

"I'm Doctor Moore. I'm new here, so I know I haven't met you yet. Nolan is doing great work. I'll check it to make sure no ligaments were impinged. I took a good look at the X-ray, and the bone looks good. We'll do another look at it after Nolan finishes."

"The man who was in the pallet loader. Where is he?" Ryder needed to know what had happened.

The doctor frowned. “He’s on his way to Dallas. I’m not sure the extent of his injuries, but it was bad enough he had to be flown into one of the big hospitals there.”

Ryder blinked and thought about shaking his head, but he was too afraid to move. “That’s awful.”

“I’m just glad you weren’t walking beside the loader when it failed. If you’d been closer, it would be more than just a piece of wood through your arm.”

He glanced at Nolan who was staring at his face. Their gazes met, and he felt more than just relief flowing between them. He couldn’t believe that he’d messed up and thought Nolan would do something to reveal they were lovers.

Nolan went back to looking at his arm, his lips twisted up to one side. “Doctor Moore, would you take a look at this? I think I got everything out. Would you like me to pack it so we can do another picture of the arm before I sew him up?”

“That would probably be best. We need to make sure we got all the splinters out.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Nolan said.

"Good. Pack it, and we'll get another shot of it. Then we'll close him up."

“Thank you,” Nolan said before he began working on his arm again.

Ryder closed his eyes, knowing he had a fair amount of apologizing to do. He never should have said what he had to Nolan.

Chapter 21

Nolan rushedhome after work as worry for Ryder grew. He’d wanted to leave work and stay with Ryder but had no reason to cut his shift short. It had been too early in the day for Ryder to stay in the clinic for him to give him a ride home.

Once home, he went inside to change so he could do the chores in the barn. After changing, he noticed the car in the driveway and didn't know who it belonged to. He should know, but he was bad at identifying cars. Make and model were a mystery to him, and he often got it wrong. Andrew had been shocked that he didn't care to learn the different makes of cars. It just wasn't his thing.

He knocked, and an older woman came to the door. "Who are you?" the woman asked, blocking him from entering.

“Let him in,” Ryder said from the kitchen.

“I’m not letting a strange man into your house. How do I know he’s not here to rob me?”

“It’s my neighbor, the man who works at the clinic who sewed up my arm and removed the huge chunk of wood.”

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