Page 7 of Scoring the Mountain Man

“How do you feel?” I ask.

“Fine,” he says gruffly.

“Good. I want you to do these exercises three times a day, just like we did right now and in that order. I have written everything down to include the reps. You will do these for the next two weeks and if your doctor clears you for increased mobility, then we will add some more exercises. I will be back in two weeks to check on you.”

He looks up at me as he’s still lying on the floor, before he says, “Can you close the curtains?”

I look at him, then look at the curtains, back at him and with a huge smile on my face say, “No. Seems you need some extra sunshine in your life and what a perfect way to spend the time exercising.”

His jaw drops as he looks at me like he can’t believe I told him no.

Since he’s speechless, I pack up my things, and tell him, “I’ll see you in two weeks and I expect you to follow all the exercises exactly as I laid them out to you, otherwise you may never get back on the ice.” Knowing that is the only thing he cares about right now, so I’m going to use it as much as I can.

I wanted to ask if he wanted my help getting back in the chair, but I knew he would only tell me no. So instead I walk out the door, as he is still lying on the floor, and head back to the office.

CHAPTER 3

Jaxon

I’m still lying on the floor long after Aubrey left, trying to decipher what just happened.

When I heard the knock on the door, I knew it was the physical therapist, but I never expected Aubrey Phillips, my best friend’s sister, to be the one to come walking in.

I remember as kids growing up, she would always want to tag along. I never minded because she always had a way of bringing a smile to my face, but Wes hated having her with us when she became a teenager.

Aubrey was always so full of life. When the sun would beat down on her blond hair, she looked like she was wearing a halo. An angel sent down from heaven. Even in my dark days, she could always make things brighter.

It wasn’t until we went home for her high school graduation, that I saw what a beautiful woman she grew into. I immediately fell in love with her, but out of respect for my best friend, I never said a word and kept my distance.

That didn’t stop her from being the girl who haunts my dreams at night with lust and want.

The minute I heard her voice it was like a song to my heart, then when she stepped into view, she looked better than a ray of sunshine, with her golden hair pulled up, and her scrubs hugging all of her curves in just the right spots. Her smile lit up the whole room and I was mesmerized.

After she opened the curtains and went to touch the brace, I knew I couldn’t let her. If she touched me, I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from grabbing and living out every one of my fantasies of her.

It’s been six years since I’ve seen her and she’s more beautiful now than she was when she was eighteen.

“God help me,” I whisper as I sit up.

The exercises she made me do should have been easy enough, but damn if I don’t feel like I’ve been put through a ringer. I couldn’t let her know that it was tough, so I kept pushing as much as my knee and the pain would allow me.

Now I have two weeks to get my stamina up and find a way to keep my distance from her.

“Wes knew,” I say aloud.

I grab my phone and before I can dial it rings, displaying his name.

I answer, and before I can say anything he asks, “How did physical therapy go?”

“You knew it was going to be your sister, didn’t you?”

“I may have suggested her,” he says sheepishly through the phone.

“Why?”

“I figured you would prefer someone you know and she’s the best when it comes to sports medicine. I can always call Emily and ask her to assign someone else as your physical therapist if you prefer?”

“No, it's fine. It really wouldn’t matter who it is, I’d probably still feel like this,” I tell him as my heart races.

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