Page 56 of Caleb's Cause
“Me too, but as long as you’re safe, and we can do what we have to get Michael’s father and Larry behind bars, I’ll be happy to celebrate later. How about this, we’ll have a big celebration once those assholes are sentenced.”
“Deal.” They laughed and talked for a few more minutes before they hung up the phone. Katherine leaned against Caleb’s shoulder and sighed in contentment when he wrapped his arm around her.
“Thank you,” she sighed heavily. “I needed to hear her voice.”
“I understand, and you’re welcome.” They sat there for a few more minutes before Caleb cleared his throat.
“What?”
“Tomorrow I open my office, I’m kind of scared. I’ve never done something like this before. I always worked for someone else.”
“Do you have any patients?”
“Not yet, however, I did go to the local hospitals and doctor offices and talked with them. I’m on a referral system. I know it might be out of pity, but some of the guys say they’ll stop over in the next couple of weeks to see if I can’t work some kinks out of them.” He looked at her with a grin. “Will you be able to help in the office, I’ll hire you, if I need it, or until I get so busy I have to hire someone permanent. I don’t know what you do for Erin and if you’ll have time for me.”
“I can work with Naomi in the mornings, and you in the afternoons for now. This is what I do, there is a website for Broken, the rehabilitation part, and if anyone fills out an application, Duane and I go through it, he does the background check on the family, I talk with the doctors to see what type of services the clients need.” She paused and looked at him with wide eyes. “Holy shit.”
“What?”
“Naomi showed me a stack of applications that they put on hold because the client would need physical therapy while they were here. I think it never really dawned on us that that is what you do.”
“Wow, I could be their therapist, I could talk with the client’s family, get the information from them, and together we can work up a plan for the client. I don’t want to have any client rejected because of no therapist.”
“I’ll remind Naomi about it tomorrow when I go into work. Right now it’s only four potential clients. It won’t be like thesepeople will be knocking down your door to get in. I didn’t mean to sound harsh.”
“You didn’t, and I understand.” They sat there watching the scenery until Caleb cleared his throat. He didn’t speak until she looked directly at him.
“What?”
“I want to put something on the table.”
“Oh?”
“I like you, Katherine. I liked you since I first laid eyes on you when you arrived here. I don’t know if Erin putting us together was for a reason, but I’m starting to have feelings for you.” He took her arm and ran his hand over the scar that had been bandaged when she’d first arrived, but had since healed. “I know you went through hell. I can only imagine the horrors that you relive when you sleep. It makes me feel like I’m helping when I hold you and you are able to calm.” When she started to say something, he shook his head at her.
“Let me finish. I want to start a relationship with you. Exclusive.” He scowled when she snorted a laugh. “What was that sound for?”
“Who am I going to date other than you? All the other men are taken, unless you think Ducky would work.” They laughed, and he shook his head.
“Brat.”
“Sometimes, but I understand what you’re saying, and I have feelings for you. I only have one question right now.”
“What’s that?”
“Will you pressure me into having sex with you?”
“No, I would never do that. If and when you’re willing, we’ll discuss it.” He saw she knew he was telling the truth, then he continued, “I wanted to get that out of the way because I don’t want you to be upset if and when Staci is hired to come. We are friends and work colleagues only. However, if we’re dating, andif you’ll be working for me, there is one thing I would like you to do.”
“What’s that?”
“Keep an eye on Staci.”
“For?”
Caleb drew in a deep breath and sighed heavily. “When she’s working on something, she’s so focused she forgets to eat, or even drink sometimes. A few times in the past I have had to pick her up bodily and carry her kicking and screaming from her work.”
“Why?”
