Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(2)
“No, I'm good.” Jared forced a smile. “I'll be back on my feet and jumping in no time.”
“That's the attitude!” Derek offered what Jared thought of as his Ken-doll grin. “Don't forget your PT this afternoon. Rick will pick you up at,” he looked at his phone, “12:30.”
“Got it.” Jared nodded. “Get outta here or you'll miss your flight.”
“Take care, Jump.” Derek dipped his head and bowed out.
Jared found himself alone for the first time in weeks. He surveyed his temporary living room, bare bones but not uncomfortable with a cushy leather recliner and giant flat screen TV. He spied a few game systems connected to it with a handful of games. At least Derek hooked him up with entertainment. Jared hobbled into the kitchen; small and simple but clean. The clock on the microwave read 9:30 in bright blue numbers.
This time change would take some getting used to. He would have loved to shower after flying but he hadn’t t been able to bathe on his own since, well since before. The realization of everything he took for granted was not lost on Jared and he could not wait to be independent again. Hopefully this guy, A.J. was as good as his profile suggested.
**
“You can do whatever you like while I'm in PT.”
Jared let Rick help him out of the car. It was tough getting in to the bucket seats but getting out was worse – difficult and painful. Rick apologized several times and promised to secure a different vehicle for the rest of Jared’s stay. He liked Rick immediately, the older man was recently retired and just looking to make some extra money for his youngest daughter’s wedding and honeymoon. Jared listened intently as Rick prattled on about his daughter, his other children, his life, and anything else he could come up with to fill the drive to the Amherst Hospital campus.
“I’ll just hang out here, if you don't mind, sir.” Rick dipped his head respectfully, revealing balding spots in the midst of his too-white hair.
“Please, just call me Jay.” Jared hated the nickname but in light of anonymity, it was his best bet. “And you are welcome to go get a bite to eat or something, I'm going to be a while.”
He assured Rick a few more times before the driver actually left. Jared was only half-annoyed by the over-protectiveness of the older man. It reminded him of his dad and he wondered if Derek selected Rick for that very reason. Then he thought, nope, Derek would not have been that thoughtful, just luck of the draw.
Jared navigated the lobby to the main desk and asked for A.J. Thompson. The nurse behind the desk wore an L.A. Panthers lanyard that caused Jared a moment of panic but his disguise must have been better than he imagined because she barely gave him a second glance before dismissing him to the waiting area. Hm, some fan, doesn't even recognize her team’s star wide receiver, Jared thought.
“Jay Walker?” A female voice called out his pseudonym three times before Jared actually responded to it.
“Here.” Jared awkwardly made his way back across the lobby. “I'm Jay Walker.”
“Right this way.”
The woman was tall, unusually so, since she wore sneakers and still practically looked him in the eye. She had to be at least six feet tall with a curvy figure that filled out her scrubs in all the right places. More than that, Jared found her beautiful, not like the overdone, plastic and silicone women he'd been accustomed to.
She matched his slower pace as they headed down the hall but stayed just ahead of him which gave Jared more opportunity to appreciate her shapely back side. Jared tried to make small talk but quickly got the feeling that she did not like him. It was more than the icy silence; it was the way she carried herself. Could he have slept with her and left her at some point?
“Did I do something to offend you?” The words escaped his mouth before he could stop them.
"Now why would you think that?” She stopped at the last door, gestured for him to enter, and closed the door behind them. “Because my regular patients have been bumped for an all-star athlete with a bad attitude?”
“What?” Jared gaped at the woman as she settled behind the desk and glared at him.
“You heard me.” The woman’s eyes narrowed to slits. “I was told I had to clear my schedule for a VIP patient. I didn’t want to but it was made very clear that if I didn’t oblige Jump Jackson then I didn’t have a place at Amherst any longer. So, it seems I’m stuck with you but I don’t have to be friendly. Polite and professional were the two words they used.”
“I’m sorry, I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” Jared stammered, taken off-guard by the woman’s demeanor, “my understanding was that I would be working with A.J. Thompson, the physical therapist.”
“You are, genius. Alexis Jayne Thompson.” This clearly amused her. “Now, shall we discuss our plan? I’m not going to go easy on you, all-star, not by a long shot.”
“Wait, I think we got off on the wrong foot.” Jared turned up the charm, crafted the smile that never failed and apologized. “My agent, Derek, misled me. I truly am sorry for the misunderstanding. I am really looking forward to working with you and I have no problems giving 100% to my recovery.”
“Oh, I’m sure of that.” A.J. smirked. “How many millions are on the line if you can’t return to L.A. this fall?”