Here I Am by Rochelle Alers Page B

lowered his inhibitions and loosened his tongue. After their second date she told him it wasn’t going to work out between them.
    â€œJust try and watch your language.” A long silence followed as they engaged in what had become a stare-down, neither willing to concede.
    â€œI’ll watch what I say if…”
    â€œIf what?” Ciara asked when he didn’t finish his statement. She then realized he’d closed his eyes. “Brandt?”
    â€œI’m not sleeping.”
    â€œWhat are you doing?”
    Brandt smiled. “I’m resting my eyelids.”
    Ciara rose from the chair. “You rest your eyelids while I go and get some shampoo.” Maintaining his personal hygiene was essential to his emotional well-being. She didn’t want to give herself kudos, but she was making progress with her patient; she’d gotten Brandtto take his pain medication and he’d agreed to wash his hair. He’d also admitted to being hungry, and that meant he didn’t intend to starve himself to death.
    â€œYou should find shampoo on a shelf in the pantry, and there’re steaks in the freezer.” He opened his eyes. “You do know how to broil a steak?”
    She’d just discovered who Brandt Wainwright was. He was a big dog with a big bark but with little or no bite. “I’ve broiled a few. How do you like yours cooked?”
    â€œMedium-well.”
    â€œYour mother gave me a tour of your place and I think it would be nice if you eat upstairs. It would do you good to get some fresh air.”
    Propping himself up on one elbow, Brandt gave his nurse a long, penetrating stare. “Are you going to eat with me?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œâ€˜What?’” he mimicked. “I asked if you were going to eat with me, Ciara Dennison, or is that not allowed in your book—sharing meals with your patients?”
    â€œI don’t have any hard-and-fast rules, just what is and isn’t appropriate between a nurse and a patient. We’re not in a hospital setting, so there’s nothing wrong with me sharing a meal with my patient.”
    Lying back down onto the mound of pillows cradling his shoulders, Brandt closed his eyes again. “Thank you.”
    The seconds ticked as Ciara stared at the bearded man whose very size was intimidating enough without him raising his voice. If he’d thought he’d frighten her into leaving then he didn’t know how stubborn she could be. Push and she would push back—harder. Yell andshe would yell even louder. Her only focus was making certain her patient received the best possible care.
    â€œYou’re welcome.” The two words were barely off her tongue when soft snoring filled the room. He’d fallen asleep again. Ciara was glad. It would give her time to prepare dinner.

Chapter 5
    C iara positioned the retractable nozzle so Brandt could reach it when sitting on the shower chair. She’d placed a towel around his waist before removing his underwear to provide him with a modicum of privacy. It didn’t matter to her whether he was nude or fully clothed. She’d lost count of the number of naked bodies she’d seen in more than a decade of nursing. Some male patients were uncomfortable with female nurses. But even with more men going into the field, there were still too few nurses. She rechecked the Velcro fastenings on the plastic sheath covering his feet and casts, then handed Brandt a plastic squeeze bottle filled with shampoo.
    She rested a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll be in the bedroom. Call me when you’re finished.”
    Brandt covered her hand with his, increasing the pressure on her fingers when she tried pulling away.“Aren’t you going to help me wash my back?” There was a glint of amusement in his eyes.
    Ciara wrinkled her nose. “No. That’s why I gave you a back brush.”
    â€œAh, come on.”
    She couldn’t help but