Free Working It Out by Rachael Anderson Page A

it.
    Grace’s gaze moved to the window again. She looked uncharacteristically
vulnerable. ”A skiing accident, same as you,” she said, surprising Seth with an
answer. “Only instead of his ACL, he injured the T-11 segment of his spinal
cord, resulting in permanent paralysis from his waist on down.”
    “Oh.” Seth had no idea what else to say. Sorry? That
totally bites? Of all the rotten luck? Everything that came to mind lacked any
sort of substance, so he kept quiet, feeling like a jerk for teasing her
earlier.
    “He’s my brother,” she added, almost like an afterthought.
    Seth felt a wave of relief pass over him. So Alec wasn’t an
ex-boyfriend or a wannabe boyfriend. Seth almost smiled, but quickly checked
the impulse by reminding himself that it wouldn’t be appropriate.
    Outside, Alec was just now getting into his car. Not sure
what had taken him so long, Seth watched as he opened the door, awkwardly scooted
himself inside, then snapped a wheel off his chair and moved it into the car. The
second wheel came next, followed by the rest of his chair. Impressed by the
efficient process, Seth wondered what it would be like to drive with only hand
controls.
    “Looking at him, you’d think he had it all figured out,
wouldn’t you?” Grace said.
    “What do you mean?”
    “That he’s accepted his injury and has learned to deal
with it.”
    Seth shot her a sideways look. “He hasn’t?”
    She shrugged. “In some ways, yes. He’s learned how to get
around, how to drive a car, how to make the transition from his wheelchair to
his bed or shower or wherever else. But he never goes anywhere. He stays in his
stuffy apartment most of the time with his blinds closed and the world shut
out.”
    Seth studied Grace’s profile. He had so many questions—about
her brother, about her, about everything. But he didn’t dare ask any of them for
fear she’d close up again.
    Grace nodded toward the parking lot. “It took me three
years to convince him to come work out with me. And now, after only a few tries,
he’s giving up and fleeing back into his protective shell. Why?” She said the
words quietly, as though talking to herself.
    Again, Seth felt the urge to pull her into a hug and
offer what comfort he could. But did she even realize she’d lowered her
protective barriers and shared all that with him? Probably not. If he hadn’t
lucked out by coming right after Alec left, Seth probably never would have known
about her paraplegic brother or the real reason Grace had ended up in Seattle.
    As Alec’s car finally disappeared from sight, Grace seemed
to snap out of it. Her eyes met Seth’s in an almost startled realization that
she’d just crossed a line she hadn’t meant to cross. “I can’t believe I just
told you all that. You’re practically a stranger.”
    Seth nudged her with his arm. “Oh, c’mon. We’ve already
kissed, remember? That’s got to at least get me into the acquaintance
category.”
    Grace let out a small snicker and glanced around, as if
suddenly remembering where they were and what she should be doing. “I think
you’re just trying to get out of the rest of your workout.”
    “Who, me? Never.”
    Her lips twitched. “Well, I hope you can stay a little
late. You’re my last patient today, and we need to get through your entire workout.”
    Seth couldn’t help the silly grin that came to his face. Who
knew his plan to schedule the last appointment of the day would turn out so
well? “I’ll gladly stay as late as you want. And just so you know, if you’re
ever interested in moving me out of that acquaintance category and into
something more along the lines of kissing friends, my lips could use a workout
as well.”
    She rolled her eyes. “And here I was beginning to think
you could act your age.”
    Seth laughed. “Where’s the fun in that?”
    Shaking her head, Grace looked away, but not before Seth
saw the corners of her mouth twitch once again. Someday he would get her to