Free The Very Thought of You by Angela Weaver Page A

agreeable that this therapist is female.”
    Miranda closed her eyes and shook her head in embarrassment. If ever she had wondered why her brother had yet to settle down with a woman or even have a steady girlfriend, she had her answer. “I’m sorry. My brother can be…” Her voice trailed off.
    â€œHe’s old school and a little stubborn.”
    Miranda smiled and nodded her head. “Exactly.”
    â€œIs he this prejudiced against doctors or is it that I’m female?”
    Miranda shook her head. “He’s not fond of doctors, but Darren loves women. It’s just that he’s such a workaholic that he never meets them.”
    â€œOne thing’s for sure, I could use your help getting around that gruff exterior.”
    Very smooth, Miranda thought to herself. She would have used a completely different sentence. Something more along the lines of—“how do I knock some sense into that hardheaded mule?”
    â€œWhat have you tried?” Miranda questioned.
    â€œI introduced myself and told him that Dr. Blackfox had asked me to oversee his outpatient recovery.”
    Miranda winced. After the mere mention of Caleb’s name, Darren had probably made up his mind to dismiss Grace. “Believe me when I say that my brother’s attitude had nothing to do with you.”
    â€œI find that hard to believe.”
    Miranda shook her head. “Darren has never liked Caleb. And the fact that Caleb is his doctor is like a thorn in his side.”
    â€œI should have known.” Grace laughed before continuing. “Male ego.”
    â€œExactly.” Miranda joined in the laughter.
    Grace nodded and the two of them glanced toward the empty hospital room at the same time. “So do you have any ideas on how I can get a little cooperation from him?”
    Miranda tapped her finger against her cheek and stared as another patient was wheeled down the hallway. After a few minutes of silence, she smiled. “Next time ask how long he’s willing to wait to get his life back. And if that doesn’t work, threaten him with the idea that he won’t be able to play his video games with his right hand.”
    Grace’s thoughtful expression transformed to a full grin. “So it’s ‘go for his weakness’?”
    â€œExactly,” Miranda replied as they both started walking toward the elevator. She looked down at Grace’s left hand and was relieved to find her ring finger bare.
    Grace looked at her watch, and then back at the file in her hand. “Any other things I might need to know before I see him in two hours?”
    Miranda pressed the elevator button and then turned to look at Grace with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “He’s a big Tennessee Titans fan, cooks, folds laundry, takes out the garbage, and although he’ll never admit it, Darren loves kids.”
    Miranda glimpsed the look of shock in Grace’s eyes and laughed. It was way past time her brother had someone in his life, and if he wouldn’t take the initiative and talk to the beautiful physical therapist, then it fell upon her to do so.
    Miranda turned around as she heard the elevator doors slide open and her eyes widened. The man she’d been thinking about all day stood in the elevator.
    â€œCaleb,” she said, and glanced back toward Grace, only to find the woman waving a hand and walking away. Miranda’s shoulders slumped a little. She was on her own with this one.
    â€œMiranda,” he said simply.
    Toying with her purse strap, she stepped aside to allow a nurse access to the elevators. “Darren’s not in his room. They took him down for tests.”
    â€œI know. We discussed it this morning. If the X-rays and scans come out clean, he gets to go home. If not he’ll be here for another night.”
    Her eyes narrowed on his face. “So how did you do it?”
    â€œDo what?”
    â€œConvince my brother,