Page 4 of Deception and New Direction (Ranger Shield Security #3)

“All done here. I should have her discharge paperwork finished up within the hour,” the nurse said.

“ Because it’s her right foot, she won’t be permitted to drive during that time either, so I trust that one of you two can see that she gets home,” she said, pointing to my sister and me before quietly exiting the room.

“How are you feeling?” Ellie asked. “ I like the bright-pink cast.”

“I like that it’s pink,” Ruthie responded. “ Once I get my paperwork from the nurse, I’d like to go see Cat .”

“We can take you,” I told her then decided I might as well let her in on the rest of the plans for tonight. “ Then , I’ll drive you home, and I’m staying on your couch.”

I saw her eyes begin to light up as though she was about to fight me, so I kept talking before she had a chance to interrupt.

“You can’t be alone right now. You also can’t drive. You can’t do two full flights of stairs with crutches, especially with a dog. I’ll sleep on your couch, but someone needs to be there to help you out.”

Ruthie sighed and begrudgingly gave in. “ Fine . I do need help with Dash . He can get feisty when he sees squirrels and chipmunks, and I know he would pull me flat on my face.”

It fascinated me that it was the point about the dog that had her conceding, not because she needed help for herself, but I would take it. I would also push one step further while she was in an agreeable mood.

“Also, tomorrow morning we’ll pack up whatever you need for a few weeks and bring it over to my place. I have a guest room on the main floor with a private bathroom right next to it for easy access.”

I could see her eyes grow wide as the idea settled in and knew she was about to push back, so I went in for the kill.

“I have a fenced-in backyard, so Dash can roam around, and all you have to do is let him out the back door. He can get all the exercise he needs without you being limited by your crutches. It would be good for him.”

Her mouth, which had been silent but open, clamped shut. She may not have been worried about herself, but she treated her dog like her child and, therefore, would default to what was best for him.

“I’ll move in with my granddad. He has a fenced-in yard too,” Ruthie blurted out as though the idea just came to her.

“No disrespect to him, but he’s not going to drive you to and from work every day for six to eight weeks,” I countered. “ We work in the same building, so we’re going to be going to the same place every day anyway. It makes more sense for you to stay with me.”

“Ruthie, it’s not a bad idea,” Ellie chimed in.

“ I would invite you to stay with Wade and me, but we don’t have an extra room.

Archer lives in the same building as you, across the hall, so that’s no better.

Vince has space in his loft, but I’m guessing after tonight, he and Cat will just want some time alone between the two of them for a while. ”

Ruthie sighed as though she realized Ellie and I had made good points, but I could tell she was reluctant.

“How about we try it for a week and see how it goes?” I offered, knowing full well I had no intention of moving her back out.

“Fine,” she grunted.

* * *

Two hours later, discharge paperwork in hand and after Ruthie made sure Cat was okay by going to her room to see for herself, we made it back to her apartment.

I had watched her struggle the five or six steps from her wheelchair the nurse had her in to get into my SUV at the hospital.

She’d banged her knee on the door-frame and dropped one of her crutches onto the ground.

I’d tried helping her into the passenger seat, but she’d just swatted at me, informing me that she “had it under control”.

We had just pulled in to her apartment complex parking lot, and I was gearing up for another argument when I offered to carry her upstairs.

“Ruthie,” I said as I pulled into a parking space. “ In an effort to save time and avoid the risk of you injuring yourself further, can I just carry you up to your place, please, instead of you attempting to climb two flights of stairs in crutches?”

“I’m not an invalid, Jack ,” she said, holding up her hand so I couldn’t counter her statement. “ I don’t like people doing everything for me. I need to learn how to do this. I want to try.”

I understood her need for independence. I even admired her for it. That didn’t lessen my worry.

“Alright, then I’m walking behind you in case you fall,” I told her as my phone buzzed.

It was from Dane saying he was on his way with Dash and would be to the apartment in less than ten.

When everything had gone down earlier, Dane had left the group of people he had been hanging with and gone to see if he could help in some way. After Cat was found, Dane offered to drive Dash from Vince’s parents’ house and meet us back at Ruthie’s apartment when she was cleared for the night.

I stood close as Ruthie exited the vehicle and followed her as she slowly began moving toward the stairs.

It took what felt like eighty-four years, but we finally made it up to the third floor.

As we entered her apartment, she moved to the barstools in her kitchen and sat down, presumably to take a break.

I knew better than to ask her if she was okay, so I stuck with something simple. “ Do you want something to drink?”

“I can get it,” the stubborn woman replied.

“Ruthie, just stay put. Dane will be here any second with Dash , and I don’t think it’s wise to be standing just in case he knocks you over in his excitement. I’ll get you a drink.”

She gave in, albeit reluctantly. “ Okay , fine,” she said with a sigh.

Just as I set the glass down on the counter for her, there was a knock on the door, along with the sound of nails scratching at the wood.

I opened the door to watch Dash sprint by me and head to Ruthie .

“Hi sweet boy. Mommy missed you so much,” she cooed at him as he began to sniff her up and down and give a little bit of a whine-cry as he did it.

“Hey, man. Ruthie , how you doing?” Dane asked from the doorway.

“Better now that I’m home and I have Dash back. Thank you for dropping him off,” she replied, continuing to pet Dash .

“You need me for anything else?” he asked me.

“If you’re not busy, I might need to borrow your truck tomorrow to move a few things,” I told him.

“Not a problem. Just text me in the morning,” he replied as he made his way to the door to leave. “ Have a good night, you two.”

“Why don’t you go do what you need to do to get ready for bed while I take him out real quick,” I said to her. “ This way he won’t be all over you while you do your thing.”

“Okay, yeah. That might be easier. Thanks .”

I grabbed his leash from where it was still attached to him and tried to coax him to the door, but he wouldn’t budge.

He started to whine louder as I tried to separate him from Ruthie .

She gave me a few treats to try to get his attention.

It worked, but he kept looking back at her until we got out the door.

As I walked Dash , I sent Archer a few texts to inform him about my plan to move Ruthie in with me tomorrow. His response had me chuckling.

Archer:

She agreed to that?

Jack:

Ellie helped me persuade her.

Archer:

Do I think it’s a good idea? Yes .

Archer:

Do I think she might kill you in your sleep one night? Also , yes.

Jack:

Willing to take that chance. Dane said he can help us move some of her stuff tomorrow.

Archer:

Text your sister too. It will be easier for Ruthie to accept help from her than from us.

That was damn true.

Dash and I made our way back up, and once inside, he made a beeline for Ruthie’s room.

I heard a crash followed by a curse from Ruthie .

I quickly moved to her room to see if she’d fallen or hurt herself further, only to find her sitting on the edge of the bed, her crutches on the floor, and Dash trying jump on top of her.

“You okay?” I asked. “ I heard the crash.”

As I looked her up and down for any sign of injury, I noticed she had on a loose T -shirt with no bra underneath and only underwear on bottom.

“I’m fine,” she replied trying to move him off her body. “ I was trying to put my pajama pants on and he knocked over my crutches, which were next to the bed.”

“You need help with your pants?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood. “ I’m usually better at helping beautiful women out of their pants, but I’m sure I can handle this challenge.”

I gave her a big grin, to which she rolled her eyes.

“I don’t need you anywhere near my pants,” she retorted. “ But I forgot to get out a blanket and stuff for you for the couch.”

“Not as exciting as the pants, but I can grab the blankets if you tell me where they are,” I said as I took in her room a little more.

She had a pale-pink bed with about sixty-seven pillows on it. Her room was an eclectic mix of bright colors—mostly pink—which totally suited her personality.

Once she told me where they were, I walked out to the hallway to collect some blankets and a spare pillow—happy I didn’t have to take one of the pink frilly ones from her bed—and then made my way back to the living room.

When I finally settled onto her couch, which was comfortable but not nearly long enough for my tall frame, my thoughts returned to earlier in the day. Cat being kidnapped, Ruthie getting shot, and seeing her in the hospital.

Ruthie had put up one hell of a fight earlier tonight with those men.

Archer had sent me a clip of the security camera video from Vince’s dad’s house, showing Ruthie getting in a few good blows to the man who’d attacked her.

She was a little hellcat, but I never wanted her to be in a situation like that ever again.

I also thought back to how good she’d looked sitting there half-dressed while putting her pajamas on. That good memory was what I fell asleep to, with the hope that there would be more good experiences with her half-naked body in my future.