15. Breaker

Chapter 15

Breaker

A week in heaven. That’s what I’ve had. I spend my day doing odd jobs and my evenings are filled with Indy and Tinny. I can’t imagine being happier than this past week has brought me. I know I have a lot of shit I need to face, but I’m enjoying just concentrating on the two ladies who completely own me. I’m not in a hurry to rock the boat by trying to unearth my memories. I don’t really want things to change. No man who gets to wake up with Indy in his arms every morning would.

I’ve been working on Indy’s place, basically fixing things that desperately needed it. The fact that I’m not working and earning my own money has been weighing on me. The jeans that I was wearing when Indy found me had a little over three hundred dollars in a side pocket. I suppose whoever tried to kill me really was an idiot, or else they would have patted me down better. That money is mostly gone, though. I bought clothes with it when Cooper took me out for supplies. I’m seriously going to have to look at trying to get a job here in Bryson City. Indy doesn’t want me to do that just yet. Cooper discovered that the Savage Brothers MC and some of their allies have decimated the club responsible for the attempt on my life. That’s made Indy feel better and worse. She’s glad the threat is neutralized, but she’s worried about my connection with the club. I’m not sure what her biggest worry is. I think it’s the fear that I will leave her and Tinny behind when my memory comes back. That is never going to happen. I can’t imagine my life without them. I don’t want to. Indy and I have steadily been getting closer. Some of our make-out sessions have become intense, but I never stepped over the imaginary line. When Indy is ready to take our relationship to the next level, I’m here. I refuse to rush her, though. I’ve become the King of cold showers, but I can deal with that easily if the reward is having Indy in my arms and in my bed.

“I think this takes care of the porch,” Jeff says, interrupting my thoughts. I look at the railing we just replaced along the front steps of her veterinarian office. I have to admit it looks good. I don’t know if I did a lot of carpentry work in my previous life, but I have a knack for it. It also comes kind of naturally, so I figure I must have some experience.

“It looks pretty good. You still planning on leaving at the end of the week?” I ask, not wanting him to leave. I’ve spent a lot of time with the guy. He confided that he just got out of jail after a five-year stint for killing a piece of shit that was abusing a woman. He found her wondering the side of the road one night in the rain. The young girl, not even eighteen yet, was terrified when he found her. Despite that fear, the girl testified on his behalf. Jeff didn’t say, but I got the feeling that pissed him off even more. The man wanted to help her, not put her through more shit. I understood the sentiment, I suppose. Still, there’s no way in hell Jeff should lose years of his life for ending a sack of shit that needed to be put down. If I’d found Indy like that, I would have burned the fucking world down to protect her and Tinny. I wouldn’t even think twice about it.

“I’ve already stayed a week longer than I was going to. I can’t ask Carson to keep paying me when there’s work to be done for him that I’m not doing,” he mumbles, and I nod. “I’m sure Indy would pay you to stick around here, but I doubt it’s the kind of pay you’re looking for.”

“Eh, it’s just me. I don’t need much. Indy doesn’t need me, though. You can do what needs done around here, and I think we both know that you aren’t going to be leaving her alone.”

I grin. “Not a chance.”

He nods, with a sad smile—sad because it doesn’t reach his eyes. There’s a sadness that clings to the man—as if he’s grieving.

“Good, you shouldn’t,” he murmurs. “Being a single mother is damn hard. Women who carry everything on their shoulders alone deserve a man willing to do anything in his power to lighten her load.”

“Speaking from experience?” I ask, and his face goes solemn.

“Let’s just say I tried, but I was the wrong man for the job. Still, my mother did the same for my brother and I, so I know it matters.”

I nod, understanding that darkness that clings to him now. If I lost Indy to another man, I’m not sure I’d still find the will to keep breathing.

“Hey, Breaker?” I hear Indy call from the front door. I look up with a big grin. Just the sound of her voice makes the day better. I don’t care if that makes me a lovesick fool.

“What’s up, honey?”

“Oh good, Jeff, you’re here too. Can you guys help? There’s a girl coming in with her German Shepherd. I need you guys to help me get him on a board and carry him in.”

“You got it,” Jeff calls out and I follow him.

“She said she was about five minutes out,” Indy murmurs. She’s got a stethoscope and a black bag with her. “I’ll climb up in the back first and check him out. You guys follow me,” she says while reaching behind the reception desk of her clinic, “and carry this. We’ll transfer him to it when we move.” She reaches the board over to me and I grab it quickly.

“What happened?”

“Some asshole ignored a cross-walking sign. Lee was crossing the street and Otto jumped in front to keep Lee from getting the brunt of the accident.”

“Shit,” I murmur.

“That’s a hell of a dog,” Jeff says.

“He is. Lee rescued him and his sister Luna. They were part of a puppy mill bust three years ago. She pulled them through, but she says they saved her. I think they kind of all saved one another,” she answers distractedly. “If he doesn’t make it, it will destroy her.”

“Hey, you’ll save him if it’s at all possible,” I try to reassure Indy. She looks up at me and stares into my eyes. I don’t know what my woman is looking for, but maybe she finds it because she surprises the fuck out of me by going up onto the tips of her toes, pressing her lips against mine. It’s a light kiss, but it’s meaningful just the same.

“Thank you, Breaker,” she murmurs, her eyes warm.

I smile at her. I couldn’t talk right now if I wanted to. I’m lost in the look on her face. I made her happy. It was something simple and done to try to calm her. Knowing it meant so much to her has me even more determined to make sure Indy knows just how truly amazing she is every single day.

Before either of us can say anything else, an old, beat up, eighty-something-model Ford pickup comes barreling into Indy’s drive, causing dirt and gravel to fly—not to mention the dust storm following in its wake. Before the truck barely comes to a stop, a woman with wavy, brunette hair, who looks like she might be five-and-a-half feet or so, jumps out. She’s wearing a pink thermal top and faded jeans. “Indy, please tell me you can save him,” she begs, tears running down her face.

While the woman is talking, she’s already at the back of her truck, pulling the tailgate down. Indy sprints over and I’m right behind her, carrying the board.

“I’m going to do my best,” Indy promises, jumping into the back. It’s the wrong time to notice, but the strength she shows in her legs and core muscles make me want to see how tight she could hold on to me as I pin her against the wall and fuck her raw. I shake myself from my daydream when the sound of growling and barking hit me. I look at the dog lying in the back of the truck. He’s breathing is harsh. It’s rapid and jarring his whole body with each exhale. His eyes are closed. One leg is at a weird angle, but it’s hard to tell because I’m pretty sure the hip is messed up, too. My gaze moves up to find the source of the sound, since there’s no way it’s the dog that’s hurt. There’s an almost identical German Shepherd, the coat a mixture of browns with black dominant around the face and back. The only difference between them is that the one inside the truck has a white spot on her forehead. It’s growling at Indy and the girl, its paws hitting the back glass.

“Luna, calm down,” the girl says, her hand against the glass as if she’s trying to reassure the other dog. I guess this is the sister of the dog that was hit.

“Okay, let’s get the board under him. We’ll need to do it gently.” I move as the girl jumps down to make room for me and Jeff. I squat down beside Indy and wait to do her bidding. “I need you both to lift him at the same time, as careful as you can. I’ll slide the board under. That will be easier than the normal procedure. The two of you will be able to lift him evenly.”

“Sounds good,” I mutter, hoping I do this right and don’t cause more damage to the dog.

“Where’s Jeff?” Indy questions.

I jerk my head back, looking for him. I just assumed he climbed in behind me. He’s out by the truck looking at the owner of the dogs like he’s seen a ghost. She’s staring at him in much the same way.

“Jeff?” she whispers.

“Jeff, get up here. I need to get some imaging done and take Otto back for surgery.”

Jeff nods, with one last look at the girl. Then gets up in the truck to help me.

Before I turn back to the dog, I notice the girl has yet to take her eyes off Jeff. I wonder if this is the girl that he spoke about earlier. She’s definitely looking at him like he means something to her. In fact, the hunger in her face when she looks at Jeff is almost painful to witness. I shake it off. I need to help Indy. I know instinctively that if she loses this dog, it will hurt her immensely.

I don’t know if I was a praying man in my past, but I send up a prayer now for the dog and for Indy because the last thing I want to see is my woman’s tears.