Dangerous Therapy: O'Connor Brothers (Volume 1) Read online

“Will you lie down and go to sleep if I lay down on the bed?” She might sleep, but he certainly wouldn’t.

  “I’ll feel better if I know you aren’t doing yourself more harm than good.” The woman was going to drive him out of his mind.

  “If it’ll get you to sleep like you are supposed to be doing.” Stephanie moved over and John lay on top of the covers. “Happy now.” He chuckled.

  “I’d be happier if I didn’t feel like I was hit by a truck and knocked into another truck.” She groaned.

  “Get some rest.” John closed his eyes. Hopefully, he would get some sleep too. It was killing him that she was so sick. He was still trying to relax after finding her on the floor. That was terrifying. He listened to her breathing become slow and steady. How was it he knew something was wrong when he got home? Nanny Betty said people could sense when something was wrong with someone they loved. Was that why he knew something was wrong because he loved her? He opened his eyes and turned his head. She was staring at him.

  “I thought, I told you to get some rest,” He whispered.

  “You’re awful bossy.” She rolled her eyes.

  “Payback is a bitch.” John chuckled.

  “Thank you, John.” She gazed into his eyes and as usual his heart raced. How the hell did she keep doing that?

  “You’re welcome.” He managed to say. “Now go to sleep.” Another roll of her beautiful eyes and she rolled over with her back to him.

  It was so damn warm. He tried to move to get out of the sun, but there was a heaviness on his chest making it hard to move. Stephanie’s head was laying against his chest and her hand lay against his abdomen. It was nice waking up with her in his arms. Her breath was hot through his T-shirt and it heated his whole body. This felt right being next to her and then she moved.

  John hid the feeling of loss as she pulled away from him. “Good morning.”

  “I don’t know about good but it’s morning.” She grumbled.

  He got up and poured her medicine. “Do you feel any better?”

  Her hand trembled as she grabbed the small cup. “A little, I guess.”

  John passed her a bottle of water. “You’re spending the day resting, so anything you need just let me know.”

  She pulled back the covers and attempted to get out of bed. “I can’t spend all day in bed.”

  “Sorry sweetheart, you don’t have a choice.” He pulled the covers back over her. “Doctor’s orders.”

  She opened her mouth then closed it again but seemed to think glaring at him would work better.

  “You want to try to eat? I can make you some toast or something.”

  “Maybe some dry toast. I still feel a little queasy.”

  That almost seemed too easy. “Okay. Would you like some tea?”

  She nodded.

  When John returned with a tray, Stephanie was getting back in bed. Probably returning from the bathroom. She sat against the headboard and John had to hide the grin. She was definitely not happy about being stuck in bed. Her face was still really pale. His dad may need to make another house call.

  “Thanks for taking care of me, John.” Her smile was so lovely.

  “You’ve been taking care of me for weeks,” He said. “I don’t mind one bit. Besides, it was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in months.”

  Her face flushed. “Sorry about the crowding, I tend to navigate to that side of the bed.” She wouldn’t look at him.

  John knelt next to the bed and lifted her chin with his finger. “I didn’t mind.” His thumb brushed across her lower lip. A small sigh escaped her lips and went straight to his groin. “Okay, how much longer do I need therapy?” He groaned.

  “John!” She giggled.

  “The last day of my therapy, woman, we’ve got a date.” John winked as he left the bedroom.

  The call to his father resulted in a voicemail message. He grabbed a couple of bottles of water and went back to Stephanie’s room. She was sleeping. It hurt not being able to do something to take away her sickness. He couldn’t imagine dealing with the pain of what James had gone through when Sarah got sick. It was killing him to watch Stephanie with a stomach bug.

  He was channel surfing when the doorbell rang. Damn it! He raced to the door, so it didn’t disturb Stephanie. Sandy was standing on his step when he opened the door.

  “Hey, Sandy.” He motioned for her to come in.

  “Hey! Is Stephanie around?”

  “She’s actually in bed. She got really sick last night.” He explained. “My dad thinks it was food poisoning.”

  “Oh my God! We had supper together last night at The Pier.” Sandy covered her mouth with her hand.

  “You and Stephanie?” He asked.

  “And her friend Donna. We all had the same thing.” Sandy said.

  “Well, you look fine. I wonder if her friend is sick.” He hadn’t met Donna.

  “I can call her. We exchanged numbers yesterday.” Sandy pulled out her phone and He waited as she spoke to Donna. If they all had the same thing, shouldn’t they all be sick? Sandy shook her head as she ended the call.

  “I wonder if she ate anything else.” It was possible Stephanie ate something earlier in the day that might have made her sick.

  “Maybe, it was just the combination of having Kim serve us, and her ex showing up there too,” Sandy said.

  “Her ex?” It was like Sandy had punched him in the gut.

  “Yeah, I think his name is Brad, but he was kind of a jerk from what she told me. She turned really pale and wanted to leave right away.” Sandy explained.

  “Did Kim say anything to her?” He would deal with Kim if the woman said anything to upset Stephanie.

  “She asked Stephanie if she had gotten into your pants yet.” Sandy blushed. “But Stephanie didn’t seem fazed by it.”

  Stephanie may have been upset, but there was no way that seeing both of their exs would have made her that sick. He plowed his hand through his hair. It had to be something else.

  “I hope it didn’t upset her.”

  “I don’t think so. I’ve got to run but tell Stephanie I hope she feels better, and if you need anything let me know.”

  He walked Sandy to the door, then headed to Stephanie’s bedroom. Why was she getting out of bed?

  John leaned against the doorframe. “Where are you going?”

  She plopped back on the bed. “I was going to get my laptop.”

  He needed to find out about her ex. “I’ll get it, but first I’ve got a question.” A twinge of jealousy pinched at him.

  She leaned against the headboard, her face was so pale. “Okay. What?”

  “What happened at the restaurant last night?” He placed her laptop on the bed and he sat next to her.

  “Nothing.” She wouldn’t look at him as she reached for the computer.

  “Sandy just left and told me you saw your ex as well as mine.” He pulled the computer away from her.

  “It’s nothing.” She pushed her hair behind her ear.

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s not what Sandy said.”

  She rolled her eyes and held her hand out for her computer. “Sandy has a big mouth.”

  John wouldn’t give in until he knew everything. “Tell me.”

  “Will you give me my computer if I do?” Stephanie folded her arms over her chest.

  “I will.” John placed it next to her.

  “It’s no big deal. I dated Brad for four years. I assumed we’d eventually get married.” John ground his teeth together. That was not something he wanted to think about, but he let her continue. “The last six months our work schedules clashed and we didn’t spend much time together. He’s a fireman. One night I got off early and came home to surprise him, but he wasn’t home. I picked up my cell to call him, but I heard the key in the lock and he came through the door with a woman. They were all over each other. He didn’t see me at first and was half naked before he realized I was there. I couldn’t even speak; I was in shock
.” The look in her eyes was tearing him apart.

  “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me.” He’d never wanted to hurt someone so bad in his life.

  “No. I need to get this out. I did manage to scream at him to get out. He left, but when I got home from work the next day, I knew he was back and cleared out all his things. He also cleared out the account we had for our bills. He took every cent.”

  “Can you prove who put the money in the account?”

  She nodded. “Right now the lawyers are hashing it out.” She sighed.

  “I’m not really a hundred percent sure but I think if you lived together more than six months, everything goes fifty-fifty,” John said.

  “I know. That’s what my lawyer said.” She ran her hands through her hair.

  It was getting harder for him to be calm about the asshole treating Stephanie so badly. “Well, let the lawyers deal with it and don’t worry.” He covered her up and left the room. The last thing she needed was for him to upset her anymore.

  John sat down and rested his head against the back of the couch. He closed his eyes for a moment and the tension in his body eased. It was a trick Stephanie had taught him in the early days of his therapy. Deep breaths and let all thoughts drift away.

  The worst thing about Stephanie’s trick was most of the time he fell asleep, or he was so relaxed everything around him disappeared. Which was why he jumped when his pocket vibrated. His father’s picture flashed on the screen.

  “Hey, Dad!”

  “How’s Stephanie today?”

  “She seems better. No more vomiting, but just groggy.” She’d been sleeping most of the day.

  “I’m not surprised.” Sean cleared his throat. “John, her blood work showed traces of Ipecac in her system.”

  “What’s that?” Panic was running through his veins.

  “It used to be used to induce vomiting, but not anymore. What worries me is, I know people with Bulimia and Anorexia who use it to make themselves sick.” Okay, his father was crazy. Stephanie was too health conscious to be making herself sick.

  “Dad, there’s got to be a mistake.” Stephanie wasn’t stupid.

  “There’s no mistake, but I’m going to come over and talk to her,” Sean said. “There wasn’t a lot in her system, but I’d like to know if she took it herself or if someone slipped it in her food or drink.”

  There was no way John believed Stephanie would take something to make herself sick, but the thought that someone had slipped it to her was even worse. The muscles that had been so relaxed a few minutes ago were now so tense it was almost painful.

  John entered her bedroom. Stephanie was asleep. He had to make sure. He went into her bathroom and searched the medicine cabinet. Nothing. Under her sink. Cleaners. What the hell was he doing? No way did Stephanie take whatever that stuff is. John left her bathroom and she was sitting on the side of the bed. He felt two inches tall

  “Feeling better!” Hopefully, the casual tone he was trying didn’t show the guilt he was feeling.

  “A little,” She said. “Is there something you’re looking for in the bathroom?” Busted. He couldn’t lie to her, but he didn’t want to accuse her either. What was the best way to ask her without insulting her? “John, is something going on?”

  “I don’t really know. I’ve got a question to ask you.” He sat next to her on the bed.

  “You’re really making me worry. What is it?”

  “Have you heard of Ipecac?” Why was he asking her this question? He knew in his heart she’d never do something to hurt herself.

  “Isn’t it some sort of syrup that’s used to induce vomiting?” She knew what it was, but that didn’t mean she was using it.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s a weird thing to ask.”

  “Not really,” John said. “Your blood work showed you had Ipecac in your system.”

  Stephanie’s eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. The shocked expression was proof she had not taken it herself.

  “How would that get in my system? I’d never take something like that.”

  How was he supposed to answer that? It wasn’t something she’d ingest accidently.

  “I don’t know, but from what Sandy told me, the only thing you ate before you got sick was the food you ate at the restaurant.”

  “You don’t think someone deliberately tried to make me sick?” She covered her mouth with her hand.

  “I don’t know, but it just seems a little weird that you ran into Kim and your ex at the same restaurant, and ended up getting sick.”

  “Brad wouldn’t do something like that. I mean he’s a jerk, but I really can’t see him doing something to hurt me.” She didn’t sound so sure.

  “I wouldn’t think Kim would either, but I’ve seen a lot of people do things you’d never expect.” People were capable of some horrible things when pushed too far. “I’m calling Uncle Kurt to see what he thinks. He might want to talk to Brad and Kim. It’s better if he questions them because if I do, I might not be so nice.” She smiled and his heart melted.

  Sean dropped by to check on her and ensured John she was doing fine. The rest of the afternoon was spent fighting with Stephanie to stay in bed and waiting for a phone call from Kurt. He wasn’t optimistic. If there wasn’t proof somebody tried to poison Stephanie, nothing could be done. He was tempted to go talk to Brad and Kim himself, but letting someone else handle this was the intelligent option, but it wasn’t easy.

  “How’s our girl?” Nanny Betty barged through the front door because Nanny Betty didn’t knock. John grabbed the containers she was balancing in her arms. When someone was sick, Nan was the first one to bring food. Nobody ever questioned if she should still be driving, because well, everyone valued their lives.

  “She’s doing better, Nan.” John kissed her cheek. “What are you doing here?” She pushed him aside and headed right for Stephanie’s bedroom. What a stupid question to ask?

  “I’m here to check on our girl.” She stood by the side of the bed and put her tiny hand against Stephanie’s forehead. “At least there’s no fever.”

  “She was stomach sick.” He stood in the doorway still holding the containers.

  “Don’t jus’ stand der heat up some of dat turkey broth and bring it here for the girl. She needs her strength.” Stephanie’s eyes were wide. “Go on wit ya.”

  John shrugged his shoulders and left the room. When Nanny Betty took over, you listened because you really didn’t have a choice.

  Chapter 16

  It had been two days and she finally started eating solid food. Nanny Betty insisted she needed to try something. You just couldn’t say no to the woman. It was funny to see how she bossed John, Sean, Kurt and John’s brothers around. Even Cora jumped when the little woman spoke.

  Stephanie worried that being forced to stay in bed would set John back with his therapy, but Nanny Betty made sure he did his daily exercises. Yesterday, when John said he was going to take it easy, Nanny Betty grabbed his ear and pulled him right into the gym. Stephanie laughed so hard she couldn’t breathe.

  “Just because she’s sick, ya don’t get no time off.” Nanny Betty said. “Ya’ve been doin dis long enough to know wat ya gotta do. Now get yar arse in gear.” John looked like a little boy being chastised. He was adorable. He really was doing well and started a scaled down version of his regular exercise program. There was one problem. The closer he got to a full recovery, the closer he got to not needing her anymore. It made her chest hurt.

  Kurt informed them that Kim and Brad were questioned, but neither of them had any idea what happened. There was nothing to prove either of them did it. It was probably an isolated incident, or someone thinking it would be funny. John and Kurt didn’t think it was the least bit funny. She just had to forget about it and move on.

  The next four weeks flew by. John’s therapy was scaled down to once a week. It was as if she was getting paid for nothing, but Cora insisted she continue until the end of her contrac
t. Since Marina moved away, she and Sandy spent a lot of time together. Donna would drop by a couple of times a week. On her days off she would go to see her parents, but most of her time she was with John.

  They watched movies, played cards or just talked. Sometimes she couldn’t breathe when he looked at her. His massage sessions were still not easy, but she had learned that if she concentrated on the tattoo he had on his left shoulder, it was easier. John explained that it was a family crest, and all his brothers had the same one.

  He was supposed to have his massage today but changed it because he and his brothers were watching a hockey game. So, she was free all day. Sandy had plans and Donna was working. Her parents were gone to Ottawa to visit Marina and Danny. She really needed more friends.

  All morning she’d cleaned her apartment, but that only killed a little over two hours. There was nothing to do and she didn’t like being bored. She was scrolling through Facebook when there was a light knock on the door. Her heart jumped in her chest expecting to see John. When she opened the door a pretty brunette, with bright blue eyes stood there with a huge smile on her face.

  “Hi.” Stephanie was polite but felt a little green eyed monster crawl up onto her shoulder. Who was this woman?

  “Hi, Stephanie.” The girl reached out her hand. Stephanie shook her hand. “I’m Kristy.” Why did that name sound familiar?

  “Nice to meet you.” Stephanie hoped this wasn’t the real reason he canceled his therapy. Was he seeing this girl? She seemed kind of young. There was something familiar about her, but she just couldn’t figure it out.

  “Okay, I can tell by the look on your face, you’ve got no idea who I am.” Kristy chuckled.

  “I’m sorry, but no.” Stephanie forced a smile.

  “I’m John’s cousin. Kurt and Alice are my parents.” Now it made sense why she looked so familiar. Stephanie had seen her picture on John’s wall. “I just moved back from Nova Scotia, and James invited me and my sisters over for the game.”

  “That’s cool.” Stephanie didn’t want to be rude but why did Kristy tell her this?

  “Anyway my cousins told me you were here and I wanted to meet you and thank you for helping John. He’s like his old self again.” Kristy definitely had the O’Connor dimples. “So anyway, since he’s too stupid to invite you over for the party, I decided to invite you.” Kristy put her hands on her hips. “But first who do you like Montreal, or Toronto?”