CHAPTER SEVEN
When Meg arrived at the nurse’s station the following morning, she asked Mercy, “How was last night?”
“If you’re asking about Sky Johnson, he’s improving. We’ve got him up and walking around. He’s probably going to be released tomorrow.” Mercy leaned in and whispered in her ear. “His father wants to see you.”
Meg’s whole body jerked. “Why? What now?”
“He’s been talking with the big wigs again. I don’t know what’s up, but they were looking at the shift schedule for the next two weeks. They wanted to know when you were scheduled to work.”
“Jesus Christ! Where is he? Where is Trey Johnson?”
“In the family waiting room.”
Meg stood and put her hands on her hips. “He’s got a lot of explaining to do. He’s meddling in my career now.”
She stormed down the hallway and into the family room, where she encountered Trey, Jack, Becky, and assorted members of the Johnson Bishop band and crew. “Excuse me,” she said. “I need to speak with Mr. Johnson. Alone.”
Trey remained seated, and waited to speak until he was alone with Meg. “Good morning, Meg. I thought I told you to call me Trey.” He gestured to an armchair across from where he sat. “Please, sit.”
Meg sank down into the chair and crossed her arms and legs. “I heard you were looking at my work schedule. Why?”
Trey chuckled. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you? I like that.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“My son is being discharged tomorrow and, despite what he might have told you about me, I love him and want the best for him, even if I don’t agree with his choice of career.”
Meg raised one eyebrow while she stared at Trey. “Okay, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. But what does that have to do with me?”
“He respects you, and he seems to trust you. It’s obvious that he has some feelings for you. I’ve looked into your background, and I’m comfortable with what I learned about you. I want you to take a leave of absence from the hospital, and move in with him, as his private nurse.”
Meg bolted forward in her seat. “Wait. What?”
“It’s all arranged. Once Sky is discharged tomorrow, you’ll go home with him and take care of him.”
“I can’t do that. I have a job!”
“Yes, and if you like your job and want to keep it, you’ll accept my terms. I’ve arranged all of it with the hospital. You’ll continue to receive your full salary, and I will match it, so you’ll be receiving double your usual pay.”
“No.” Meg’s head was spinning. “And what do you mean you looked into my background?”
“I have to protect my family, and that means keeping out ‘gold diggers’.”
“I’ve never been so insulted,” Meg said, as she stood and marched towards the door. She felt her arm being jerked backwards, and she tried to shake free. “Leave me alone.”
“For God’s sake, control yourself and sit back down.” Trey stared into Meg’s eyes, and repeated, “Sit.” He watched as Meg sat down before continuing, “You’re a real spitfire, aren’t you?” When she glared at him, he said, “My sons, all three of them, have exhibited poor judgment when it comes to women. Even though Sky wants nothing to do with my family’s business, he’s still a Johnson, and stands to inherit a small fortune when I die. And since the band has become a success, he’s now a wealthy man in his own right. I’m just trying to protect him.”
“And you think I’m after his money?”
“No,” Trey said with a smile. “I don’t. I learned that you have some wealthy family members. Your cousin Jennifer is worth ten times what I’m worth, so I don’t think you’re after money. If you were, you’d be working for her on Wall Street, and not here in Nashville making peanuts as a nurse.”
Meg’s heart was in her throat. “You know my cousin?”
“Yes. Actually, I knew her first husband very well. He made her an incredibly wealthy woman when he died.”
She nodded her head in agreement. “You’re right, he left her everything, and she’s giving most of it away through her foundation. And you’re also right that I’m not impressed by money. My only motivation is to make sick and hurt people better, to help them heal.”
Trey narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
Guilt. Shame. Penance. Remorse. But the truth is none of your business. “Why does it matter?”
“I’m just curious as to why you became a nurse.”
Meg sighed before giving her well-rehearsed answer. “Well, if you must know, my Aunt Grace, Jennifer’s mother, was a nurse. I’ve always admired her and sought to emulate her. I like helping people.”
Trey nodded his head while he evaluated her answer. “So, you’ll help Sky by accepting my offer?”
Rolling her eyes, Meg asked, “Do I have a choice?”
“Not really,” Trey chuckled.
The next day, Meg followed a black Chevy Tahoe down the winding back roads in the woods on the outskirts of Nashville. My God, where the hell does he live?
The Tahoe slowed down and pulled into a nearly-hidden driveway. Meg watched as Trey punched in the code on the keypad to open the gate.
The trees formed a lush, green canopy over the long driveway, which came to an end at the top of a hill, where there was a clearing and the largest, most luxurious log cabin Meg had ever seen. It’s beautiful, she thought. I had no idea what his house would look like, but I didn’t expect this. After parking her Jeep, Meg hopped out and opened the rear door of the Tahoe. “Aren’t you glad you listened to me and sat in the back?”
“Yeah, you were right,” Sky said with a grimace as he gingerly exited the vehicle and draped an arm around Meg’s shoulder for balance. “The ride was painful enough without having to wear a seatbelt.”
“Let me help him inside,” Trey interjected. “Grab your bag and meet us in the house.”
“Okay,” Meg said, as she removed Sky’s arm from around her shoulder. “Just take it easy. I’ll be right behind you.” She dashed to her Jeep and retrieved her luggage from the back seat before catching up with Sky and Trey.
When she entered the house, Meg’s eyes grew wide as she took in the spacious open floor plan. The focus of the room was the enormous stone fireplace, the various hunting trophies that were mounted above it, and the twin antler chandeliers that hung from the cathedral ceiling.
Sky carefully watched Meg as her eyes traveled around the room. “What do you think?”
“I love it. It’s so rustic, and charming. It perfectly fits the surrounding property.”
Sky exhaled in relief. Thank you, Jesus. I can’t believe how nervous I was that you might not like it. “Let me show you around.”
“That can wait,” Meg said. “You need to rest. Let’s get you into bed.”
A mischievous grin appeared on Sky’s face. “I love it when a beautiful woman wants to get me into bed.”
“Oh. My. God. You’re incorrigible.”
“You said that to me the other night. You’ve got find a better comeback, Meg,” Sky teased.
Trey cleared his throat. “I feel like I’m the fifth wheel on the wagon here. Meg, why don’t I show you to a guest room so you can get yourself settled in, and I’ll make sure my son gets into bed so he can rest.”
“Thanks, Trey,” Meg said, as she followed him down a hallway to the right.
“Here you go,” Trey said, as he opened a door. “I’ve cleared my things out of here, so it’s all yours. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Where will you sleep?”
“In my own bed. My pilot and jet are waiting for me at the airport. I’m heading back to Dallas this afternoon.”
Meg’s stomach fell. “Oh…I thought you’d be staying on until Sky improved.”
“That’s why you’re here. I’m leaving you in charge.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Umm…”
“Meg, one of the reasons I hired you was because I believe Sky will listen to you, and do as you say. But he can be a handful, so you’re going to have to be firm with him and make sure he gets his rest.”
Meg nodded her head. “I’ll try.”
“You’d better succeed. I don’t want all the hangers-on here every day. He’s likely to want to have the whole band here, and that will only lead to drinking, late nights, and God knows what else.”
“He can’t drink if he’s on pain medication,” Meg said, horrified at the thought of Sky mixing his drugs with alcohol.
“Make sure it doesn’t happen, then.”
After she finished unpacking, Meg changed into a fresh pair of white scrubs and looped her stethoscope around her neck. At least it looks like I mean business, she thought as she pulled her hair into a high ponytail.
She wandered out to the main living area, where she found Trey waiting for her. “Is he in bed? I’d like to check his vital signs.”
Trey tried to suppress his amusement at the sight of Meg in her scrubs. “He’s in his room. Come with me.”
Meg followed Trey past her bedroom and down to the end of the hallway. He knocked on the door before opening it. “Sky? Are you awake?”
Sky picked his head up from the pillow. “Yeah, come on in.”
Meg approached the king-sized bed. The frame appeared to be made out of logs, and there was a tattered American flag knit blanket covering Sky. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore. Really sore.”
“On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst pain imaginable, what is your pain level?”
“Jeez, you’re all business.”
“That’s why I’m here. What’s your pain level?”
Sky rolled his eyes. “Right now, I’d say it’s an 8 or 9.”
Meg consulted the photocopies of his hospital chart. “Your last pain medication was at 8:00 this morning. You can have some more pain meds now if you need them.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Okay, let me examine you, and then I’ll get you your meds.” She pulled back the American flag knit blanket, before inserting the earpieces of the stethoscope in her ears. She listened to his chest, then took his pulse and blood pressure and made notes on the chart. “I’ll go get you a pill and a glass of water, and I’ll be right back.”
Trey waited to speak until Meg left the room. “I’m going to leave you in her capable hands. I don’t want any funny business from you. I don’t want her calling me to complain that you hit on her.”
“Women never complain when I hit on them.”
Anger flashed in Trey’s eyes as he spoke. “William Skyler Johnson the fourth, you will not hit on that young woman. Not while she is working for me, and caring for you. She’s off limits while she is my employee.”
“Seriously, dad? We’ve already spent the night together.”
“And that was a night in which nothing happened between you two, or at least that’s what you told me.”
“That’s true. But we had a real connection that night. I planned on taking her out this week, and getting past the talking stage, if you know what I mean,” Sky replied with a grin on his face.
“Knock, knock,” Meg said as she entered the room. She handed Sky a small plastic cup containing a pill, and a large glass of water. “Are you hungry? I can make you some lunch, if you’d like.”
“No, I think I’m going to close my eyes for now and let the pill do its work. Maybe an early dinner instead?”
“Okay.” Now what? What am I supposed to do with myself all day while he rests? I sure as hell don’t want to hang out with Trey. “I’ll be outside if you need anything.”
As if reading her thoughts, Trey said, “Well, I’m going to head back home. Son, you take care of yourself and rest up. Feel better.”
Sky shook Trey’s extended hand. “Thanks for flying up, dad. I mean it.”
“We may not see eye to eye on many things, but you’re my first-born child, and I love you.”