In less than a minute, Jeremy drove up beside her. "I'm here at your service. Do you need help getting in the cart?"
"No need to get out. I'll help her." Hudson waved Jeremy back, taking hold of her arm again and assisting her as she slid onto the padded seat.
Jeremy returned to his place behind the steering wheel. "I'm sorry about the delay. It did this to me the other day, too."
Melody leaned forward. "We need to get this taken care of. We don't want you to be without transportation."
"Will do. Where do you want to go?"
Hudson squeezed in beside her. "To the nursing home."
Melody tried not to let Hudson's interference bother her. She wanted to tell him she could speak for herself, but that would only make things worse.
As they drew closer to their destination, she spied Kirsten coming down the walk with a wheelchair. Melody glanced over at Hudson. "How did Kirsten know I needed that?"
"After we talked, I knew you would want one, so I sent her a text." Jeremy pulled to a stop at the end of the walk.
Kirsten hurried toward them. "What happened?"
After thanking Jeremy for his help, Melody explained everything as Hudson assisted her into the wheelchair. Invalid status didn't mesh with her plans. "Can you take a look at my ankle and tell me whether I need to see a doctor?"
"Of course." Kirsten pushed the wheelchair through the front door while Hudson held it open. Once inside, Kirsten hunkered down. "Does it hurt when I press here?"
"Yes."
"How about here?"
"Not so much." Melody shook her head. "But it's throbbing."
Kirsten straightened. "You appear to have a bad sprain. You don't have to go to the doctor right away, but you should rest. You can't be running all over campus in your usual manner."
"But what am I going to do about Amy? She's expecting me to help her pick out clothes for her interview." Melody let out a long sigh, knowing her day was a shambles.
"Is there someone you can call to help?" Kirsten asked.
Melody picked up her phone from her lap. "I'll call Debra McCoy, who volunteers at the shop."
Kirsten stepped closer. "Before you do anything else, listen to my instructions. Besides the rest, put ice on the ankle for twenty minutes and wrap it in a compression bandage. Then go home and elevate your foot. If things don't get better, then you'll need to see the doctor about an X-ray."
"Okay, but I have to make that phone call." The task done, Melody looked up at Kirsten. "Debra said she'd help Amy and bring her back to campus if we get her over there."
"I'll give you both a ride." Hudson stepped forward.
Her pulse skittering, Melody glanced his way. Somehow she'd forgotten he was here. Or maybe she'd only tried to block his image from her mind. "Did your chauffer bring you in that limo?"
"Not today. I had to drive myself. I do that sometimes." Hudson gave her a wry smile.
Of course, multiple cars for the multimillionaire. Melody searched her mind for some way to decline his offer, but none came to mind. Once again, he had her right where he wanted her-in need of his services.
"That would be perfect," Kirsten replied before Melody could respond. "I'll be right back with that ice and bandage."
Melody sighed. "While you do that, I'll give Amy a call."
A little later, Melody sat sideways on the backseat of Hudson's SUV with her legs stretched out and an ice pack atop her well-wrapped ankle. A pair of crutches lay on the floor beside her. Amy sat in the front passenger seat and chatted comfortably with Hudson about her children and her job prospects. Melody wished she could feel as relaxed with the man. She wasn't sure why she was letting him tie her emotions in knots for absolutely no reason.
When they arrived at The Village store, Debra came out to meet them, poking her head into the SUV. "I'm so sorry to hear what happened, but I'll take good care of Amy. Don't worry about a thing."
"Thanks. I appreciate your help." Melody smiled.
Debra looked at Hudson. "You take good care of our Melody. She needs some pampering."
"Yes, ma'am. I sure will."
She refrained from rolling her eyes as Debra closed the door and she and Amy waved. Melody didn't need Hudson Conrick to pamper her. As he drove his SUV onto the main road, she chastised herself for the negative thoughts. He was being kind, and she should be thankful for his helpfulness. During the drive to her house, she prayed for a more charitable nature.
"How you doing back there?"
"I'm okay." Her ankle had quit throbbing. The ice had probably dulled the ache. "I forgot to ask if you remember how to get to my house."
"I certainly do. It's etched in my memory. It's fun being your chauffeur, but you don't have to call me James."
So he remembered her little story, but was he making fun of her? "Okay. Home, Hudson."
He laughed, and the sound made her heart lighter as she settled back for the ride. After he parked in the driveway, he opened the door for her and handed her the crutches.
"Thanks."
"Do you need some help? I can always carry you again."
"Thank you, but I'll be able to maneuver with the crutches. You can carry this." Melody handed him the ice pack.
"If you give me your keys, I can go ahead and open the door so you can walk right in."
"Good idea." She fished them from her purse, and while Hudson trotted off to open the door, Melody maneuvered out of the backseat, being careful not to put any weight on the tender ankle. She adjusted the crutches and made her way up the walk. When she reached the threshold, Hudson was there to give her an assist through the doorway. She didn't fight it. He was here to help, and she should let him.
"I'll stay right beside you in case you need support." He accompanied her into the living room.
Melody sat on the couch and swung her legs up, then looked over at him. "Thanks for your help. I should be okay now."
Staring at her, Hudson stood there with his arms crossed at his trim waist. "And I'm sticking around for a while to make sure of it."
"Really. I'm fine. There's no need for you to stay."
"Who's going to replenish your ice pack or get you a pillow to prop your leg on? If you don't keep it elevated, your ankle will swell even more."
Melody tried not to frown. She didn't want him hanging around. "Is this a ploy to get another date with me?"
Hudson shook his head. "I'm only here to make sure you have everything you need. I won't pester you for another date. You made it quite clear that you don't want to go out with me again. So I'll bow to your wishes, but if you ever change your mind, let me know."
"Okay." She'd gotten what she wanted. So why did a ping of disappointment sound in her mind and settle in her heart?
Hudson grinned at her. "You remember what you said about God using everything for good. He's going to make something out of this, too."
Melody gave him a helpless smile. "I had that coming."
"I wasn't trying to give you a hard time. I mean it."
"Okay. We'll see what He has prepared for me."
"And me." Hudson pulled his phone from his pocket. "I'm going to order you something to eat. What would you like?"
Melody shrugged, resigning herself to Hudson's presence. He wasn't after another date, so why did being with him bother her? "Whatever. I'm really not that hungry."
"You need to eat something. I'll order pizza. Pepperoni and mushroom?"
Closing her eyes, Melody nodded and laid her head back on the decorative pillow. Hudson liked her favorite kind of pizza. What did that say about him? She had to quit examining every little thing about him. Would admitting her fascination with him from the beginning help her deal with the attraction? She might as well. She couldn't deny it, and his constant presence in her life for the foreseeable future might require more resistance to his appeal than she could muster. At some point, would her heart overrule her head? Would her good sense succumb to the charms of a kind and attractive man even though he took chances that frightened her?
"You awake?" Hudson's whispered question made her eyes pop open.
"Yeah. I was resting as per instructions from Kirsten." Melody smiled, glad he couldn't read her thoughts. She gave herself a mental shake. The pain from her ankle and weariness from a sleepless night made her thinking fuzzy. She would get through today, and tomorrow she would find her fortitude again.
"You rest. Here's a pillow and a fresh ice pack." After she lifted her ailing ankle onto the pillow, he held up the ice pack. "Me or you? I don't want to put it in the wrong place and cause you more pain."
"Lay it down gently." His concern punched one more hole in her resistance.
After he placed the ice pack on her ankle, he looked down at her. "TV, book, music or quiet?"