Read More Than Cookies (The Maple Leaf Series) for Free Online Page A

“I’m sorry, Orion. I tried to keep him at your house, but he was getting more and more agitated. He barely slept and as soon as he woke up, he was calling for you.”
    “It’s okay. He’s used to me being there. This break in the routine is upsetting to him. Did you tell him why I was in here?”
    “No. I figured that would make things worse.” Adam peeked out into the hallway to check on Ian then approached the bed. “I’ve arranged for Wendie to stay with him. Sadly for my lovely sister, the last client she’d been working with passed away last Thursday. Good for us, she’s between visiting nurse gigs and can take on Ian for a few days.”
    Orion let his head rest back on the pillow he’d propped up behind him. “Dude, you are a life-saver.”
    “This is true, but you do realize the price to cut those trees you’ve tagged for your current project just tripled, right?” Adam pantomimed counting money and putting it in neat stacks on the edge of Orion’s bed.
    “Fine. It’s money well spent. Tell Wendie she earned a spot on my extremely short list of awesome people.”
    “Will do.” Adam backed up and shot another look down the hallway. He motioned toward himself with his arm. “This way, Ian. Over here.”
    Orion’s father shuffled into the room holding two packages of cookies triumphantly in his hands. “Oreos and Nutter Butters!”
    “Best cookies on the planet,” Orion said.
    “Best cookies on the planet,” Ian repeated.
    Adam pointed to a chair in the corner of the room. “Do you want to sit and eat them?”
    Ian looked at the chair then back at Orion. “No.” He shook his head and sat on the edge of the bed instead. He put the cookies on the bed and rested his hand on Orion’s knee beneath the blankets. “Does it hurt, Orion?”
    Orion shot a look to Adam who shrugged. “Does what hurt, Dad?”
    “Your leg. Shot in the leg.” Ian rocked a little, but caught himself and stopped. “Shot in the woods.”
    “Sorry. He must have heard me talking to Wendie,” Adam said.
    “Wendie,” Ian said, a huge smile spreading across his lips. “Wendie is pretty. I like her.”
    Adam laughed, but Orion’s eyes stung. That comment was how he knew the near-death incident ten years ago had altered his dear old dad forever. The man Orion had known as his father would never have said that. According to him, women were cruel and dangerous and always out for the kill. Especially the pretty ones. He was right about that too, but his brain had been so battered by the accident. Add in a nice layer of dementia during the past three years, and Ian no longer remembered that dealing with women required extreme caution. Like handling-toxic-waste caution.
    Fortunately, Orion remembered. He’d learned the lesson the hard way—once with his own mother and then again with Adriana, but he wouldn’t be forgetting it. Not this time.
    A soft knock sounded at the door and a low noise of approval sounded from Adam. When Orion looked to the doorway and saw Sage Stannard standing there in a pair of faded jean shorts and a fitted, camouflage tank top, he knew he was being tested.
    “Are you lost?” Adam asked.
    “No.” Sage shook her head and that silky blonde hair shimmered about her bare shoulders.
    Ian turned around at the sound of Sage’s voice and his blue eyes bugged out. “Prettier than Wendie.”
    “You got that right, my man,” Adam said then looked at Orion. “Something you’re not telling us, bro?”
    Orion knew this was the point where he should be introducing Sage to his best friend and father as the woman who saved his life. That was the polite thing to do, but his mouth had gone dry the moment he’d seen her. All that blood the hospital had pumped back into him had flowed in a big rush to one place in his body.
    God, her legs are amazing.
    “Hey, Orion.” Adam snapped his fingers in Orion’s face. “Earth to Orion. Come in, Orion.”
    Sage chuckled and stepped into the room, extending a