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wanted to return.”
    Mackenzie then pointed toward a door. “That’s the guest room where you’ll be staying.”
    “Thanks,” he said, and headed in that direction. And not for the first time she studied him, thinking he had a nice body in a pair of jeans. The best she had ever seen.
    Tall, broad-shouldered, and with a lean waist, firm stomach and thighs. And he had a tush that was worth drooling over. Without a doubt Luke Madaris, rodeo rider extraordinaire, was one hundred percent all man, pure testosterone and solid muscles. The upper part of his body, which was covered with his chambray shirt, was bandaged up and he was walking with a limp, but not once had he complained during the ride from the hospital, although she’d known he’d been in pain. She had gotten one of her men to help bring his things in the house, but he’d been determined not to accept any assistance for himself. At the hospital yesterday when he’d told her about his grandmother and great-grandmother, she’d gotten the distinct impression that he didn’t care to have anyone hovering over him. And that was fine with her.
    As if he’d known she was watching him he looked over his shoulder at her and smiled. “Coming?”
    Her heart pounded in her chest. “Excuse me?”
    His smile widened at the corners of his lips. “I asked if you were coming in here with me. To show me around.”
    She fought the temptation to roll her eyes. It was abedroom, for Pete’s sake. What was there to show around? It had a king-sized bed, a dresser and mirror, a five-drawer chest and nightstand. “You don’t need me to show you around, and I can vouch for the furniture being sturdy since it has endured the likes of the Sinclair triplets on more than one occasion.”
    He grinned as he turned back around to face her. “I heard you keep them sometimes.”
    She chuckled. “If truth be told, they probably do a good job of keeping me. Those three have to be the most active four-year-olds I know. They certainly keep you on your toes. There’s never a dull moment while they’re here.”
    “I can imagine,” Luke said, before turning to enter the room.
    “But now if you need my help getting settled then I—”
    “Thanks, but I don’t need your help.”
    “If you change your mind about that, let me know,” Mackenzie called after him.
    “I will.”
    She knew that he wouldn’t and that irritated her to no end. The doctor had explained that for the next few days he would probably be in quite a bit of pain and not to hesitate to take his pain medicine if he needed it, but she was yet to see him take a single pill although she suspected he’d been pretty uncomfortable on the drive over. Yet he never complained, which she figured was the cowboy’s creed—take your aches and pain like a man, anything else was a sure sign of weakness.
    She rolled her eyes thinking the opposite sex’s thought processes were beyond reason at times. She knew that Luke was to begin physical therapy in a few weeks and he’d even been ordered to start doing a few motion exercises that were intended to strengthen the knee. Although he had argued against it, she intended to transport him to and fro to physical therapy. He said he didn’t want her to miss any time off work because of him. He’d soon discover the hard way that when she made up her mind about something, then that was it. She would give in andlet him have his way about some things but with others she would stand her ground. She had talked to Blade and Slade that morning and they said if Luke tried being difficult just to give them a call.
    She appreciated their support but intended to handle Luke her way. If he thought for one minute that he would be a difficult patient then he had another thought coming.
     
    Luke leaned against the bedpost and gritted his teeth against the sharp pain that tore up his leg. Taking a deep breath he eased down on the bed, appreciating the feel of the soft mattress beneath him.
    He hated