Todd practically carried me the half mile back to the resort. Once we were inside, he set me down on a couch in the lobby, propped my ankle up on a pillow, and hurried to find the doctor on staff. Moments later, Louisa spotted me as she rounded the corner to her office. She stopped dead in her tracks.
“Oh my God, Joanna, what happened?”
“I was following the treasure map to the lighthouse, slipped on one of the jetties, and managed to get my ankle wedged between two rocks. Thank God the hotel’s chef was out there fishing, otherwise I don’t know how long it would’ve taken someone to find me, especially with the storm.”
“Todd Aldrich?”
I nodded. “He helped me back at the expense of tonight’s dinner. Thankfully, he chose me over the fish.”
She waved her hand in the air. “Oh, don’t worry about dinner. I’m just glad you’re okay. Should I fetch the hotel doctor to make sure?”
“Todd went to look for her.”
“Great,” she said, adjusting her stance. “Well, let me know if you need anything. We can have food sent to your room tonight, if it’s too hard for you to get to the dining room.”
“Thanks,” I said, smiling warmly as she walked away.
A few minutes later, Todd returned with the doctor and a pair of crutches. After examining me, the doctor determined my ankle wasn’t broken, but as we’d guessed, badly sprained. A few days of rest and repeated icings, and according to her, I’d be as good as new.
“Can I help you back to your room? You’re the cottage closest to the surf shed, right?” Todd asked.
So, he had noticed me last night when he was coming up from the beach.
I pulled my itinerary from my bag and checked the schedule. I’d already missed lunch and was running late for my appointment with Dr. P.
“I have an appointment in the Palm Lounge,” I answered.
“Wait, are you here for the Breakup Boot Camp?” he asked, his voice barely disguising his confusion.
I slid one of the crutches closer to me and used it to push up and off the couch. “Yup, I’m one of them.”
“One of whom?”
“One of those tragic women who apparently need intense therapy, tantric yoga, and dominatrix classes to get over my ex.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Dominatrix classes?”
“Don’t ask. Anyway, thank you very much for all your help. I’d probably still be trapped out on those rocks if it weren’t for you.”
Todd handed me the other crutch and flashed a sweet smile. “I have a feeling you’re far more resourceful than you give yourself credit for.”
My heart stuttered in my ribcage. Was he flirting with me? The feeling took me by complete surprise. For as long as I could remember, nobody but Sam had ever stirred up those kinds of emotions. Sam had so fully occupied my life and heart that there was never room for anyone else, or even the idea of anyone else. That’s what hurt so much about his affair. He let someone else in, even pushing me out to make space for that someone. Yet, somehow, the notion I could be interested in another man still felt like a betrayal. It wasn’t rational, but then again, neither was love.
“We’ll see,” I said coolly.
He took a few steps back, narrowing his eyes. “I should get to the kitchen and figure out what I’m serving for dinner tonight.”
“I’m sorry again, about your haul.”
“Try to take it easy, kid, and make sure to keep that ankle up.”