She found the remote attached to the bed, but she could arrange the cord so she could control the set from her chair. She found a talk show on. She wasn’t particularly fond of talk shows, but she couldn’t find anything she actively wanted to see.
She closed her eyes and leaned back in the chair. As the voices droned on, she realized that she was actually kind of tired.
Fine. It wasn’t as if she had company. She let herself drift off.
A few minutes later, she had the sensation that she was dreaming of being in a strange place. It was as if a man came on the television and began talking directly to her. A very good looking man. She wasn’t usually swayed by looks or charm, though she recognized them, of course. She was madly in love, but it was still possible for her to recognize when another male was handsome and charming.
But she found that this man had her full attention. She was certain that she was dreaming, but in her dream, she smiled. He was teasing her, flirting with her, and she found herself responding. He had very dark hair, and a very…
How very silly…
It seemed that she was growing warmer. As if she could almost feel the brush of fingers against her inner thighs.
It was just a dream, she thought. She was closing in on her wedding day, and somewhere deep inside she was just having just a few minutes of completely understandable panic.
After all, she was giving up other men forever, hence this erotic dream about a man on the television.
But now he was telling her to get up. To go to the window and let him in.
Of course, she wasn’t really doing it. Seriously, what man came to a hospital window? And how could she really be up and opening it, letting him in…?
Letting him do things to her.
Sexual things…
While Deanna lay comatose on the bed.
8
L auren signed the registration cards for the inn and left feeling filled with energy, determined to find the fortune-teller at Jackson Square.
But she realized, after walking around the square several times, that apparently many of the people who worked the area didn’t show up until later, probably not until dusk, at least.
More upsettingly, she had the feeling she was being followed, even though it was broad daylight. The sun was strong, the air warm, and there was a slight breeze off the river. The world seemed calm, normal.
But it wasn’t.
She returned to the hospital, thinking that Heidi was probably ready to wring her neck.
But Heidi wasn’t irate in the least.
She was sleeping in the chair by the bed when Lauren arrived. She didn’t wake up until Lauren touched her, and then she flushed and stretched, and seemed disoriented.
“Hey, how’s she doing? Has anyone said anything?”
Heidi seemed a little flustered when she replied. “Um…yes, actually. The last nurse who came in here said that her vital signs are strong and that she’s doing well. She hasn’t come to yet, but she seems to be resting comfortably and I guess the doctors are pleased with her progress.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be gone so long.”
“Were you gone long?” Heidi asked.
“Yes. But the new place is gorgeous.”
“So was the old place,” Heidi pointed out.
“You’ll love Montresse House. I promise,” Lauren assured her.
Heidi shrugged. “It’s what you wanted.”
“Thanks for humoring me.”
“Some slave you are.”
“Sorry.”
Heidi frowned for a moment. “There’s still a cop in the hall, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Think we could go to lunch together? We missed breakfast, and I’m starving.”
Lauren hesitated. It was broad daylight, she reminded herself. Deanna was in a hospital, with a cop right outside her door. “Want to grab something in the hospital cafeteria?”
“Not really, but okay.”
In the hallway, Lauren saw that the officer on duty was about fifty and appeared to be of French or Hispanic descent. He had a trustworthy face, a little haggard, but gentle and reassuring. When she told him they were going
