With a gentle stroke of his cheek, she was gone.
***
Reed awoke sometime later to a darkened bedroom. There was a distinct change in him. He felt more alive than he had since arriving at Sara-Kate’s home. His senses sharpened, and some of his strength returned.
Sara-Kate.
He wondered where his angel was. He thought about how lucky he was after his accident—an accident he still had no real memory of—to somehow stubble into her home, and into her life.
It was strange though, he didn’t know Sara-Kate, at least he didn’t think so. Yet he could clearly remember the feeling of her in bed beside him, the softness of her skin, his hand wrapped around hers. Her lips on his.
It had to be imagination.
It felt so real...it felt so right, like she belonged with him, and that he belonged with her. It was ludicrous. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling.
Then a voice whispered in the deepest recess of his mind not to get too comfortable here with Sara-Kate, that she was just a kind, generous soul who would pass through his life as so many others over the years. Soon, he would need to be on his way.
He sat up in bed, cleared his throat, and surveyed the room. In reality, it was just a lovely bedroom, but to Reed, even the room radiated love and safety. He rubbed his head searching for any bumps or cracks that might be responsible for his altered thinking.
“I’ll be up in a minute, Reed.”
He jumped at the sound of the disembodied voice, and then he spotted a monitor on the bedside table, and his frantically beating heart slowed. Sara-Kate had been listening for him.
She must truly care.
But why?
Before he could delve any more on his good luck for stumbling into Sara-Kate’s home, and her life, she appeared in the doorway of the bedroom.
“How are you, Reed?”
All it took was one look at this lovely lady to cause desire to pulsate within him. It wasn’t even a sexual desire, more of a need to be in her presence, to bask in the aura she projected.
“I am a lot better, Sara. Better, thanks to you.”
Then she smiled, and his heart turned over.
“I’m thrilled to hear that, really pleased. You seemed so...I don’t know, out of it for so long. I wasn’t sure if I should call for a doctor.” She then paused, and tugged on one of her red ponytails. “Or do you need a doctor? I mean...I know someone...a doctor I can call.”
Now she twisted the ponytail in her fingers, and Reed detected something. Was she nervous about the doctor? Was there more to his little accident and minor health scare than he thought?
“I appreciate the offer, but I think I’m fine.” He then added, “I am fine, right?”
She walked to the bed, and whatever malady that seemed to bother her only a minute before, now evaporated, and she visibly relaxed, which in turn, calmed him as well.
“Do you think I could get a shower, and maybe a shave?” He absent mindedly rubbed his chin.
She fidgeted, and twisted her hands together in front of her. “Sure, just let me get you a...a towel.”
When he realized his nakedness, an intense heat flooded his face. He wasn’t exposed to Sara-Kate, but the thought of causing her discomfort, or making her think he was about to put his body on display like some sordid pervert, made him uncomfortable.
“Great, that would be...great.”
She disappeared from the bedroom, and he spotted his suitcase at the opposite side of the room. At least he had the sense to drag it along with him after the accident.
The accident. He still didn’t remember much, and that was more than a bit disconcerting. Had he dismissed the idea of a doctor too quickly?
Sara-Kate reappeared with a large pink bath towel. “I’ll start the shower for you. Just come down the hall whenever you’re ready.” She then beat a hasty retreat from the bedroom.
He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, and planted his feet on to the thick, luxurious carpeting below. Slowly, he rose into a standing position, and was pleasantly surprised to find he wasn’t dizzy or feeling sick.
Maybe he really was okay.
He took the opportunity to wrap the pink towel around his waist. He crossed the bedroom, bent down, opened his suitcase, and rifled through the contents. He located a t-shirt and a worn out pair of faded sweatpants, and grabbed his shaving kit.
He made his way from the bedroom, and down the hallway to the open bathroom. When he stepped inside, he could see it was definitely a room designed by a woman. Everything was pink, from the walls, to the floor, to the sink and bathtub. There was even a pink chair, foot stool, and vanity. A bathroom tailor made for a princess.
No, not a princess—an angel.
Sara-Kate turned from the shower enclosure.
“Do you think you can handle it by yourself?” she asked.
He was almost tempted to say no, just to keep her with him. An almost sixth sense told him not to push Sara-Kate’s limits. He wasn’t sure exactly how he knew, but he could tell she was a bit fragile, and because of that, he would do nothing that could potentially upset or unnerve her.
“I think I’ve got it, Sara.”
“Okay, great.” She sounded almost relieved as she dried her hands on a small towel. “After your shower, maybe you should get back into bed. You’re still recovering, you know. I’ll bring up something up to eat.”
As she passed him, he dared to take her hand, and she turned back to him. He looked into her gorgeous dark eyes. Eyes he could lose him in.
“Sara, I don’t know how to thank you for everything you’re doing for me. I don’t quite understand what’s happened, but I do know I am very grateful
