She exhaled sharply from the effort. What a terrible nurse she would be! Was her next thought, as she looked at Reed haphazardly propped up against the pillow. To her relief, he wiggled around a bit until he was in a fairly normal position on the pillow.
“Good job,” she praised.
She reached for the peach scented tea, and held it to his lips. The cup was barely warm, she knew it wouldn’t burn him. He automatically sipped, and swallowed the liquid before closing his eyes again.
Sara-Kate’s face lengthened with a frown. He was going to fall back into sleep again. But he was conscious enough to have a few sips of the tea, at least this was progress.
“Okay, Reed, you sleep then,” she said running a hand through his dark hair. Impulsively, she pressed a lingering kiss against his forehead. Before she left his bedside, she added, “You’re safe here, try to remember that.”
***
Flame colored ponytails!
Reed Thayer woke to the most beautiful memory come-to-life right before his eyes. The beautiful flame haired woman. The child-like long pony tails seemed to belie the sexy woman wearing them. Straight from his dreams.
“How are you doing, Reed?” she asked. Her face, her lips, mere inches from his. Even through his foggy brain, he wanted to kiss those perfect pink lips. She had dark eyes, like his own. Hers had an intenseness within them he knew he could easily become mesmerized by. He tried to lift a hand to touch her cheek, to be sure she was real, and not just another dream, but his arms were leaden at his side.
She knew him, but how did he know her? He searched his memory in vain for a clue of how he came to be where he was, but nothing made sense.
She help a cup to his lips, and he allowed the warm, delicate taste wash over his tongue. A faint smell of roses registered. He closed his eyes, prepared to let sleep overtake him once again.
“Please, Reed, try to stay awake. You’ve been asleep for far too long. You need to eat.”
He opened his eyes once again, at the sound of her voice. A lovely, lilting voice he could listen to for hours on end. Maybe if she would keep speaking, things would start to make sense.
“How...long?” He was shocked that his voice was nothing more than a raspy whisper.
“How long have you been a sleep?” She anticipated his question. “Three days, Reed.”
He wondered if he heard her correctly. Three days! Who slept that long?
“You had an accident, Reed. A car accident. You arrived on my doorstep. Do you remember any of that?”
He searched his memory, but nothing jumped out about an accident.
“You said you were on your way to a bed and breakfast. To be in peace, and to write.”
It sounded familiar, like a distant, hazy memory. “I remember...something.” As he said the words, his throat ached.
Without hesitation, she lifted a cup to his lips. Almost like she read his mind, somehow anticipated his need without his saying a word about it. He sipped and swallowed, and the pain eased.
She placed the cup on a bedside table, and smiled. Immediately, a warm wave of comfort blanketed him. It was inexplicable. It was just her presence that brought him peace.
“I’m going to go down to the kitchen, and make you something to eat. Is that okay?”
He was transfixed on her beautiful face, and her question floated away.
She laughed just then. Not a mean or mocking laugh, but a wonderful sound unlike anything he ever heard before. Maybe Sara-Kate really was an angel.
“Okay, Reed,” she reached over and patted his hand. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Please try to stay awake.”
When she left the room, an acute sense of loneliness seized him, and caught him off guard. Why was he panicking? He was used to being alone. Hell, he preferred to be alone. So he had a little accident, nothing major. He flexed his fingers. Nothing seemed broken, or even bruised. He was just tired, that was all.
But Sara-Kate, she was...unreal. This beautiful angel took him into her home, into her bed. Who would do that for a stranger? Before he could consider it too deeply, she was back.
Sara-Kate with her sassy red ponytails. She was petite, but curvy in all the right places, dressed in jeans and a white top with tiny straps. She was beyond perfect.
She set the tray she carried onto the bed, and lifted a linen napkin and placed it over his chest, then took the time to smooth out the wrinkles. She took a bowl and spoon into her hands, and sat on the edge of the bed. Without a word, she carefully scooped the unknown concoction, and brought the spoon to his lips.
The warm, velvety texture of porridge passed his lips, and he recognized the taste as coconut. Coconut, and something sweet and chewy he couldn’t place.
“It’s dates,” she said as though she read his mind again. “From my tree in the yard.”
He detested the taste of coconut and dates equally. As she spoon fed him, he could swear he ate both every day of his life. Maybe he was starved, or maybe it was the fact this amazing stranger was kind enough to nurse him. Nothing made sense. It was like everything changed in one night. Even the air felt different around him.
“The tree takes a lot of care. The squirrels just won’t leave it alone!” She exclaimed as she wiped his lips with the napkin.
The sound of her voice broke up his thoughts. “The tree?”
“The date tree in the back yard.” She set the bowl and spoon aside. “Never mind. You must still be tired. You just rest now, and I’ll check in on you later.” She went about rearranging the blanket over him. “If there is anything else you need, just call for me, okay?”
Her smile lit up her entire
