LITMIR.BIZ

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      She stopped next to his bed. “You knew about CNN?”

      “It appears so. I guess I’m fine at bringing up some details, but not the important ones.”

      She smiled at him, but he could see the careful distance in her eyes. “It will come,” she said. “Give it some time. It’s been less than forty-eight hours.”

      “I thought about that, and I have an idea. If I went back to the scene of the accident, maybe the scene of the ball I was at, it might jog some memories loose. What do you think?”

      She nodded slowly. “Maybe it would. You’ll have to try that when you’re back on your feet.”

      He scowled. “I was thinking about today.”

      For a moment she stared at him, then laughed. For the first time since she’d come back into his room, she relaxed. “Right. You have a concussion and an abraded lung, and you think we’re going to let you go running around Grand Springs?”

      “I wouldn’t run. I would drive.”

      Her smile faded. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

      “Of course I’m serious. I want to find out who I am and what I was doing that night.”

      She sank down onto the chair next to his bed and put her hand on top of his. He wanted to turn his hand over and twine his fingers with hers, to press their palms together, but he didn’t dare. Instead, he savored the feel of her warm hand and tried to hide his sudden rush of desire.

      “Tom, the detectives who were here yesterday are doing their best to find your family. There’s nothing more you can do right now.”

      “I could look for myself. Maybe I’d remember.”

      He leaned forward, ignoring the pain in his side. Shifting his hand, he gripped her fingers while he searched the depths of her blue eyes. “I have to know, Tina.”

      Something flickered deep within her eyes. It was a spark of excitement, an answering urgency. She understood, and she wanted to let him go. Tom tightened his hand on hers, and waited for her to agree.

      Then she shook her head. “No way, Flynt. You’re not getting out of this bed until tomorrow, and then the farthest you’re going is to the bathroom.” She eased her hand away from his and stood up. “You can prowl around Grand Springs all you want when you’re released. But for now, I’m afraid you’re stuck with CNN and me.”

      He studied her face, saw the shadow of awareness in her eyes, and leaned back against the pillow. For a moment, she’d been tempted. And she wanted to go with him. For now, it was enough.

      “If I can’t leave, then you and CNN sound like a pretty good deal,” he said, trying to keep his voice light. “But admit it, you were tempted.”

      To his surprise, instead of teasing him back, something that looked close to panic flared in her eyes. Then it was gone, and the remote professional was back. “I was tempted to smack you.” She gave him a stern look. “Your injuries could have been life threatening. You are incredibly lucky to get away as lightly as you have. So instead of trying to get out of the hospital way before you’re ready, you should be thanking God for your luck.”

      “You wanted to take me, didn’t you, Tina?” He didn’t know what demon taunted him to press the issue.

      “I wanted no such thing,” she said primly, but her eyes told the truth. She had been tempted.

      “Tell me, Tina, do you ever break the rules?”

      “No.” Her answer was much too quick and much too final, and he saw a shadow of pain in her eyes. She had broken the rules at least once in her life. To his surprise, jealousy flashed through him as he wondered if the broken rules involved a man.

      He settled back against the pillows, but he didn’t take his eyes off her. “We’ll have to work on that.”

      He half expected her to turn around and run out of the room, but she surprised him again. Tilting her head to the side, she watched him as a small smile curled her lips. “I was right. You are a dangerous man.”

      “What do you mean?”

      “You like to break the rules. You want to play the game your own way.”

      “Maybe I do,” he said slowly, turning the idea over in his mind. It felt right. “But that doesn’t mean I’m dangerous.”

      Regret flared in Tina’s eyes. “You are to someone who follows the rules,” she said quietly. “And I always follow the rules.”

      “Always, Tina?”

      She held his gaze for a few moments, then looked away. “Whenever it counts.”

      He couldn’t read the expression on her face, the emotions in her eyes. But he knew that there was far more to Tina White than showed on the surface. He wasn’t the only one in the room with secrets.

      “A little rule-breaking is good for the soul,” he said lightly. “We’ll have to work on that.”

      With an effort, she gave him a smile. “You can work on it all you want when you get out of here. While you’re my patient, you follow my rules.”

      “Gladly.” He grinned up at her. “Just tell me what you want.”

      This time her smile was genuine. “I want you to get better and regain your memory. And driving around Grand Springs isn’t the way it’s going to happen.”

      “Since you probably hid all of my clothes, I guess I don’t have any choice,” he said, and was rewarded with a low, throaty chuckle.

      “You could always leave in your hospital gown,” she teased. “Of course, it might get kind of breezy.”

      “No, thanks.” He reached around to make sure his gown was tucked in. “I guess I’ll wait.”

      “I knew you’d see it my way.” She turned to walk out of the room, and he searched desperately for a way to keep her with him for a few more minutes.

      “Tina, wait.”

      She spun around. “Is something wrong?”

      “I just wanted to ask you a question.” He hesitated, not sure how to get the information he wanted. Finally he said, “It’s really good of you to come in early to take care of me. I appreciate it. But isn’t your family getting upset that you’re spending all your time at the hospital?”

      She watched him for a moment, and once again he saw a shadow of pain in her eyes. “First of all, I’m not coming in early just for you. There are a lot more patients than usual.”

      But he saw the truth in her eyes, and his heart leaped. She was coming in early just for him.

      “And you don’t have to worry about what my family thinks. I live by myself. My free time is my own.”

      “I didn’t mean to pry.”

      “It’s all right. I’m not offended.” She gave him a strained smile. “I’ll be back in a while. Some of those other patients need care, too.”

      He listened to her footsteps recede down the hall as he closed his eyes. Damned if she wasn’t right. He was in no shape to go jaunting off around Grand Springs. He could barely carry on a conversation without getting tired out.

      But he had gotten the information he wanted, he thought, exultant. Tina wasn’t involved with anyone. He was sure of it. If she had been, she wouldn’t have been so casual about living by herself.

      Unexpected hunger stirred inside him. If Tina was his woman, he thought, he wouldn’t want to let her out of his sight. If he was involved with Tina, she wouldn’t have any free time. He’d want to spend every second of it with her.

      If Tina was his lover, he’d make sure everyone in the world knew it.

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