by Francis Ray
Justine awakened the next morning in a strange bed and room. There was a brass ceiling fan in the guest room, not a bare bulb. Sunlight came through windows with old-fashioned shades and not custom swag draperies. The mattress beneath her was firmer. She was still wearing her sleeveless blouse and cropped pants.
Slowly sitting up, she saw Dalton asleep in an easy chair with his feet propped up on one of the kitchen chairs. He looked uncomfortable and oddly adorable with his fingers laced on his flat abdomen. He’d given up his bed to her, and a lot more.
Yesterday he’d held her as she cried, demanding nothing, giving her the freedom to let go. She wished she could crawl back into his lap. Only this time she wouldn’t be seeking only comfort.
Dalton’s eyes opened. Justine knew that the desire she felt was clearly visible on her face, and she made no attempt to hide it. The same desire shone back at her, causing her body to warm, her stomach muscles to tighten.
His feet hit the floor when he stood. “Morning, what would you like for breakfast?”
Instead of answering, Justine’s eyelids flickered downward. How could she have forgotten a man who always put her needs before his own? How could she have chosen a man who only thought of self-gratification?
Her eyes opened. Dalton was standing by the bed, patient and understanding. “I need to tell you something.”
Taking her hands, he hunkered down in front of her. “I’m listening.”
With her hands trembling as much as her body, she told him of surprising Andrew with another woman. She told him about the accident and admitted what she had not even confessed to Brianna. “I blame myself for the accident. Maybe if I hadn’t blown the horn, the deer would have crossed the road before Andrew rounded the curve.”
“The accident was not your fault,” Dalton said tightly. “You only had seconds to react. Deer crossing signs were clearly posted. Andrew knew the dangers.”
“But—”
“His actions set him on that path, not you,” Dalton talked over her. “From what I’ve heard and read, your quick actions saved his life. If you hadn’t been there his car might not have been discovered until after the explosion.” His hands flexed on hers. “Blame Andrew. Not yourself.”
So far she hadn’t been able to do that. “How about we go get takeout? My treat.” She didn’t want to talk about Andrew any longer.
Dalton’s brow arched as if he was aware that she hadn’t answered his question. “Deal. Let’s go,” he said.
_______
Thirty minutes later, Justine and Dalton were back at the house eating breakfast when they heard a car. Fear leaped into Justine’s startled gaze.
“Wait here. I’ll see who it is.” Dalton surged to his feet. Although they had done nothing wrong, Justine was still married to Andrew, a man many admired.
“I’d rather go with you.” She rose to her feet just as a knock on the door sounded.
Justine tensed. Dalton reached to brush his hand gently down her arm. “You don’t have anything to be ashamed of.”
“We both know that’s not entirely true.”
His dark eyes narrowed, then he spun on his heels and started for the front room with Justine following. Through the faded sheers at the window they saw a black truck. “I’ve seen that truck before. It’s Patrick.”
“Patrick? Why would—?” Justine beat Dalton to the front door and swung it open. “Is it Andrew?” she asked as Brianna emerged from the truck.
“No,” Brianna quickly assured her. “Your mother couldn’t get you on your cell. I told her you were in the shower and would call.”
Charging her cell was usually the last thing she did before she went to bed. Last night she had gone to sleep in Dalton’s arms and slept better than she had in months. Justine’s cheeks heated. “The battery is probably dead.”
“Use mine.”
Justine’s hands closed around the phone Brianna gave her. “Thank you. Excuse me.” She dialed the phone as she stepped onto the porch.
“Come in and have a cup of coffee,” Dalton said before closing the door to give Justine some privacy.
“Good morning, Mama.”
“You should have let me know you weren’t going to be at home.”
Justine’s fingers clenched on the porch column. “I’m sorry.”
“I like Brianna, but I’m not sure it’s such a good idea to spend so much time with her.”
Justine’s brows knitted. “Why?”
“She’s single and attractive. Men are bound to approach her. You don’t want to give people the wrong idea about you.”
Her mother was always worried about what other people thought more than the welfare of her daughter or what she wanted. “Let them think what they want. Was there something else?”
Her mother’s sigh was one of long suffering. “Why didn’t you tell me Andrew had another cardiac arrest?”
The accusatory tone was clear. “I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Do you know how stupid I felt when Shirley High-tower asked me about it last night at the bridge party and I didn’t have a clue as to what she was talking about? It was so embarrassing.”
Justine rubbed her temple. So the real reason for the call was finally coming out. “I’m sorry.”
“You should be. I don’t know what gets into you at times.”
“I’m sorry,” she repeated, not knowing what else to say.
“I have to get ready for church.”
Thank God. “Good-bye, Mother.”
“Good-bye.”
Justine deactivated the cell and called the nurse’s station. “This is Mrs. Crandall. How is Andrew?”
“There has been no change.”
Justine rubbed her temple again. “Thank you. Is his mother there?” By this time, all the staff was familiar with them.
“She hasn’t arrived yet, but she didn’t leave until almost after one this morning. The eleven-to-seven shift had to run her out as usual.”
While his wife had been sleeping in another man’s bed. “Thank you.”
Hanging up the phone, she called Beverly, hoping to catch her before she left for the hospital. The phone was picked up on the third ring. “Hello.”
“It’s Justine, Beverly. Andrew is fine. I just spoke with the charge nurse.”
A relieved sign echoed through the phone. “You sound strange. Is everything all right?”
Why couldn’t her mother care as much? “I’m fine. I forgot to charge my phone last night and thought you might have called.”
“No, I thought you needed the day off. I explained to Andrew. You’re coming today, aren’t you?”
“This afternoon.” She desperately needed a few more hours during which she could just be herself.
“All right. I’ll tell Andrew. I better go. I don’t want to be late.”
Justine couldn’t help but wish that her mother would have been that faithful and diligent in caring for her. “All right. I’m using Brianna’s cell. You have the phone number if you need me.”
“We’ll be fine. Reverend Harding and Pastor Bird are coming by to have prayer before they go to their churches. We almost have our Andrew back. I can feel it.”
“All right.” She was beginning to sound like a parrot. “Good-bye.”
“Good-bye.”
Feeling like a fraud, Justine disconnected the phone.
Dalton, who had one eye on the entrance to the kitchen, stood the moment Justine appeared. His fist clenched in fury and helplessness. The guilt was back on her face. He had hoped she had put that behind her.
“Dalton, I see you got some work done on the porch.”
He looked briefly at Brianna. She was trying to help Justine as well. Lecturing wouldn’t do any good. Maybe work would. “Justine was my assistant. I’m hoping she’ll pitch in today.”
“Count me in too if you need an extra hand,” Patrick said easily. “I’m pretty handy with a hammer.”
“I’m game,” Brianna put in, a wide smile on
her face.
Justine eased into her chair. “I’m not sure what I can do, but I’d like to try.”
“I work better if I have company,” Dalton said. “Besides, as we talked about yesterday, the inside of the house needs as much work as the outside. I don’t want to mess up with colors either. Maybe you could help. I think I’ll keep the hardwood floors throughout the house and just have them stained. Once I seal them, they shouldn’t be that difficult for me to keep up.”
“You’re keeping the house?” Justine asked.
He thought he heard hope in her voice, or was it wishful thinking on his part? “Yes.”
“Woo-hoo!” Brianna yelled, and pumped her fist. “It’ll be great having you around again.”
Justine said nothing and stared down into her coffee cup as if it held the secrets to the universe. He’d give anything to know how she felt about his staying. “Finish your breakfast, and we’ll get started.”
“I’m finished.” She closed the Styrofoam lid of her food container. “We can start whenever you’re ready.”
Her breakfast was practically untouched. Before Brianna and Patrick had arrived, Justine had been trying to grill Dalton for information on Sudden Prey, She’d been smiling. Now the shadows were back in her eyes. “Then we’ll clean up the kitchen and get started.” He turned to Patrick. “Ever hang Sheetrock before?”
“I was a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity for the past five years before I moved here.” Patrick glanced at Brianna. “I look great with a tool belt hanging from my waist.”
Brianna sent him a sexy smile. “He’s also not the modest type.”
“I can use all the help I can get,” Dalton said. It was clear that Patrick had finally broken through Brianna’s resistance.
Patrick pushed to his feet and reached for Brianna’s chair. “Then let’s get started. I’ll go outside and give Brianna a few lessens on what not to do with the hammer.”
“Wonder what I could give you lessons on,” she tossed.
Chuckling, he curved his arm around her waist and kissed her lightly on the forehead. “It boggles the mind.”
Dalton waited until the door closed behind them. “You all right?”
The corners of Justine’s mouth briefly quirked upward as if she wanted to smile but was too tired to pull it off. “Yes. Reality just caught up with me.”
“Jus—”
“Please.” She lightly touched his arm, then let her hand fall. “Let’s just concentrate on fixing your house.”
He’d push if he thought it would do any good. “All right. Don’t forget I need your help. It will take a lot of work to get this place together.”
“Most things do.” With those words, she started clearing the table.
Feeling helpless, Dalton began picking up cups. What he wouldn’t give to see Justine happy again.
Eighteen
That afternoon Dalton stood by the back passenger door of Patrick’s truck, his hands curled over the window frame. “If you ever feel like hammering again, you know where to come,” he told Justine.
Everyone needs a sanctuary. Dalton had helped her find hers. For a little while, she’d been able to forget. “I might take you up on the offer,” she said.
“Any time. I want to move out here permanently in a few days. The phone company is coming next week.”
“I’ll remember that. Good-bye.”
His fingertips tenderly brushed her cheek. “ ’Bye.”
Warmth rushed through her. Justine sat in the backseat and turned her gaze straight ahead instead of at Dalton. The more she looked, the more she wished things were different.
Patrick pulled away and Brianna twisted around in the passenger seat. “Take one day at a time.”
“I’m try—I’m going to.” It was time she stopped trying and did. She certainly had reasons to. She glanced back to see Dalton still standing there looking after them. She straightened in her seat as the truck pulled onto the highway, watching as the dense trees gave way to office buildings and shops.
Patrick entered the underground parking garage of the hospital. “Brianna said you planned to come by, and I thought you might want to stop now.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.” He pulled into a vacant spot near the elevator and cut the motor.
“He definitely has his moments,” Brianna said.
“Shucks,” Patrick said. “Praise like that will go to my head.”
“Can’t have that.” Brianna opened her door. “Your head is big enough all ready.”
Justine emerged from the car and stuck her hands into the pockets of her pants. Brianna had faced her fears and won. She just hoped and prayed she could do the same.
“We’re here with you,” Brianna said.
Justine glanced from Brianna on one side to Patrick on the left. “Patrick, you haven’t said anything about today.”
“I trust Brianna, and she’s solidly in your corner. That’s all I need to know.”
So simple, and it meant so much. “I’m glad you wore her down.”
“Me too.” Patrick pushed the elevator button.
In a matter of minutes they were walking down the hallway to ICCU. At the entrance to the waiting room, she turned. “Thank you again. I can get a cab home.”
Brianna shook her head. “No way.”
“Don’t be stubborn,” Justine said. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be here.”
“Then Patrick can take me home and I can drive back and wait with you.”
“I can also wait with you,” Patrick said.
“This isn’t the time to be stubborn,” Brianna told him.
He faced Justine. “I’d feel better if I knew neither of you had to go outside at night by yourself.”
“I’ve been doing this for over three months. I’ll be fine.” She hugged Brianna and stepped back. “Thanks for today.” She glanced at the closed door. “This might take awhile.”
Brianna proved Patrick wasn’t the only one who could be stubborn. “I don’t like leaving you.”
Justine nodded her head in Patrick’s direction. “Go home and enjoy yourself. I want all the details tomorrow.”
Brianna flushed. Patrick suddenly found something interesting on the wall.
Justine hugged her best friend again, then went through the door.
“Justine, oh, my goodness!” Beverly said, excitement ringing in her voice. “I thought I saw his fingers move just now.”
Justine’s startled gaze went first to her mother-in-law, then to the nurse changing the IV solution. The amber-haired woman shook her head once.
Justine put her arm around Beverly. If by sheer will and love you were able to bring a person out of a coma, Beverly’s absolute love could do it. “The bond you and Andrew share is very special.”
“So is the love you two share.” Beverly put her hand on Andrew’s leg. “He’ll come back to us.”
Not to her . . . if he woke up. “Have you eaten?”
“Earlier,” Beverly said, moving to Andrew’s side as the nurse finished hanging the IV and left. “It’s important that he knows we’re here.”
“He’d want you to take care of yourself.”
“Being with Andrew is better than anything.”
If only that were true. “It won’t take long for us to go get a cup of coffee and a sandwich, then we’ll come back.”
Beverly looked at Andrew a long moment, as if seeking his permission or looking for something. “We won’t be long.”
On the drive home, Brianna had debated whether she should invite Patrick in for a drink. That would surely lead to more. This morning she had awakened in his arms. No man had ever spent the night before. One look into his eyes and heat had begun to build, and her body to tingle with want. He’d gently kissed her, then had taken her on a long, slow journey of lovemaking, making her cry out with her release. He was turning her into a screaming nut.
She stopped in front of her door and turned without unlocking
it. Patrick was too old-fashioned to let her get away with leaving him at the elevator. “Thanks for today, and especially being so nice to Justine.”
His hand swept the curls behind her ear, then lingered. “I like Justine.”
“I better go in.”
“Yes, we better.”
Time to set the ground rules. “I don’t let men spend the night.”
“Never thought you did.” Taking the key out of her hand, he opened the door.
“I’m not going to start now.”
“Sounds reasonable.” Catching her around the waist, he lifted her and took the necessary steps to enter the condo, then kicked the door shut behind them.
She braced her hands on his wide shoulders. “Patrick, you’re not listening to me.”
He nibbled her ear and kept heading to her bedroom. “You don’t let men spend the night.”
He nipped her neck. Her fingers flexed on his shoulders. She arched her neck to allow him greater freedom. Her feet touched the floor. The knit top she wore followed.
“You’re the most exquisite thing I’ve ever seen.” His fingers trailed across her skin. “Your skin is so soft I could kiss every inch of you.”
“You have,” she said, her voice shaky.
“I plan to do it again.” He began at her forehead. By the time he reached the valley between her breasts she was naked in bed and trembling with need. She’d send him home . . . later.
Justine and her mother-in-law stayed at the hospital until after ten, long past the posted visiting hours. Expecting to see the empty waiting room, she was surprised to see Dalton, long legs crossed at the ankle, his BlackBerry in his hand. Just as before, the moment they stepped into he area he looked up, hit something on the BlackBerry, and stood. “Evening, ladies. You ready to go home?”
“How long have you been here?” Beverly asked.
“Not long,” he said, not flinching at the lie as he joined them. “I spoke with Brianna, and she said she had dropped Justine off. The hospital is on the way back to the hotel from my place. I thought I’d stop by just in case you needed a lift.”
“That’s very considerate of you, Mr. Ramsey,” Beverly said.
