by Lynn, Janice
“He didn’t stay long, but he did come by.”
“Did I…did he see me like this?”
“He’s who brought you to the hospital, but once you were here, no one saw you except me. Not until Rob and J.P. came by this morning.”
Jessie nodded, glad Colin hadn’t seen her during the craziness of the night before. It was bad enough that he’d been the one to bring her to the hospital. Had she been out cold or talked to him? Out cold seemed preferable.
Yet she couldn’t erase the memory of him being in the room with her. But he couldn’t have been. Jill would know if he had.
“I think you should stay away from him.”
“What?” Jilly was warning her against a man? That hadn’t happened in years. Not since Jessie hooked up with a motorcycle riding hunk whose night job was helping himself to other people’s belongings. Too bad, because he’d been a really nice guy otherwise. Jill assisted in his arrest. So why Colin? “I work with him so it’s a fair guess I won’t be staying away.”
“I mean personally.”
“I don’t have a personal relationship with Colin.”
“If you’d seen his expression last night, you’d understand why I beg to think differently.” Jill’s gaze met hers. “Or if you’d heard the longing in your voice when you asked if he was here.”
“Oh.” She gulped.
“Jess, I try not to interfere with your life, but someone drugged you. It could have been anyone at Wolf. Even this Colin guy.”
“No.” Colin didn’t have a thing to do with what had happened yesterday. She knew that. “It wasn’t Colin.”
“You can’t be sure.”
“I can. It wasn’t him.” She kept her voice steady, level despite the urge to shout the words at her sister.
A knock sounded on her door.
Speak of the devil, she thought seconds later when Colin, handsome as always in a perfectly starched suit, walked into the bland hospital room.
She sucked in a breath, hated that a monitor registered her increased heart rate, displayed it for anyone who cared to look. Personally, she was afraid to look. Just in case it topped the charts and nurses were going to fly into the room any moment.
“Colin,” she said, trying not to show how glad she was to see him. Trying not to show how seeing him both calmed and excited. Especially with Jilly watching her every move with an eagle’s eye.
“Good to see you awake,” he said, sounding unsure and stilted. His gaze shifted toward Jill. Did he sense her hostility?
“Have you met my sister?” she asked, then recalled that, of course, he had since Jill said she’d met him the night before. Duh. Had they exchanged words? Had Colin said something that raised Jill’s police woman hackles?
“Briefly last night.”
“In the hospital cafeteria.” Jill nodded, not looking happy to see Colin.
Jessie eyed them and frowned. What was up with Jill that she’d be anti-Colin? She didn’t really think he had anything to do with what happened? How ridiculous.
Jessie eyed their mundane verbal interaction, watching Colin’s response to her sister closely. Jill was the total package. Smart, sexy, and fun to boot. She was also very much in love with Rob Lancaster. But that didn’t mean Colin couldn’t fall under her spell. Jill was the kind of woman a man could love forever.
Jessie chided herself for her thoughts. If Colin fell for her sister, it wouldn’t do him any good and he wasn’t hers anyway, so it didn’t matter. Not really.
But he had kissed her.
Beep. Beep. Beep. There went that heart monitor again. Jessie slipped the clip off her finger, tired of having Colin’s effect on her displayed like a breaking news flash.
Jill eyed her curiously, then took a deep breath. “Since you have company and won’t be alone, I’m going outside to get some fresh air.”
“Don’t leave on my account,” Colin politely offered.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be far,” Jill warned. “I slept in that chair and ache from head to toe. Walking will do me good.”
Colin and Jessie’s gazes both shot to the chair that pulled out into a make-shift bed.
“It’s not as bad as it looks. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Jill met Jessie’s eyes. “Unless you want me to stay?”
“No, I’m fine.” Jessie sat in silence as Jill left. She wished she wore something more glamorous than a white drawstring gown with blue flecks. Hospital standard issue. Gross.
“I don’t think your sister likes me.”
“She’s just protective of me.” Too protective, but try telling Jill that.
“You look better today.”
“Better?” Jessie’s mouth dropped. The realization that she didn’t have a single stroke of make-up on her face hit. Fortunately, Jill braided her hair into a long French plait earlier. At least her hair wasn’t a wild mess.
Colin must have interpreted her thoughts, or noticed her clean face for himself because he stared at her. So intently Jessie wanted to pull the sheet up to block his probing eyes.
“You’re beautiful.”
Not what she’d expected him to say. “What?”
“Don’t go fishing for more compliments. You heard me the first time.”
“I think I’m still under the influence and heard wrong.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“What’s those?” She gestured toward the fresh flower bouquet he held.
A small smile played on his lips. “If you have to ask, I’m going to call a doctor in here and have him take another look.”
Jessie giggled. “You know what I mean.”
He walked over to the bed, stood at the edge. “They’re for you. I thought you might like them, but it looks like you’ve already accumulated your own florist shop.”
He gestured to the dozen bouquets she’d received from friends and co-workers including Tamara and a huge vase of roses from Maxwell.
“I do like them. Thank you.”
He turned and placed the flowers next to her bed.
“Wait.”
He did.
“Let me smell.”
He held out the bouquet, positioning it to where she could easily take a whiff but without water spilling from the vase.
“Mmm, heavenly.”
Colin set down the flowers. “Glad you like them.”
“I love them, Colin, but you didn’t have to.”
He looked cautious. “They’re just flowers, Jessie. Don’t read anything into them.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not.” She patted a spot on the bed next to her. “Sit.”
He looked like he’d refuse, but sat.
“Tell me what happened yesterday.”
His gaze met hers. “How much do you remember?”
“Nothing from the time I sat down to record the show until I woke up this morning to Jill standing guard over me.”
“You told me you thought I was the sexiest man alive.”
Jessie stared at him, trying to gauge his mood. Was he serious or teasing? Serious. Okay, so she’d told the truth. No harm there. “What did you say back?”
“I asked if you were okay.”
No returning compliment that she was the sexiest woman alive, apparently. “I wasn’t okay.”
“No, you weren’t.” Colin touched her face, tracing a finger over her skin. “You scared me.”
“I scared myself.”
“At first, I thought you were high.”
“I was.”
“I mean, of your own accord.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Someone laced your coffee. I’m sure of it. I went back to the studio to get the mug, but it was gone.”
Gone? “Perhaps one of the cleaning crew got it.”
“My cup was still there. The cleaners would have taken both.”
“Good point.” She turned her head, bringing her face into fuller contact with his hand. “Jill told me you came by last night. That you brought me here.”
Wer
e you in my room or did I dream that?
“J.P. drove and I kept talking to you, making sure you breathed, that your heart kept beating.” He caressed her face.
She searched his gaze in wonder at the emotion she saw reflected in his eyes. Colin cared for her. Whether he wanted to or not. Whether he was receptive to the feeling or not. He cared. “If my heart had stopped?”
“I’d have resuscitated you.”
They were close now. Very close.
Jessie glanced at the blank heart monitor. When she turned back to him, nervous thunder thudded in her ears. “My heart’s not beating.”
Colin sucked in air. “Jessie.”
“Look at the monitor.” She pointed toward the flat-line on the screen. “Save me, Colin,” she whispered, before logic took over, “because I’ll die if you don’t kiss me.”
“A bit dramatic, even for you, don’t you think?” he said, but his voice had grown husky, his eyes that dark full of desire blue.
“No, I don’t. I can’t think. Not when you’re near.” She took his other hand and placed it over the thin gown, over her heart. Heat seeped through the material. Familiar. Right. “Feel.”
Torture clouded his expression. “This isn’t a good idea.”
Jessie rolled her eyes. “Cut me a break. I’m in the hospital and all I’m asking for is for you to resuscitate me.” She stared into his eyes and willed him to want her. “Kiss me, Colin. Now.”
He closed the distance between their mouths and kissed her. Not soft, not tender, but a kiss of passion. A kiss meant to jumpstart her heart.
Jumpstart it did. Into some wildly erratic rhythm.
Had the monitor been on, the nurses would have flown to her room to see what all the commotion was about. Colin caused a commotion. And how.
Deeper and deeper he probed, conquering and demanding.
Jessie wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, tasting his lips, breathing his scent deep, and holding on to him with desperation.
He held her with a desperation of his own. Kissing her as if he’d thought he might never kiss her again.
Maybe that’s what he had thought.
If she’d been able to think, perhaps it’s what she would have thought, too. She could have died. Yet again.
She wanted Colin. No more denying herself when life was so short. She could have a relationship with him and not fall in love. She could do it.
“You are,” she whispered against his lips, her hands tangling in his hair. “Ouch.”
Gently, he helped untangle his hair from where her I.V. caught it. “Am what?”
“The sexiest man alive.”
To which he laughed. Not a sarcastic laugh, but one filled with joy. Colin filled with joy did funny things to Jessie’s insides.
“I think your mind is still hazy.”
“From your kiss.”
To which they stared at each other, silent messages passing. Jessie knew they’d crossed some invisible line. One they couldn’t retreat behind. Perhaps one neither wanted to return behind.
“Well now,” J.P. said from where he and Jill stood just inside her hospital doorway, “Aren’t you two cozy as two peas in a pod?”
Chapter Thirteen
Two nights later, Jessie handed a bowl of popcorn to Colin and dropped onto her apartment sofa next to him. Tamara was gone to a party and wouldn’t be back till late. They were truly alone for the first time. Although it wouldn’t surprise her for J.P., Maxwell, or Jill to show up. They’d practically smothered her since she’d left the hospital.
Since they all believed someone had poisoned her, she supposed it made sense they’d be protective, but enough was enough.
She glanced at the man on her sofa. Garbed in faded frayed jeans that ought to be against the law they looked so good and a plain t-shirt he appeared relaxed and intent on the television. Was that why Colin was here? To protect? Had her hospital visit scared him? Perhaps J.P. or Maxwell ordered him to play babysitter?
She wouldn’t put anything passed those two, but she hated to think Colin was in her apartment, with her, for any reason other than that he wanted to be in her company.
The former seemed more likely. She chose to ignore that. After all, it wasn’t like her eyes weren’t wide-open. She wanted an affair with Colin. Hot sex. Nothing more.
Although just spending time with him was nice.
“What’s on?” she asked, snuggling closer to him and scooping up a handful of popcorn.
“Not much.” He flipped through the channels in typical male fashion. “Do you have cable?”
She shook her head. It wasn’t an expense she and Tamara could justify. Under normal circumstances they weren’t home that much.
“What movies do you have?”
She pointed to the shelf of movies she’d brought with her from San Padre. “Pick one.”
Colin stood, thumbed through the movies, and chose the one she’d starred in with Eric Ewing. “I’ve never seen this one. Since he’s scheduled to be on the show next week, watching this would be timely.”
Timely? She reminded, “I’m in it, too.”
“Yeah, I know.” He didn’t sound impressed. He opened the movie case and removed the disc.
“But you don’t like actresses and this might remind you I’m an actress.” She stared at him. “I don’t want you to go back to not liking me.”
That caught his attention, and he turned to her. “Who said I like you now?”
“A little birdie told me.”
“A little birdie, huh?” He toyed with the movie case. “For the record, I’ve always liked you.”
Her insides warmed all fuzzy and toasty. “Sure have a funny way of showing it.”
He nodded. “If I were a wise man, I’d stay away from you. I tried, but apparently I’m a fool.”
“Why?”
J.P.’s warning haunted her. Because it could ruin their careers. Hers, definitely. Possibly Colin’s, too. J.P. hadn’t held back when he’d blasted her for kissing Colin at the hospital. She hadn’t told that she planned to kiss him a whole lot more.
“I can’t think clearly when you’re near.”
“Good.” She liked his answer. “That makes us even.”
“I’m not staying tonight, Jessie.”
“I didn’t hear anyone invite you to stay.”
He sighed, put the DVD into the player and sat back down next to her. “I shouldn’t be here. You’re not ready for this.”
“Oh please. Don’t even start that again. You are here and we’ve already established you aren’t staying. We’re co-workers watching a movie. I am ready for this.”
Despite her play at relaxing him, his expression remained intense. He shook his head, as if to himself. “If I stay, I’ll kiss you.”
Her pulse kicked up a notch. And another. “So? We’ve kissed before.”
“We’ve kissed at the hospital and in my car.”
“And here,” she reminded. “I can restrain myself if you can.”
“That’s what worries me.”
His tone of pure torture pleased her. She scooted over and laced her fingers with his. “Good answer.”
“I’m tired of restraining myself.”
A part of her wanted to strip his clothes off him right now while she saw the weakness in his eyes, but she didn’t, wouldn’t. When Colin made love to her, and he would, it would be because he wanted to.
“Shh, the movie’s coming on,” she teased.
“The movie?”
Clearly, she’d thrown him. He wanted her to seduce him. To take the matter out of his hands. She glanced at their intertwined hands and shot him a silencing look. “Shh.”
His expression pinched, and he pulled their clasped hands into his lap and held her hand like he’d never let go.
He turned his attention to the screen.
An hour later, Jessie curled into the crook of Colin’s arm and pretended to watch the movie. She’d seen it numerous times. She was in it.
Screaming and shaking her boobs, of course.
With her free hand, her other was still locked with Colin’s, she traced a light pattern up his arm. Dark, crisp hair impeded her path, making the journey upwards intriguing. Adventurous.
Jessie liked adventure. She liked Colin. Everything about him. His scent. The way his arm wrapped around her even though he was absorbed in the movie. The intensity of his blue eyes. The strength that emanated from him.
“I like your arms,” she praised, needing his attention on her in person and not her on the screen.
She was on the screen. She rolled her eyes, embarrassed that Colin would see her scream-and-shake-her-boobs scene. Unless she distracted him.
She bent and dropped a kiss onto his forearm.
Colin immediately turned to her. “Quit that. You’re on.”
She hated the weak character she portrayed on this show. Why had she never realized that before? She’d known she didn’t like the few roles she’d played but never had she wanted to crawl under the covers in shame. She didn’t want him to watch, so she grinned and turned up the heat in her gaze. “Turned on, you mean?”
