Chapter 3
Hmmm. The bed was so soft and the breeze coming in from the window so sweet. Elise didn’t want to open her eyes, afraid that she was dreaming.
The door creaked open then started to close.
“Don’t go. I’m awake.” She lifted her lids and saw Finn in the doorway. “Hi.”
“Hi, there.” He looked cute in pajama bottoms and a T-shirt. That lock of hair fell onto his forehead. He was holding two cups. “How are you feeling?”
“Remarkably better.” She pushed herself up against the headboard. “You can come over here.”
He handed her a cup and leaned against the dresser. “The coffee’s black. But I can doctor it if you want.”
“Black is fine.” She sipped the brew and watched him. Up close, she could see how his gray shirt accented his eyes. She felt a stirring inside her. Finally, she said, “I’m not sure I remember everything from last night.”
“Do you recall anything?”
“Seeing you and your girlfriend in a restaurant. The migraine in the car.”
“I’m not surprised you don’t remember much. You were completely wrapped up in that pain. Even after you took medicine.” He gave her a sexy half smile. “And’s Juliet’s not my girlfriend, just a friend and colleague.”
She cleared her throat. “Sometimes the pills help, but apparently not this time.”
“How many headaches a week do you have?”
“At least one.” She raked her hair back. “They’re debilitating.”
“What do you take?”
“Ubrogepant.”
“I’m familiar with it. Does it work for you?”
“You’re supposed to take one as soon as the headache begins, like most migraine medicine. I didn’t quite make it last night. In any case, the effectiveness lasts only for a few hours.”
“Again, I know they’re awful.”
“Yeah.” She plucked at her T-shirt. “Thanks for this. I think.”
He grinned and the devil danced in his eyes. “You’re welcome. And I only had a peek.”
She sighed and stared out the window. “That view is wonderful.”
“Yeah. I love hearing the water move on the canal at night. That’s why I brought you in here.”
“This is your bedroom?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Sorry to kick you out.”
“You didn’t. You asked me to stay. I slept on the other side of the bed.”
It was cute how he blushed. “Ah.”
“I, um, washed your dress, following the direction on the label. It’s dry now.”
“That was kind of you.”
“We have a fertility treatment today, you know.”
“Yes, I’m off from shooting the movie.”
“I figured. I took your phone out of your purse and thought if you were needed on set, they’d call you.”
“That was smart.”
He said, “Elise, you’ve got to do something about those headaches.”
“I’m all out of options. Do you have a suggestion?”
“First, regular reiki treatments. And I did some research before you woke up. I found some interesting material for reiki and self-care.”
“Oh, that’s great. I’m often alone when I get them.” She glanced around. “Will we go to the studio today?”
“No, need. I have a reiki chair here at my house.”
“Yes. Now I remember. You did it on me for the headache.”
“I was thrilled it worked so well.”
“At least something does.”
“Back to the treatment. I don’t have anything until this afternoon. We can do it here, then I’ll take you back to the restaurant and you can get your car.”
“Thanks.”
“The bathroom’s right there. I put out some necessities.”
“Can I take a shower? I usually feel crummy after one of these.”
“Some people sweat a lot in the midst of a migraine.”
She sipped more coffee.
“Do you want breakfast before that?”
“Maybe some toast.”
“I’m on it.” He pushed off the dresser pulling his shirt stretched across his chest. He had wide shoulders and she had a strong urge to lose herself in them.
After he left, Elise realized she felt uncomfortable with Finn. Probably because she’d been at her worst, so vulnerable around him. And then there was the whole infertility thing. He must think she was a train wreck.
* * *
Heath Elsworth, the Men’s Health practitioner, sat in the middle of the members of the collective; they formed a half circle around him.
He was a big guy, muscular and fit. “We’re all here.
It’s time to start.” Each month, a different practitioner ran these catch-up meetings. “Let’s hear from everybody.”
Finn had to force himself to concentrate.
On his way in this morning, he thought about Elise.
Seeing her suffer touched him deeply. He’d have to take some time to think about that and figure how to put his feelings aside.
At least he’d taught her some things she could do alone and agreed to continue her reiki treatments.
He was distracted by Oliver Ricardi waving at Heath.
Tall and slim, he had a runner’s body. “I’ll start.
Things are going great with my massage therapy practice.
I’ve been busy and I’m booking times way out on the calendar.
Some of my clients asked about coffee or drinks.
We all provide water, but I have a suggestion. ”
“Go ahead,” Heath said, “As long as it isn’t sharing our coffee room. We need space to decompress.” Despite his comment, he looked skeptical. Then again, he usually did. Of all the members, Finn knew the least about him.
Finn said, “We could add an area for the clients in what’s now the gym. The space in underused. I rarely see one of us out there.”
Scarlet spoke up. “I use it sometimes, but not enough to keep it to ourselves.”
Now that woman was a mystery. And she was their rebel. She worked at odd hours, traveled often and kept to herself. One notable thing about her was the unusual shade of her red hair.
Juliet sat forward in her seat. “I think we should get an estimate for cost before we vote.” His friend was always circumspect.
“I know a contractor,” Daisy put in. “I used him when we moved to a condo.” Single, Daisy had one son. She was outgoing, not sweet like Juliet, or sarcastic like Heath. He’d describe her looks as patrician.
“Is he a boyfriend?” Heath asked.
“Of course not. He’s happily married and has kids. Do you think I’m an idiot to recommend someone I’m in a romantic relationship with?”
Heath stared at her silently.
“What about the rest of you?” Oliver asked.
They all agreed to get an estimate for the conversion to a public space. Oliver offered to spearhead it.
When it was Heath’s turn, he frowned. “Something odd happened to me today. There was an explosion in the building downtown which houses my medical practice.”
“An explosion?” Scarlet asked.
“Yeah, I don’t know what or how powerful it was but the police were all over it. They interviewed us, then we closed down and left.”
“Did they find the person who did it?” Daisy, mostly so calm, seemed upset.
“No, they didn’t. I understand no one was hurt and there was only minor damage.”
“Where was it in the building?” Finn asked.
“They’re not releasing that information yet.”
“Hell of a thing.” Scarlet again.
The others gave their updates then Heath ended the meeting.
Afterward, Oliver crossed to Finn. “Hey, buddy, how you doing?”
“Fine.” Finn nodded to a corner where Daisy and Heath were in a congenial discussion. “Look at them.”
“Yeah, they seem to be friends despite how they snipe at each other in meetings.”
“Go figure.”
“You want to go for a beer?”
“Yeah, I would. Meet you at The Tap Room?”
“Yep.”
As Finn walked to his car, his mind wandered back to Elise and he wondered how she was doing.
Last night, and before that, he’d noticed how pretty she was, how her eyes shone in the light, and then helping her into the T-shirt…
affected him. Maybe it was a good thing that he wouldn’t see her for two days, since they’d already had a treatment today.
Still, he found he wanted contact sooner.
* * *
The Tap Room was dim and private for a pub. It’s why Oliver liked to go here after work. He could decompress and forget about his problems. They walked through the door and took a table off to the right of the bar. Each of them ordered a beer.
“Crazy thing that happened to Heath,” Oliver said.
“Yeah.”
“Things like that do go on in Rockford.”
“Heath didn’t even seem upset.”
“He has nerves of steel.” Their beer came and Oliver took a sip. “So, buddy, how are you doing?”
Finn shook his head. “Nope, not today. You always turn the conversation onto the other person. You go first.”
“I’m doing well.” Oliver shrugged. “As I said, my practice is going great.”
“Personally?”
“Like I told you, no one who sets off sparks.”
Finn laughed. “How’s your family?”
He knew his face betrayed his feelings. He couldn’t pretend with Finn. “My brothers are fine. Happy with their many kids.”
“Your Ma still on you about that?”
“And everything else.”
“You’re her favorite Oliver. As the youngest.”
At least his friend didn’t call him a Mama’s boy like his brothers did. “I know. And I try to take care of her. But I’ve gotta set more boundaries. Make my brothers do more for her.”
“Skip a Sunday dinner.”
“And lose my head?”
“They’ll be mad at you for a while.” Finn sighed. “I’ll shut up about this if you promise to think about it.”
“I promise. Now, I want to hear about Elise Preston.”
He glanced down at his beer. “What about her?”
“She’s on your mind. I can tell.”
“A lot’s happened. Long story short, she got a migraine when I was around.” He told Oliver about taking her to his house, the reiki treatment, and her overnight stay.
“Why do you say all that in a guilty tone? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Do? No. Think about it? Yep. A lot.”
“Luckily, there’s no thought police around.”
Finn laughed.
“You’re good for me, Oliver.”
“As you are for me, buddy.”
* * *
Elise couldn’t concentrate at work. The migraine two nights ago had left her weakened, and even today, she felt shaky. Plus, the time with Finn stayed with her. How sweet he’d been. How he’d even helped her undress. The span of his shoulders. Those unusual gray eyes.
“Elise,” John Gorman, the director said when she missed a line. “Is something wrong today?”