Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Hannah's phone vibrated on the counter, and she swiped her thumb over the screen as she lifted it to her ear. “Hello?”
“Hannah, how are you?”
“I’m fine, Andrew. How about you?” She shifted the phone so it lay cradled between her ear and shoulder as she moved around the kitchen.
‘Fine’ was a drastic understatement. Her body still pulsed with unrequited desire, and her skin buzzed like a live wire where Luke had touched her. He’d walked out the door half an hour ago, but the warm, fuzzy feeling he’d stirred inside her had yet to subside.
From the tingling of her skin, she doubted it would go away anytime soon. And the thought of dinner with him tonight, maybe going back to his place… A welcome heat spread through her chest then lower to her core, making her feel needy and restless.
He was so different from any other man she’d ever dated. He seemed to intuitively know exactly what she needed; he pushed her out of her comfort zone but still managed to respect her boundaries. The last line that lay between them had become slightly blurred. Did she want Luke to be her first?
Trepidation mixed with anticipation coursed through her veins when the immediate answer popped into her mind. Yes. She could practically feel the heat rising in her cheeks as she envisioned him in her bed, suspended over her—
“Did you hear about the exhibit the art gallery downtown will be hosting?”
Andrew’s question tore her from her daydream, and she forced herself to focus. “I didn’t. Are they featuring anyone good?”
“I’m not really sure. I just read about it this morning, and I thought maybe we could go tonight.”
She froze. Should she tell him about Luke?
Probably not yet. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, and this was a conversation best had in person.
Andrew had been the one to suggest she start dating again, but he’d more than likely meant she should date him.
No, for now, she’d just keep quiet until she figured out exactly how to break the news.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I can’t. I promised Audrey I would come see her today. She’s supposed to get released sometime this afternoon.”
It wasn’t a lie, exactly, just… not the whole truth. A trace of disappointment lined Andrew’s tone when he spoke again. “Do you think you’ll be there all evening?”
“Possibly. I hate the thought of her being there all alone. They’ve been monitoring her for internal bleeding and keeping a close eye on her head for any trauma she may have sustained.
Last she heard, everything was normal. They kept her just as a precaution, but she should be fine to come home today. ”
“Wonderful.”
She couldn’t tell if the statement was genuine or if there was a hint of sarcasm in there. Either way, it didn’t matter. A thought popped into her head. “Did Steve Iverson ever contact you?”
“No. In fact, I left a message for him a few days ago but he never returned my call.”
She really hoped he’d gotten the message. She had no desire to ever have another run-in with him. “Well, then, I wouldn’t worry about it. I think we were beyond what he initially came for and he was hanging on out of habit.”
Andrew made a thoughtful noise on the other end. “Do you suppose he was infatuated with you?”
“Could be.”
She’d told Detective Sanchez of the possibility of Steve Iverson lashing out, but the idea just didn’t seem to fit. Of course, nothing was ever as it seemed. Sometimes people hid their deepest secrets right below the surface.
“Well, you should be extra careful, especially in light of recent events. I love you, Hannah. I just want to make sure you’re safe.”
She cringed at his words. Though she’d told him before that she loved him as a friend, she had a feeling his love went a whole lot deeper. She swallowed hard before speaking. “I’m sure everything will work out.”
He was silent for a moment when she didn’t return his sentiment. “Well, maybe I’ll give you a call tomorrow and see if you’re interested in dinner or something.”
“Sounds great.”
She disconnected the phone and set it on the counter. She really needed to come clean—and soon. Guilt was already weighing down her conscience and she couldn’t bear to see him hurt.
He’d been her shoulder to lean on, and he’d given her some great advice over the past couple of years. He didn’t know the whole story, but then few people did. He knew she’d been held against her will and that she managed to escape, but she’d left out all the gory details about Selah’s murder.
She’d opened up to Audrey one night, years ago, finally spilling every detail. But Andrew was a man. A friend, yes, and a great doctor—but still a man. She hadn’t quite crossed that hurdle of being able to trust him enough to fully open up.
Why, then, had she told Luke?
She glanced at his coffee cup where it lay in the sink next to hers. She’d known him for barely two weeks. What in the world had prompted her to air her dirty laundry?
Because he made her feel… everything. Safe. Happy. Loved.
She promptly cut off that last train of thought. It wasn’t love. Attraction, certainly—but not love. People didn’t develop those kinds of feelings in just a couple of weeks. As a doctor, she knew it was nothing more than lust driving them.
As a woman, though… she desperately wanted it to be more.
She smiled at Audrey as she stepped into the room. “How are you feeling?”
“Ready to get out of here.” Audrey sat in a chair by the window, her pale face accentuated by the bruise on her forehead. “I still don’t know why they kept me an extra day. Complete waste of resources.”
She smiled as Audrey rolled her eyes dramatically.
It kind of surprised her, too. Usually hospitals pushed people through recovery and out the door to open up the bed for the next patient.
Maybe it was more of a professional courtesy than anything, or maybe there really was more trauma than the doctors had initially guessed.
“But everything’s okay?” Brain trauma was a tricky thing. Sometimes everything appeared to be okay initially, but latent injury manifested itself later.
Audrey nodded. “Normal function. Everything’s still there, bad judgment and all.”
She frowned. “You weren’t the one with poor judgment—Scott was. He’s the one who cheated and ruined your marriage.”
“Maybe,” Audrey agreed, “but it was a bad idea to get married in the first place. We were too young.”
She didn’t know what to say to that, so she kept quiet. Audrey piped up a moment later. “My memory from the other night is coming back, too.”
“Really?” That was a good sign. “Did you recognize him?”
“No.” She shook her head. “But I do remember a little bit of what he said.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize he’d said anything.”
“I hadn’t either. But when I woke up this morning, it was the first thing that popped into my head, clear as day.”
Her tone was hesitant, and she warily dropped into the chair beside her. “What did he say?”
“He said you were perfect just the way you were.”
Her brows drew together. “But if you were perfect, then why—”
“Not me.” She glanced her way. “You.”
“Me?” She jerked back in surprise.
Audrey nodded. “He called me a whore. Told me I was corrupting you, that you were perfect just the way you were.”
She couldn’t suppress the shiver that racked her body. Someone had attacked Audrey because of her?
“My God. I’m so sorry, I had no idea.”
Audrey grabbed her hand. “It’s not your fault. I didn’t want to worry you, but this person is clearly obsessed with you. You need to be extra careful.”
She bit her lip. “I think you’re right. I think someone broke into my house the other day.”
She held up a hand as Audrey’s eyes rounded in shock and her mouth opened to speak. “Nothing was stolen, at least not that I can see. But it felt different, like someone had been there.”
“Did you call the cops?”
“No. Luke came over and checked things out for me.”
“Oh?”
She couldn’t miss the interest in Audrey’s question, and a smile curved her mouth. “Then he stayed the night. Last night, too.” Her mouth dropped open, and she grinned. “And before you ask, he was a perfect gentleman.”
Audrey’s face twisted into an expression of dismay. “Well, that’s disappointing.”
“Although…”
Audrey’s eyes lit up as she told her all about the night before. “Was that your first time?”
She nodded. “We’re going to dinner tonight and I think… I think I’m ready.”
“It’s a big step,” Audrey said, her voice serious. “You’re sure?”
“Yeah. Luke is…”
“Sexy? Gorgeous? Ripped?” she supplied with a grin.
She laughed. “Yes—to all of those. But he’s… different. I want him to be the first.”
“As long as you’re certain.”
“I am.”
“Good.” She pinned her with a stare. “I want details tomorrow. All of them.” Audrey pointed at her. “And don’t you dare leave a single thing out.”
She grinned. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”