The Truth About Elyssa by Lorna Michaels

Author:Lorna Michaels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2001-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Trace was out of Intensive Care and back in his regular room. He was weak, thinner than ever, but he was a fighter and he had come through. “Do you think I’ll get well someday?” he asked wistfully when Elyssa visited him.

“You will. You beat the pneumonia, and you’re tough enough to lick the rest,” she told him, and prayed she was right.

His eyes brightened with hope and he doubled his fists. “Yeah,” he said, “I’m Superkid.”

Elyssa swallowed the tears that welled in her throat and squeezed his shoulder gently. His bones seemed so fragile, she feared they’d break. They talked about the upcoming World Series and about a new Harry Potter book Trace was reading. She didn’t want to tire him, though, so she brought the conversation to a close. “So long, Superkid,” she said. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“I’ll be here,” Trace said.

I hope, Elyssa thought. She blew him a kiss and closed his door softly. For the hundredth time she wondered how Brett coped with this every day.

There he was in the hallway. Three intense-looking residents trailed him, but he stopped and squatted beside a thin, bald-headed girl, focusing completely on what the child was saying. As always when he interacted with kids, he wore a smile.

Elyssa stopped and watched. She loved seeing Brett with his patients. He was thoroughly dedicated to the youngsters in his care. He’d make a wonderful father, she thought, picturing him with a chubby toddler in his lap and a golden-haired girl at his feet.

Oh, God, what was she doing? She wasn’t seeing him as a father but as the father…of her children.

What a fool she was. Hadn’t he made it perfectly clear that such a scene wasn’t in his future? In their future.

What would he say, what would he do, if he guessed what she was thinking? When he looked up and met her eyes, he winked. And her cheeks turned crimson. She reminded herself that, unlike Mariah, he couldn’t read minds. Thank heaven for that.

“You’re flustered. I’m flattered,” he murmured as he came up to her. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then brushed his fingers lightly over her cheek.

She turned a brighter shade of red. “Stop,” she whispered. “People will notice.”

“I think they already have.” He shifted the chart he carried to his other hand. “Unfortunately, I can’t spend time with you this afternoon. I have a procedure scheduled in twenty minutes and a meeting after that.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “So the broom closet’s out. I’ll call you tonight.”

“Fine.” Relieved he didn’t have time to talk now, she watched him hurry away. She was flustered…and disgusted with herself. Why couldn’t she keep their relationship light and sexy instead of longing for permanence? These crazy feelings she had about him had to stop. But how could they, unless she quit seeing him?

Could she do that?

She headed for the elevator. She had to get away and think. When she passed the cafeteria on the main floor, she slowed.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.