"I have a surprise for you," she said with a wicked glint in her eyes.
"Oh yeah?" he replied while he stripped off his clothes.
She jumped up from the bed and pulled him toward it, shoving him backward. His ass hit the mattress and he looked up at her. "What's going on in your pretty little head?"
"Don't move."
She went over to her computer and the pulsing beats of "Girls, Girls, Girls" filled the room. As she slowly pulled her sundress over her head, she wiggled around. Then she placed her hands over her breasts and he thought he'd lose it. Dressed in a black, cutout, sheer teddy, she looked luscious with her pink pussy peeking out. When she whirled around, the lingerie opened just enough to show her bitable ass. Before the song went into the chorus, he had her on the bed, sucking her tits as he buried his fingers between her damp folds.
After a few hours, they held each other as he twirled strands of her hair around his finger.
"I'm so happy you came over," she whispered in the darkness.
"Me too."
"I was surprised when I got your text. At first I was worried something happened."
Something did.
She kissed his chest. "I feel so good right now."
"Yeah." He wanted to tell her he was feeling shit he never had before, but how could he explain it when he didn't even understand it. Instead, he held her tighter, never wanting to let the moment slip away from them.
"You're pretty special to me," she said softly.
"You too." And she was, but there were complications, like his lifestyle and Ryan. But earlier that night, none of it had mattered when he'd entered her, their bodies crashing together, smacking and sliding against each other. They'd fucked over and over until the sheets were wet from their frenzied passion.
After they'd both calmed down, he'd kissed her sweetly, and she'd whimpered and curled around his body. And that's when he'd made love to her. Long, slow strokes fueled their passion, and when they'd come together, he knew he'd experienced something he'd never had with any other woman. The smell of her hair, the taste of her mouth, the feel of her skin seemed to course through him, electrifying him and everything around him. Her essence gripped him; she captivated him.
And he could never let her go.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Hailey stood in the doorway as a man in his late forties in a crumpled sports jacket ambled down the hall. His shoulders were slumped, and it looked like he'd never polished his shoes. A tall, young deputy followed after him as they disappeared around the corner.
"I wonder what's going on," Hailey said as Shelly approached the room. Hailey stood back and let the nurse walk in.
"How're you doing, Patty? Are you sore from your physical therapy? Mica said you did great today."
"I'm very sore. Mica worked me hard." Patty smiled.
"What's going on here? I see a couple of cops around." Hailey glanced down the corridor again.
"There was an accident late last night," Shelly said as she handed Patty a pain pill.
"What sort of accident?" Hailey asked.
"Susan tripped and fell down the stairs. Kingsley found her in the stairwell when he went downstairs to take his break. He said it was awful."
"Is she all right?" Patty asked.
"She died. Must've broken her neck. Kingsley said she was dead when he found her."
Patty's hands flew to her mouth. "Dead! Oh my God. How dreadful."
"I just spoke to her the day before. I can't believe it," Hailey said.
"We're all shocked by it. Corporate will send a replacement, of course, but it's always hard to get used to a new person in charge. Well, let me know if you need anything." Shelly whirled around and left the room.
"She didn't seem too broken up over it," Hailey remarked as she watched the nurse go into another room.
"I don't think she and Susan got along that well. Shelly's very good friends with Dee, and Dee and Susan didn't see eye-to-eye on many issues of patient care," Patty said.
"I know you've told me this before, but refresh my memory. Who's Dee?"
"The DON-director of nursing. She's a lovely woman whose poor husband was just diagnosed with cancer."
"Why didn't Dee like Susan? I thought Susan was real nice, and I loved her accent."
Darting her eyes around the room, then back at the hallway, Patty said in a low voice, "She didn't like the way Susan drank on the job."
"Susan was an alcoholic?" Hailey asked, wide-eyed.
Patty nodded. "I felt so bad for her. I think it was all the stress of running this place. She was constantly pressured by corporate to show increases in earnings, but she also had to provide quality care. It was a hard juggling act. I bet she was drunk when she fell down the stairs. A few months back, she slipped and fell, but she only got bruised up. Poor, poor, Susan."
"Wow … I didn't know. When you get out of here, you should write a book."
"How's one of my favorite patients doing?" Dr. Daniels asked as he walked into the room.
Patty beamed. She always did when she saw the handsome doctor. Hailey was convinced she had a crush on him and wished she were twenty-five years younger.
"I'm doing great. Mica gave me quite a workout," Patty said.
"She's also upset about learning that Susan died in a fall last night. Is that why the cops are here?" Hailey asked.
Dr. Daniels turned to her, a sad smile on his lips. "I'm sure it's more about Mr. Halpern. He died last night."
"Gus died? Oh no. You know, he was a brilliant trial attorney before he retired. How sad," Patty said.
"It is. I didn't know he used to be a lawyer," Dr. Daniels replied.
"What was wrong with him?" Hailey asked.
"He had dementia, dear. An old friend and colleague of his came to see him, and then he sat down in the lobby, tears streaming down his face. We got to talking and he told me all about Gus. A brilliant man before the disease."
"That is sad. Isn't he like the fifth one to die around here? Don't you find that more than a coincidence, Doctor?" Hailey said.
Clearing his throat, he popped his head out the door, then turned to look at her. "Actually, I do, and apparently, so do the police. I shouldn't have said what I did, so please don't tell anyone you heard about Mr. Halpern from me."
"Was he your patient?" Hailey asked.
Shaking his head, he said, "Dr. Tyrell's. Sometimes I'd stop in if I was the only doctor on the floor. It's a shame. And now we've lost Susan. She was a wonderful person. Once in a while, we used to go to Bulldog Pub and have a pint. She told me it reminded her of Ireland." He stared vacantly at the wall.
"I didn't know her that well, but she was always nice and cheerful whenever I went in to talk with her," Hailey said.
He smiled. "I have to finish my rounds. I'm glad to see how well you're progressing, Patty. Keep it up and I may release you sooner than two months."
"I can't wait to get home. It seems that every week or so someone's dying around here." Patty grasped her arms and shuddered.
"I know. It must be awful being here. Seven months is more than enough." Hailey sat at the edge of the bed.
"What are you doing this weekend?" Patty asked.
"Goldie and I are going to a party."
"I can't get used to calling him Goldie. Why did he change his name? Garth is so much nicer."
"It has something to do with the club he's in. All the guys have road names. It's just what they do. He told me that his mom and dad were obsessed with Garth Brooks and Bob Dylan, so they named him Garth and his younger brother Dylan."
"You like him, don't you?"
"I always liked Goldie."
"I mean really like him."
Hailey shrugged. "I guess. I mean, we have a good time." I'm crazy about him, but I'm scared to think about it.
Patty patted her hand. "If he's the right guy for you, your heart will tell you. Does Ryan know you two have been dating?"
She grimaced. "No. I'm not sure how he'll react." Yes I do. He's going to be so pissed because he warned me to not get involved with Goldie.
"I would think he'd be happy for you and Garth. After all, he's known Garth most of his life, and they're still friends. You should tell him. By keeping it secret, it'll make him feel like he can't trust you."
"I know, you're right. I'll tell him." Someday.
"So where's the party you're going to?"
"At Goldie's clubhouse."
"Is it a dinner party?"
"Not exactly."
"What kind of party is it?"
"Uh, you know … just hanging out and stuff. Did you want me to bring you a pizza tomorrow night? I thought we could watch Some Like It Hot. It's playing on TCM."
Patty laughed. "I've seen that movie so many times, and each time I see it, I laugh my head off. That sounds wonderful." She yawned.