“Yes.” His answer was quick. “Go to sleep.”
“Are you comfortable?” The words came out in a mumble.
“I’m fine.” His arm tightened around my waist.
“Thank you.” For holding me. For keeping me calm. For staying.
“You’re welcome.” He dipped down to kiss my head.
NINETEEN
“WHY DIDN’T YOU tell me?” Selene stood on the stairs, her voice angry. The younger nurse stood beside her with big eyes.
“What?” I rubbed my eyes, confused. Was I at the palace?
“The pictures. You could have let me know. I have people sending me e-mails left and right.” She was using a cane, but the expression on her face was fierce.
“I didn’t want to upset you.” Fat lot of good that had done for me. I was tucked next to David on the couch, his arm still over my waist. I sat up and let his arm fall to the side. “Who let you have a computer?”
“I got out of bed and took it. I’m not asking for permission anymore.”
“Why are you up? I can deal with this.” But the truth was that I could taste vomit in the back of my mouth. The pictures were out and people were seeing me with David in a very private moment.
“Because I know.” She shook her head sadly. “I know what you’re feeling right now.” Taking the steps slowly, she made her way down to me.
The nurse was helping her, but I hopped up to assist her myself. “You’re going to kill yourself.”
“Sitting in that bed, stressing over not knowing what is going on, will kill me faster.” Selene grabbed my arm and looked into my eyes. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I don’t know what to do.” Tears prickled at the backs of my eyes. “What do I say?”
“Nothing right this minute.” She cupped my cheek and I was reminded of when I was a child. “We think about it and handle it with a clear head.”
I led her to a seat across from where David was sitting on the couch. “Sit here and I’ll get you some tea.”
“I’ll get it, ma’am.” The young nurse disappeared.
“She’s probably going to slip drugs into it.” Selene frowned. “Good morning, David.”
“Good morning, Selene.” David smiled at her, his hair sticking out in different directions. “I’m sorry you woke up to this.”
“This is my job. To make sure Cathy doesn’t panic or make the wrong move.” She shook her head. “Where is Tabitha?”
“Are you not taking your medicine?” I glared at her. “Why do you think they are drugging you?”
“Because they’re tired of me complaining.” She waved her hand. “They probably aren’t, but I bet they wish they could. Now, where is Tabitha?”
“I don’t know. She disappeared last night.” I shrugged. At the time it had been a relief. Of course she did drink an entire bottle of wine in the car, so it was likely that she was still snoring in her bed. “Maybe in her room.”
“We need to talk about the photos.” Selene said the words quietly. “Have you seen them?”
I shook my head, my stomach rolling. I remembered the kiss, the intense need, the way he had cupped my ass. I didn’t want to see that splattered in a tabloid.
“They aren’t that bad.” Selene leaned back in her chair. “They’re actually sweet. David, can you pull them up on your phone?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He fiddled in his pocket until the phone was free, and he pressed buttons until he had pulled up the file. He looked at the pictures for a minute, but I refused to look down. Instead I watched his face as he decided what he thought. “They aren’t bad. Just personal.”
“No, and what I’m most worried about is where the photos came from.” Selene said the words calmly, but it sent my heart racing.
“What do you mean?”
“Those are cell phone pictures. Who else was staying on the floor with you?” She frowned. “I don’t remember much from the hospital, but I know that you would have been in a penthouse. Were there other rooms on the floor?”
“I don’t think so.” I shook my head.
“No, that’s not right. There was a door on the opposite side of the hallway from yours.” David narrowed his eyes.
“I thought that was a janitorial closet.”
“It would have been large enough for someone to hide in.” He looked around the room angrily as if he could spot the perpetrator walking through my living room.
“Who would have done that? The staff? How long did they hide in that closet? Just for the chance of a photo?” My mouth worked for a minute as I watched Selene’s serious face. “Who has time for that?”