“Good to meet you,” Hannah said. “I wondered why you hadn’t come earlier.”
“Because June said I wasn’t needed. She said that the nurses were doing a perfectly adequate job, and there was nothing I could do anyway.”
Hannah didn’t like the way he’d caved in, but she wasn’t going to waste her breath on getting into an argument with him. Instead she watched him check Jordan over.
“Well?” Jordan asked at the end of the exam.
“You’re on your way to making a full recovery, but it will take several weeks of physical therapy before you got your muscle tone back.” He hesitated for a moment, then said, “I didn’t approve of moving you home. But your family was adamant. Particularly June.”
Jordan nodded. “I think she worked hard to persuade everyone it was the right course.”
“I got an earful downstairs about the State’s Attorney coming here. How do you get special service from the authorities?” Dr. Stanford asked.
Jordan laughed. “I’m in a regular Tuesday poker game with the cops and the firemen. If I win, I donate the money to their local charities. And If I lose, I donate anyway.”
Before he would let the doctor leave, Jordan insisted that Hannah be checked out, too. She’d already decided she was fine, but she went with Dr. Stanford into her bedroom and let him examine her so that he could assure Jordan that she’d suffered no more from Fahrenhold’s violent attentions than a couple of bruised ribs.
When the doctor had departed, Hannah looked at Jordan, who returned her gaze with a tired smile. “Is that it? I’m hoping there aren’t any more people I have to talk to today.”
She shook her head. “Even if there were, I wouldn’t let you. You look exhausted.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
“Jordan. . .” She laid a hand on his arm as she asked the question she’d been dying to ask for hours. “How did you save me on the stairs?”
“I don’t know. I heard you scream, and I knew you needed my help.”
She kept her gaze on him. “But I didn’t scream. At least I don’t think so. Not out loud.”
“I guess I heard it in my mind.”
“Thank the Lord. And right after that, you woke up. How did you do that?”
“I just. . . knew I had to,” he said simply. “When I heard Fahrenhold talking to you. Then I heard you fall, and. . .” His free hand covered hers. “There was no way in hell I was going to let the bitch hurt you again.”
“Oh, Jordan.” She wanted to hug him, but she felt suddenly shy. This was no dream—he was awake and on his way to being fully himself again. She had no idea what sort of relationship, if any, he would want to have with her in the real world.
And she wasn’t going to ask him now. Not when he had just awakened from a three-week coma.
“You need to rest,” she said.
“Uh-huh,” he agreed, his eyelids falling closed. “So do you.”
“I’ll see you later.”
“Hmm,” he acknowledged, already half asleep.
She stood watching him until his breathing grew even. His hand slipped off hers to lie motionless at his side. He was asleep. Normal sleep, thank goodness.
She removed her hand from his arm, still studying the relaxed features of the man whose life she’d saved that morning—and who’d saved hers in return.
She had been drawn to him from the moment Frank Decorah had shown her pictures and started to explain what had happened to him. And now she was even more involved. She wanted to have a real relationship with him. But what did they have together apart from an intense sexual attraction and gratitude?
Would she have the chance to find out?
Chapter Thirteen
When Hannah stepped into the hall, she found Mrs. Estes waiting for her.
“How is he?” the housekeeper asked.
“Tired. But I think he’s going to be fine.”
The woman shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I have to apologize to you.”
“For what?”
“I was very suspicious of you when you first arrived.”
“Yes,” Hannah answered simply.
“We’ve had so much turnover with the nursing staff, and I didn’t trust Mrs. Fahrenhold. I felt like the nurses were in some kind of plot, but I didn’t know what.”
“Your instincts were right.”
“I thought you might be part of it. But I was completely wrong. Everything here was so . . . disturbing. I simply didn’t know who wanted Mr. Campbell to get well and who didn’t.”
“I understand.”
The woman’s expression grew anxious. “Can we be friends?”
“Of course,” Hannah answered, wondering how long she was going to be at the estate.
oOo
The next morning, Jordan called everyone to his room. As soon as she stepped inside, Hannah saw that he was regaining his strength and his air of commend.
When they had all assembled, he gave the crowd of people gathered around his bed a long look.
“I appreciate your being here for me,” he said, “But I’ve been through a draining experience, and I want to be alone now.”
Hannah’s breath froze in her lungs. He was sending everyone away.
Then he continued. “Well, except for Mrs. Estes and Miss Andrews.”
“But I wanted to be here for you,” Stephanie said.
He gave her a long look. “You can be, as soon as I feel like I’m ready to be sociable.” He took in a breath and let it out. “I know you saved my life. And I thank you for that. If you hadn’t gone to look for me, we wouldn’t be having this conversation at all. But now I need to focus on getting back in shape.”
His sister looked like she wanted to object, but she also had to know that Jordan had been through a pretty traumatic ordeal.
“We’ll get together soon,” he promised.
He included Richard and Paula in the invitation, although Hannah was sure he would rather have skipped the pleasantries with his cousin.
When everyone turned to leave, Jordan addressed Hannah. “Could you stay for a moment? We’ve still got some business to discuss.”
Her mouth was dry, and she nodded wordlessly.
“I’m hoping you can extend your job here.”
“For now,” she said, because at the moment it was hard to say more.
“Then let’s get things organized,” he answered brusquely, and she could see he was swinging into executive mode. “I want you to hire a physical therapist for me. Get someone you’ve worked with in the past—someone you know is good.”
“All right.”
“And talk to Mrs. Estes about hiring a new handyman.”
“We don’t actually know that Carl Padilla did anything wrong.”
“That stunt in the hall let Fahrenhold sneak into my room through the back of the closet.”
“There’s another way in?”
“Yes, this house is full of secret passages.” He switched back to the handyman, his voice turning hard. “Padilla must have taken orders from June.”
Hannah watched Jordan make an effort to bring his emotions under control. In a milder tone, he said, “I don’t want to see him around here.”
“I understand.”
“And we need to have a serious conversation. But not until I know what kind of recovery I’m going to make.”
She wanted to assure him that his recovery would be complete but she couldn’t actually guarantee it, and the look in his eye told her he’d have to prove it to himself.
Instead she asked, “Is that all you need right now?”
He was silent for several moments, then said, “This is uncharted territory for me. I can’t tell you exactly what I need, except that I’m counting on your seeing me through this.”
The simple words and the tone of his voice stunned her because she knew he was a man who rarely made requests of anyone.
“Of course,” she said softly.
“I’ll pay
your usual rate.”
“For doing nothing?”
“For being here in case I need you.” He made a rough sound. “And if you don’t mind, you can help Mrs. Estes take down the damn Christmas decorations that I remember are all over the house. I think we’re going to skip Christmas this year.”
“Yes, okay.” At least that gave her something to do—now that her duties as a nurse were almost over.
She did check around with physical therapists she knew and arranged for one to come up from San Francisco. His name was Pete Lucas, and he was excellent.
Since Jordan didn’t want anyone else living on the property, she rented him an apartment for a month in Fort Bragg, the nearest town.
Then she had one more business call make, to Frank Decorah.
“You were right. One of Jordan’s relatives was trying to kill him, with the help of the other nurse they hired.”
“Which relative?”
“The younger sister, June.”
“Nice. But it’s all resolved now?”
“Yes.” She told him how the drama had ended.
“Good work.”
“I couldn’t have done it without Jordan’s help.”
“And he wouldn’t have pulled through without you. Of course, Grandma’s not going to be too happy that it was one of his sisters.”
“I know.”
“What are your plans now?”
“Jordan has asked me to stay on while he finishes his rehab.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Frank answered, and she heard the sincerity in his voice. “I thought that you and Jordan Campbell would be good for each other.”
“You did?”
“Yes. Keep me posted. If things don’t work out there, I might have another job for you—if you’re free to take it.”
“I’ll let you know.”
She hung up, thinking that working for Frank Decorah would be a good fallback position. To what, exactly? She didn’t know and she was afraid to look too far into the future.
Instead she ordered herself to relax. If her life was going to be on hold for a while, she might as well think of the month like a paid vacation at a luxury resort. A private resort since there was no one else besides her, Jordan and Mrs. Estes in this mansion.
Over the next few weeks, she had plenty of time to herself to read, do the yoga routine she loved, walk along the paths through the estate’s beautiful gardens, and try out some recipes in the big kitchen.
While she was relaxing, Jordan was putting himself through an intensive rehabilitation program. He spent hours in the gym every day, working with Pete Lucas, and she could see the positive results as the days past.
Mostly, she and Jordan didn’t see each other until the evenings, when they ate in the small, comfortable breakfast room, then sat in the conservatory, which had a stunning view of the ocean, or the den. Sometimes they watched movies or good TV series on his huge plasma-screen television set. Sometimes they sat together and read.
Often they simply talked—about anything and everything. They agreed on politics, religion, and social issues. They were both 49ers fans, and they both liked classical music—two very different recreational activities. They both read suspense novels and popular science. And they mutually admitted the secret failing that they didn’t know much about wine.
Both of them loved the outdoors, and he wanted to take her out on his boat—when he felt well enough to manage it.
He also wanted to know about her family and her childhood.
She told him about her mom’s volunteering at her grade school, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with her extended family, trips to Disneyland and later to several Presidential Libraries. She related how Mom and Dad had insisted she and her sister, Karen, do household chores and finish their homework every evening.
“It sounds like a disciplined but loving household,” Jordan said, sounding wistful.
“Yes.”
“Where are your parents now?”
She grinned. “They retired to Florida and are living the upscale senior lifestyle. They deserve it. I see them at least once a year, and I also keep in touch with Karen. She’s on the East Coast too, in Maryland.”
The subject of sisters was a good opening to talk a little bit about June. With a little gentle prodding, she got Jordan to admit that he was sad about how their relationship had turned out. And he was going to try and get closer to Stephanie.
“That will make her happy. I thinks she wants to be part of your life,” she said.
“If I ever have kids, I’m going to be a hell of a lot better father to them than my dad was to us,” he said.
“I know you will.”
“How?” he demanded.
“Because you know how it is to grow up trying to please someone who can’t be pleased.”
“Yeah.”
Was he really thinking about children? She couldn’t ask. And she couldn’t say how much she longed to spend her life with him, creating a family together, because she still didn’t know what he wanted from her.
Not her nursing skills, that was certain—he’d ceased to need those from anyone.
The most difficult part of living in his house now was that he seemed determined to keep their relationship platonic—even when she felt the sexual tension humming between them. Even when that tension became so hot, just a look from him made her remember the passion of their encounter in his dream. It hadn’t technically been real. Yet she thought of it as real. Maybe he didn’t.
She had moved to a bedroom farther from his, saying she didn’t want to disturb him. But really, she was the one who was disturbed, lying awake and wanting him, hoping that he’d call her into one of his dreams. But it seemed that special link was broken—or he didn’t want to use it. Either way, the results were the same. And sometimes she wondered if she’d imagined the wonderful night they’d made love.
There was one evening they had champagne—to celebrate the capture of killer Nurse Fahrenhold, in Mexico. It was the most excitement they’d had in weeks. But by the end of January, she was starting to think that she should go back to the city and pick up her life where she’d left it off—or take Frank Decorah up on his offer.
These quiet weeks had made her realize she was too wound up with Jordan. She had fallen in love with him, but it didn’t seem to be the same for him, because if he loved her, wouldn’t he have said something by now?
One afternoon she was relaxing in the conservatory, watching the ocean, when Mrs. Estes came bustling in, holding a white envelope.
“Mr. Campbell wanted me to give you a message,” she said.
“Is he all right?” Hannah asked anxiously.
“I believe so,” she replied, a little smile playing around her lips.
“What?”
“I think he’s been getting a surprise ready for you,” she murmured as she handed over the sealed envelope, then left as quickly as she’d entered.
Hannah held the message for several moments. A surprise? What kind of surprise? Finally, with hands she couldn’t quite hold steady, she slipped her thumb under the flap and opened the seal.
Inside was a card with a picture of an angel perched at the top of a tree. A Christmas card. Strange, since the holiday was long over. She opened it, and inside, under “Wishing you all the joy of the holiday season,” was a handwritten message.
Please come meet me in the summer house. Jordan.
She knew the place. She had visited it out in the garden. But for the past few days the path to it had been blocked by yellow tape, and she’d seen workmen’s trucks on the garden access road. She’d assumed some of the paving stones needed repair or something. Now they must be fixed.
Leaving the main house, she headed down a wide flagstone path, then stepped onto a narrower route. Her heart was hammering inside her chest as she reached the small green and white building with its huge open windows. As she approached, she saw that it had been freshly painted. Okay, that must have been the reason for
the yellow tape.
Her gaze went from the exterior to the doorway where she saw Jordan standing, his gaze intently on her as she approached. He was dressed much as he’d been the first time she’d seen him in his coma dream—in a white dress shirt open at the neck and dark slacks. But he hadn’t bothered with the sports coat.
She stopped a few feet away from him, her chest tight. “Why did you ask me here?” she whispered.
Chapter Fourteen
“I wanted to be alone with you.”
Hannah didn’t point out that they’d been alone in a mansion for a month—with only the housekeeper around.
Jordan stepped aside, and she saw what was behind him. The interior of the little building had been completely transformed. In one corner was a tall Christmas tree with lights and sparkling decorations, and piles of beautifully wrapped presents underneath. In the other corner was a wide couch, topped with a colorful holiday throw.
“What’s all this?” she breathed.
“I think neither one of us was in the mood to celebrate Christmas in December. But I wanted to have it with you, so I thought we could do it now. Come in,” he said, and she followed him into Christmas.
He walked to the tree and picked up a small box. “I’ve had fun buying presents for you. You can get just about anything from the Web. Open this one first.”
She stared at him, then at the box. With shaking hands, she unwrapped the box and found a diamond pendant inside.
“Jordan, this is beautiful, but I didn’t get anything for you.”
“Well, in a way you did. When you mentioned a book you thought I should read or a DVD I’d like, I bought them and had them wrapped.” He picked up one of the boxes and tore off the foil paper to show her a DVD of a British TV mystery series they’d both wanted to watch.
He put the box down and grinned. “But maybe we can leave the rest of the presents for later.”
She was suddenly nervous and a little shy.
He cleared his throat. “You might have noticed that I’ve kept things between us . . . uncomplicated since the morning everyone left.”
Maybe it hadn’t been complicated for him, but it had been for her. Instead of pointing that out, she only nodded.
CHRISTMAS CAPTIVE (Decorah Security Series): A Paranormal Romantic Suspense Novella Page 7