“Just answer me, please.”
“Cindy is the eldest, then there’s Sherry, me, and the baby of the family is Laura.”
“Last names. I need last names, too.”
“Cindy isn’t married so it’s still Morris. Sherry’s last name is Compton, and Laura’s last name is Oliver.”
“Shit.”
“Brett, what’s going on? You’re scaring me.”
“You need to call your dad, sweetheart. Get in touch with him immediately.”
“Brett?”
“I have your sister in my emergency room. Your family needs to come. Her husband was killed, and she hasn’t regained consciousness.”
“Oh my God,” she whispered, her hands shaking as she pressed them to her lips.
“Whit?
No one ever called her Whit. Except Brett and Ryan.
She blinked several times.
Oh God! I remember!
“Oh, Brett.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. Memories zipped across her mind. Dancing with Ryan at the bar and Brett cutting in. The laughter they shared so many times at his house while she recuperated from Eric’s attempted murder. Cooking for them the first time and Brett’s shocked expression when she’d smack him with the spoon. Watching movies with both of them and arguing about what kind because they always wanted to watch action flicks or slaher movies.
Ryan carrying her upstairs to show her his apartment and cuddling on his couch for over an hour before he took her back downstairs. How much she loved his smell. His cologne. That’s why his scent made me feel so safe at the emergency room.
The three of them making love after they celebrated her divorce and how cherished she’d felt in their arms. And finally, her telling them she was leaving even though she couldn’t tell them exactly why.
The pain in their eyes had made her want to stay.
God, I hurt them. I wanted to protect them, and all I did was hurt them anyway.
She had been pregnant with Eric’s child, and she couldn’t expect them to raise a child that didn’t belong to either of them.
A heavy, forlorn sigh escaped her lips. Neither of them had said he loved me. It didn’t mean anything more than another notch on the bedpost, another woman they shared, to add to the growing list.
“We’ll be there in a few hours. Take care of her for me, please.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t do any less.”
“I know.”
* * * *
“Whitney’s coming here?” Ryan’s raised voice asked on the other end of the phone.
Brett could hear the excitement in his cousin’s voice, and he hated to be the one to burst the bubble. “Yes, but it’s only because of her sister, Ryan, not us. She still doesn’t remember.”
“Shit. I wish I knew how to get through to her.”
“Me, too, but we can’t force her. She’ll remember when she’s ready. The memories could be blocked because of the trauma of trying to be killed, the pregnancy she didn’t want us to know about, or even because of the three of us making love. For a lot of people, that’s not normal.”
“I know.”
“Are you coming up here?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss the chance to see her again, even if she doesn’t recall me or us. Did she say when she’d be there?”
“It should be shortly. I talked to her several hours ago. Mr. Morris had to have the plane readied, and when I called, they told me he was in court.”
“You fucking talked to her and you didn’t tell me?”
“I’ve been busy, Ryan. This is the emergency room. I called the minute I had a break in patients.”
“Sorry, Brett. I just miss her. That’s all.”
“Yeah, me too. I guess I’ll see you when you get here.”
Brett hung up the phone and pulled the chart out of the rack. I have to be missing something. Why hasn’t she regained consciousness?
“Doctor Novak?”
“Yeah,” he said, with a quick glance at the nurse.
“I think she’s coming around a bit.”
Standing quickly, he almost ran around the corner toward Laura’s room. When he got close to the gurney, she moaned softly.
“Mrs. Oliver? Can you hear me?”
She groaned, and her eyelids fluttered slightly.
“Open your eyes, Laura.”
A moment later, she lifted her lids and eyes the same color as Whitney’s stared into his.
“Where am I?” she murmured.
“You’re at Flagstaff Medical Center in the emergency room. I’m Doctor Brett Novak.”
Frown lines appeared between her eyebrows. “Flagstaff?”
“Yes. There was a pretty bad car accident.”
Her hand went to her stomach and splayed across the slight rounded area.
“Your baby is fine.”
“Thank God.” A tear slipped out of her eye and into her hair. “My husband?”
“I’m sorry, Laura. He didn’t make it.”
“No! He can’t be dead!” she sobbed. “He can’t be. Matthew?”
Brett took her hand in his and held on tight while she cried almost hysterically. The gut-wrenching sobs that shook her frame tore him apart.
It’s like Whitney all over again.
He heard movement behind him and turned to see Aaron Morris and the woman who haunted his days and nights come into the trauma bay. Stepping away from Laura’s side, he made room for the family as Aaron took one side of the gurney and started talking quietly with Laura as Whitney stopped beside Brett on the other side.
Whitney took his hand and pulled him out into the hall before she asked, “How is she?”
“She regained consciousness a few moments ago. I had to tell her about her husband.”
“This is horrible. How could this happen?”
“Head-on collision with a semi. She’s lucky to be alive, but her husband was killed instantly. Ryan brought her in.”
Their eyes met, and he had to force himself to breathe.
I wish I knew what she’s thinking.
“Thanks for taking care of her.” She dropped her gaze and moved back to her sister’s side. “Laura?”
“Whitney. Matthew is dead. Oh, my God! He’s dead.”
“I know, honey. Dad and I are here for you. We’ll get through this together. You know you have us.”
Laura sobbed uncontrollably, and Brett fought the tears that wanted to clog his throat. He’d never felt this torn before. They’re Whitney’s family, and since I care about her, I can’t shut off the need to hold her while they grieve.
“Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be at the desk.”
She nodded, but when she looked his way again, he could see the tears swimming in her gaze. The pain in her blue eyes tore at his heart.
Reaching the desk and his chair, he sat down heavily, tipped his head back on his shoulders and released a sigh.
Within moments, Ryan came bursting through the double doors between the desk and the ambulance bay.
“Where is she?”
“Chill, Ryan. You can’t go running in there.”
“I haven’t seen her in at least two weeks.” Ryan raked his fingers through his hair and leaned against the desk.
“I know. Neither have I.”
“But you talked to her.”
“On the phone, Ryan. It’s not like we had a meaningful conversation. I had to tell her Laura was here and hurt. That’s not the type of thing you want to tell the woman you love.”
Ryan’s eyes widened. “You love her?”
Damn. Did I say that?
He looked to his right and saw several pairs of eyes focused on him.
Shit.
“It doesn’t matter.” He dropped his gaze to the computer screen in front of him before he started tapping away at the keys.
“Answer my question, Brett. Do you love her?”
“Yes, all right? Yes, I’m in love with Whitney.”
“This sucks,” Ryan grumbled.
&nb
sp; “Why?”
“Because I love her, too, and she doesn’t remember either one of us.”
His shoulders slumped. “I know.”
“Brett?” The silky sound of his name on her lips had his dick at attention inside of a heartbeat when she stopped next to Ryan. “Hi, Ryan. I didn’t realize you were here, too.”
“I came when Brett told me you were coming in.”
“Oh.” Her gaze focused on his face again. “My dad has some questions for you.”
“Sure.” He stood and moved around the desk to follow her back behind the curtain. “What can I do for you, Mr. Morris?”
“Do you know exactly what’s wrong with my daughter?”
“So far, all I can tell is that she has a pretty severe concussion, some lacerations, and a case of whiplash, and probably should be kept overnight here for observation. She only regained consciousness a few moments before you and Whitney arrived.”
“Where is my son-in-law?”
Brett glanced at Laura, who still cried and held on tightly to Whitney’s hand. “Let’s go out in the hall.”
Mr. Morris followed him out of the room and when they stopped at the desk Brett said, “He’s in the morgue.”
“I will make arrangements for him then. I appreciate you getting in touch with us about Laura.”
“I’m glad we were able to get in touch. Laura looks so much like Whitney, it’s scary. When Ryan brought her in…” He shook his head. “Whitney never told us her sisters’ names. It was a guess on my part.”
“No matter how it came about, I still appreciate all you and your cousin have done for my family. I could never repay you.”
“No repayment needed, sir. Ryan and I care about Whitney.”
“That’s obvious, son.”
Brett met Aaron’s gaze, and a frown settled on his face. “You know, I’m not so sure how things would work between you three.”
“It’s complicated to explain.”
“Well, as long as Whitney is happy, then I wouldn’t stand in her way, no matter how unconventional of a relationship she decides to be in.”
“Has she said anything? I mean, did she give you any indication she might remember?”
“Sorry son, no. There have been a couple of times that she’s had flashes of memory, but she hasn’t mentioned you or Ryan, other than when she woke up here.”
“Damn it!”
Aaron laid a hand on his shoulder. “I know it’s frustrating.”
“You have no idea.”
“Doctor Novak. We have a room for Mrs. Oliver upstairs when you’re ready to have her moved,” the nurse said.
“Thanks.” Brett looked at Aaron and said, “I’ll get her orders ready, and we’ll move her shortly. You and Whitney are welcome in my home until Laura is ready to go back to Los Angeles.”
“Thank you for the offer, Doctor Novak.”
“It’s Brett, please.”
“All right, Brett, but I’m not sure if staying at your home is wise with what happened between you, Ryan, and Whitney in the past.”
“Its fine, Dad,” Whitney answered, stopping next to the two of them.
Brett could have sworn his heart ceased to beat when she focused on him.
“Are you sure, Whit? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“Does that mean you’re withdrawing your offer?” A teasing smile lifted the corners of her mouth, and he had to fight the urge to grab her and kiss her senseless.
“Absolutely not. You and your family are welcome there.”
“Then we accept.”
Chapter Seven
Once Laura was settled into a room upstairs, Whitney and her father went to get some food.
“Are you sure you want to stay at Brett’s, honey? I would think it might be a bit weird for you.” The two took a seat at one of the booths in the dining room of the hospital.
“I didn’t say anything on the way up here, but I remember everything, Dad. I’ve been trying to come to terms with all that went on during the summer.”
“Everything?”
“Yes. How Eric tried to kill me. How Brett and Ryan took me in and cared for me when they didn’t have to, and even how Eric found me at their house, hit me and how I woke up in the emergency room.”
“And?” His penetrating gaze fixed on her face, and she knew she couldn’t hide her feelings for the two men who’d slipped into her heart before she could stop them.
“I’m in love with them, both of them, but it doesn’t matter because they don’t love me. I might be able to survive if one of them cared about me, but it’s killing me that neither cares.” A tear slipped down her cheek and her father reached over to wipe it away.
“Then why did you agree to stay there tonight?”
“Sucker for punishment?”
Aaron chuckled softly. “Don’t count those two out yet, sweetheart. I think they care more than you know.”
Her shoulders lifted in a shrug before she slipped a piece of lettuce between her lips.
“Are you going to tell them you remember? You obviously didn’t let on when we were back there with Laura.”
“I don’t know yet. It might be easier just to walk away from them if they think I still don’t remember our time together.”
“Is that what you really want?”
“No.”
“Don’t walk away from them if you really love them, Whitney. You’ll be miserable the rest of your life, even if you do find someone else eventually.”
She cocked her head to the side and really looked at her father for the first time in a while. “You sound like you speak from experience, Daddy.”
“I do, Whitney.”
“Do you want to tell me about her?”
Aaron dropped his gaze to the tabletop in front of them and pushed his plate away. By the look on his face, Whitney couldn’t tell if he was going to tell her or not.
“You know I was born and raised in the south.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “Your southern accent still comes out sometimes.”
“I fell in love with a girl in high school. We were a couple for more than two years before we graduated.”
“What happened?” she asked, pushing her own food away.
“I wanted to move to Los Angeles to make a career for myself. I had a scholarship to Stanford. She refused to leave Tennessee.”
“Have you seen her since?”
“No,” he murmured.
“How long has it been, Dad?”
“Thirty-five years.”
“You still love her.”
“Yes, Whitney, I do. I never stopped, and letting her walk away was the worst mistake I’ve ever made in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I love your mother, but it’s just not the same as the love you’ve looked for all your life—your soul mate or, in your case, soul mates.”
“Why didn’t you try to contact her?”
“I had my life, my wife, and my beautiful daughters.”
“And?”
“All right. Call it stubborn pride, I guess.”
“Is she still there? In Shelbyville?”
“No. She married and moved not far from where we grew up. Near Murfreesboro, I think.”
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
“Nothing for you to be sorry for, Whitney. I don’t want you to make the same mistake I made and walk away from the men you love.”
“But, there’s a difference here. You know she loved you, but you chose your career over love. I can’t make Brett and Ryan love me.”
He grasped her hand and squeezed her fingers. “All I’m saying, sweetheart, is give it a chance.”
Wrapping her arms around her father’s shoulders, she hugged him tight and whispered, “Thanks, Dad.”
The conversation turned to things at home as they finished their food and then dumped their trays on the conveyer belt.
“Let’s go up and say goodnight to Laura, and then we’ll head over to Brett’s.”
“Sure.” Aaron p
ushed the button on the elevator that would take them back upstairs.
* * * *
The house looked the same, but what did she expect? It hadn’t been that long since she’d been there, even if it felt like years since Brett and Ryan held her. Capturing her lip between her teeth, she bit down when she spotted the wall she’d fallen over when Eric hit her. I’m not letting that asshole take everything away from me. He’s not going to come between me and the men I love.
The front yard still needed to be mowed and raked. A small smile drifted over her mouth. Ryan still hasn’t gotten around to it.
“What a nice place,” her father said when they pulled up in front of the door.
“Yes, it is. And you should see the kitchen. It’s huge!”
Aaron chuckled, and she blushed. He knew how much she loved to cook. Luckily, he doesn’t have any idea what else we did in the kitchen besides making food.
“You’ll have to whip up one of your special recipes for us.”
She was just about to ring the doorbell when the massive wooden panel swung open and Ryan grabbed her, twirling her around several times before setting her back on her feet and kissing her on the lips.
“Brett said you were coming.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and ushered her inside as she shot a glance over her shoulder.
If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he already knows about my memory returning.
“Mr. Morris. I don’t believe we’ve met officially. I’m Ryan O’Rourke.” Ryan stuck out his hand for her father to shake once they made it into the living room.
“Nice to meet you, Ryan. I understand you were the rescuer that picked up Whitney when she fell in the canyon and also the one who transported Laura to the hospital.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, then, son, I believe I owe you my sincerest thanks for taking care of my girls.”
She’d never seen Ryan blush, but the color staining his neck and splashing across his cheeks made her smile.
“No thanks needed, sir. Just doing my job.”
“I didn’t think it was part of your job to bring Whitney home with you.”
Ryan shot her a confused glance. “No, sir, but she needed somewhere to recuperate.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Ryan. I’m not chastising you for taking her in. I’m glad she had friends to help her.”
Sullivan, Sandy - Unexpected Lovers [Between the Sheets 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 10