If Wishes Were Magic

by Barbara Baldwin

  “Nothing better to do. The Internet and databases have no time clocks,” he replied, leaning back in his chair and stretching his arms overhead.

  Chanti sighed at the way his turtleneck showed off his muscular chest. She would rather stay there with him and eat carryout than smooze with area business people over champagne, but knew that wasn’t an option.

  “You could go to this party with me. It would probably keep me from being bored to death.”

  “Sorry, my tux was a rental. Why are you going if you don’t enjoy it?”

  “Oh, the people are nice individually, but when you put them in a group, it’s always one trying to outdo another.”

  He stood and moved toward her. “Well, you’ll outshine all of them. You look sexy as hell.” He reached for her wrap and she turned to slide her arms into the sleeves. His hands caressed her shoulders and she automatically leaned back against his chest. When he kissed the sensitive skin right behind her ear, she shivered.

  “You smell delicious,” he whispered, nipping her skin then licking it with his hot tongue.

  With a groan, he released her and stepped back. “Have fun tonight. Do you have a car coming for you?”

  “Hmmm?” It took Chanti a minute to get her equilibrium back. “No, it’s only a couple of blocks so I’ll drive.”

  She watched him shove his hands into the front pockets of his trousers and sincerely hoped it was to exert control and not haul her into his arms for more than a kiss. She clutched the edges of her wrap to keep from doing the same. He had said they would know when the time was right, but if something didn’t happen soon, she planned on buying him a new watch.

  * * *

  AJ watched Chanti leave for her party and almost called her back. He didn’t know how much longer he could work next door to where she slept most nights. He imagined her in bed, a long silk nightgown covering her body but revealing all her curves. And damn, she had looked gorgeous tonight in a shimmery black dress. When she had turned to slip into her coat, he had almost dropped it on the floor because while the dress had a high neck, the back plunged to her waist, leaving an expanse of pale silky skin that he wanted to kiss all over.

  Unable to concentrate on his computer screen any more, he grabbed his coat and left the building, walking to a late night deli for a sandwich. He visited with Roman, the regular night watchman, when he returned, but Chanti’s image remained firmly in his mind. With a sigh, he headed for the elevator, determined to get back to work.

  His cell phone rang as he rode the elevator up and when he answered, it was the local politician begging for his help again. His wife had accosted the mistress and was now being held by the police. AJ none too politely informed him that he wasn’t a bail bondsman and hung up. Never again would he take a case like that one.

  The conference room phone was flashing when he turned the light on. That number was only used by Jake, Annie or Chanti to call him when something happened while they were gone. He grinned, hoping it was Chanti asking him to rescue her from the party, but when he listened to the message, he broke out in a cold sweat.

  “Mr. Anderson, this is George Powers, from Ms Morrison’s home. We just got a call that she’s been in an accident and is at UC hospital. That’s University of Chicago hospital on Maryland Avenue. With it being dark, the missus and I can’t drive into the city, so I was hoping you could…well, would you go to the hospital and then let us know how she is?”

  He gave both numbers and AJ punched the hospital’s into his cell as fast as the man spoke. His heart pounded and his hands shook. He was already in the elevator heading for the parking garage by the time the hospital operator answered.

  “Chantilly Morrison. How is she?”

  “I’m sorry. Who is this?”

  “Andrew Jackson Anderson.”

  “Are you a relative? We can only give information to—”

  “Damn it, woman,” AJ cursed.

  “There’s no need to be rude.” And she hung up on him. If he weren’t so concerned about Chanti he would have the woman’s job.

  He peeled out of the parking garage and drove as fast as he dared. His time in Chicago had familiarized him with the main streets, and before long he was running through the emergency room doors.

  “Where is Chantilly Morrison?” he asked the duty nurse, even as he looked around, trying to see past privacy curtains.

  “Are you a relative?”

  “I’m her husband,” he automatically replied, having gone through that before.

  “Exam room two. The doctor is with her now.”

  AJ was half way down the hall before she had finished talking. His heart was pounding so hard he never heard anything past room two.

  He skidded to a halt at the end of the bed where she laid. Dried blood caked her beautiful blonde hair and the doctor was in the process of putting a brace on her leg. Just before her gaze met his, he saw her grimace in pain and his heart turned over.

  He had known Chanti less than a month. How had she become so important to him so quickly?

  “God, baby, what happened?” AJ couldn’t stand to see her hurting and he kicked himself for not going with her tonight. He would have been driving. Maybe he could have prevented--“Her car has been taken to impound,” a man said, and AJ turned, for the first time noticing the police officer standing off to one side. “I have a technician looking it over, but from what Ms Morrison said and my initial examination, the brake lines in her car had been cut.”

  AJ swung his gaze to Chanti and back. “That doesn’t make sense.”

  “That’s what I told him,” Chanti whispered hoarsely.

  AJ was more concerned about how she was than the car at this point. “Doc, how is she? Why is there so much blood?”

  “Her airbag deployed, but her head whipped sideways and she hit the window. Head wounds always bleed a lot but it’s really not that bad. We’ve done x-rays and the only other injury is a jammed knee, which apparently hit the steering column.”

  “Can I take her home?”

  The doctor shook his head. “We want to keep her overnight for observation. If you’ll wait in the reception room, the nurse will come and get you once we have your wife settled in a room.”

  AJ watched Chanti’s eyes widen, and he quickly bent over her, lightly kissing her cheek and whispering, “I’ll explain.”

  * * *

  Chanti drifted in and out of consciousness throughout the night. She tried to tell them not to give her any more medicine to knock her out, but the pain in her leg was almost unbearable. Her head hurt only a fraction less intensely.

  Her saving grace was AJ, who filled her vision every time she managed to open her eyes. She didn’t know how he had found out about the accident, but she loved him for being there with her.

  “Did you call George and Wilma?” she whispered at one point, her throat so scratchy she could hardly speak.

  “Sh, don’t worry. I called.” He leaned over her and very gently brushed her hair back before kissing her brow next to the bandage. She fell back asleep, her head hurting less for his soothing touch.

  She woke again at dawn, more alert than before. AJ was sprawled in a chair, his long legs stretched out, fingers laced across his flat stomach, his head at an angle. She watched him sleep, wondering what it would be like to wake up with him every morning, but in bed together, not with him uncomfortably in a chair.

  She loved the way that single lock of hair kept falling across his forehead; loved the curve of his lips and how they felt caressing hers. When had she fallen in love with him? Their relationship had developed so naturally through her desire to help the children that she hadn’t even seen the signs. Now what was she going to do? She couldn’t claim he was a fortune hunter and she definitely couldn’t deny her feelings for him. She frowned. How on earth could they ever make a relationship work when he lived in Texas?

  “Does your head hurt? Should I ring for the nurse?” His voice startled her, not realizing he had waken and was wat
ching her. He stood slowly and she heard bones creaking when he stretched. He groaned.

  “You should have gone home last night.” She voiced her concern, even though she was glad he had stayed.

  He shook his head. “No way, sweetheart. Annie and Jake, not to mention your George and Wilma, would have had my head if I had left you.”

  “How did Annie and Jake hear?”

  “I called. They’ll be here this morning.”

  “Can I go home?”

  He nodded. “The doc thought you’d get released today. Because you hit your head, they were worried about concussion.”

  “AJ, what happened?” She had been in such pain last night, she wasn’t sure she recalled the accident details correctly. “Did something happen to my car?”

  AJ’s gaze was shuttered and for a moment, she wasn’t sure he would tell her.

  “I don’t have the final police report, but indications are your brake lines were cut. You slammed into a utility pole.”

  She gasped. “Why?”

  He sat on the edge of her bed, putting his hand over hers, which she was wringing together. She could hear the anger in his voice when he spoke. “I don’t know, but I sure as hell aim to find out.”

  Chanti thought of the threatening letter she had thrown away, thinking it was a prank. Could it be related to her accident? She started to tell AJ about it when the nurse came in and tried to shoo AJ out of the room.

  He stubbornly told her he was staying. His tone triggered another fragment of memory from the night before. While the nurse collected a washcloth and towel from the bathroom, Chanti tugged AJ’s hand, pulling him closer.

  “Did you tell them we were married?”

  He grinned. “It was the only way they would let me near you.” His smile disappeared and his gaze turned possessive. “And no way in hell was I letting you out of my sight.”

  “Mr. Morrison?” The nurse called to him and his eyes narrowed menacingly. Chanti giggled.

  “Ah, the price of being married to a famous woman,” he teased as he kissed her. “I’ll be back with coffee.”

  * * *

  Chanti smiled through her morning sponge bath. She even smiled as the nurse helped her struggle to her feet, her right leg straight in the brace, to use the restroom. AJ had lied to be with her. She blushed at her reflection in the mirror as she tried to comb through the tangles and around the bandage that covered part of her hair.

  “You are such a dork,” she told herself. “He only lied because they wouldn’t let him in otherwise. Just because you’re in love all of a sudden doesn’t mean he is.” But she still wondered. He acted way too possessive and angry for just being an employee. And then there were his kisses, which made her hungry for something more. Dare she hope he had feelings for her?

  “Ms M?” Annie’s voice sounded outside the door and Chanti hoped she hadn’t heard her muttering.

  She peeked her head around the door. “Is Jake here?” It was bad enough that AJ and now Annie saw her in the backless, shapeless hospital gown.

  “He’s out in the hall with AJ. The nurse gave me these for you to wear home. Your gown was ruined.” She held out a set of hospital scrubs and Chanti could see her lip quiver and realized how upset everyone was on her behalf.

  “I’m okay, Annie,” she said as she allowed her assistant to help her don the baggie pants because she couldn’t bend her leg.

  She had just managed to get back to the edge of the bed on the crutches they had left when AJ and Jake came in. When she hopped around so her back was to the bed, AJ casually picked her up and sat her down on the bed. Annie grinned, Jake smirked and Chanti felt her face grow hot.

  “Annie and Jake will stay with you until I get to my hotel, pack my bags and check out. Then I’ll drive you home.”

  “Where are you going to stay if you check out of the hotel?”

  “With you. I have a job to do, remember?”

  Chanti’s heart squeezed. So much for daydreams about happy ever after. “You don’t have to worry; you’ll still get paid,” she groused.

  He leaned over and kissed her, right in front of Annie and Jake. “I don’t give a damn about the paycheck. Right now it’s you I’m worried about and my only job is taking care of you.”

  Chapter 10

  Despite Chanti’s protests, the nurse made her sit in a wheelchair to leave the hospital. She shivered when a blast of cold air hit her, glad that Annie had brought her extra coat from the office. Her clothes had been ruined in the wreck, and she felt almost naked with only a pair of scrubs but no undies or bra.

  Annie and Jake, who promised to keep her informed on everything, walked out with her while AJ went to get his truck to take her home. He opened the passenger door and before she could stand, he picked her up and gently placed her on the seat.

  “This isn’t going to work,” she said, looking down at where her right leg stuck straight out the door. The brace kept her from bending her knee and the doctor had told her she needed to leave it on for at least a week.

  “Hold on, sweetheart. We’re not done.” AJ hurried around the front of the truck, climbed in his side and, hooking her under the shoulders, carefully slid her across the seat so she was sitting in the middle. Once she had gotten her left leg turned, the nurse helped her position her right so she was inside the truck.

  Getting into AJ’s pickup made her realize she had no idea where her own car was.

  “What about my car?” she asked.

  “It’s totaled. Don’t worry about it; I’ll call the insurance company in the morning.” AJ slid her crutches into the back of the dual cab and closed the side door.

  “AJ, I can do that myself.” She frowned at him, not sure why it bothered her that he was taking over her life.

  “Honey,” the nurse said as she tucked a light blanket over Chanti’s legs, “if I had a husband that looked like yours and he wanted to take care of me, I would most definitely let him.”

  Chanti blushed at the reminder that AJ had told everyone they were married. She should really talk to him about that, but she hesitated. It was over and done with so why bring it up? But as AJ skillfully maneuvered through traffic and headed south, she found herself conflicted.

  She had gotten upset about the car and insurance company because she was thoroughly independent. One of the reasons she wasn’t married was because she had never found a man she liked well enough to give over any control of her life. And most of the men she had dated weren’t comfortable with a woman such as herself who was competent and successful in a business world still predominantly male.

  Yet there was something very right about AJ taking care of things and driving her home. They had hit it off from the start, and he had no trouble doing as she requested, although admittedly she never tried to order him around.

  “Are you comfortable?” he asked.

  She wiggled. Her upper body faced forward but her legs jutted off to the side and her back was beginning to ache. “Not really,” she replied.

  AJ swung his arm behind her across the back of the seat. “Here, lean against me. I know it’s not the best trying to sit catawampus, but the only alternative would be to lay you out in the truck bed.”

  She jerked around to see if he was serious but found his eyes twinkling and a grin in place.

  “Would you at least cover me with a tarp?” she countered.

  “The best I could do would be a horse blanket. Found one on sale the other day I thought my brother would like for Christmas. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you borrowed it.”

  She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. “You are pathetic.”

  He laughed with her but then grew serious. “Other than being uncomfortable, are you in any pain? I’ve got the pain pills the doctor prescribed. Do I need to stop and get you some water?”

  “Honestly, I’m fine. Well, aside from the obvious, that is.” She looked at him as he continued to frown. A comment he had made the first night they met surfaced in her memory.
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  “AJ, are we friends?” Maybe if she knew where he stood, it would help her decide whether to tell him how she felt.

  She noted the look of surprise on his face in the rear view mirror. “Where did that come from?”

  “I just wondered. The night we met, you said men and women were business associates or lovers, never friends.” She shrugged. “I just disagree, that’s all.”

  AJ caressed the back of her neck, gently massaging, and Chanti closed her eyes.

  “I recall saying that, but it was before I really knew you, and believe it or not, I thought it was the truth. You however, have totally changed my mind, about a lot of things.”

  “Like what?” she murmured, his rhythmic touch relaxing her body to the point of putting her to sleep.

  “Like knowing women can be business associates and friends,” he spoke softly, or maybe it seemed that way as Chanti drifted off to sleep.

  And falling in love with a business associate, AJ thought but didn’t dare say out loud. He didn’t know for sure when it had happened, but he recalled the exact moment he realized it. When George had called, it had felt like a sledgehammer had hit him in the chest. He had been thrown into a panic, something he had never experienced before and hoped like hell he never would again. The thought of living without Chanti had damned near killed him.

  Now, the problem was what to do about it. As he drove toward Hattiesville, it started to snow and he slowed down, mindful of the precious cargo snuggled up next to him. He knew she had feelings for him because kisses don’t lie, and theirs were fiery hot and explosive. Yet even when she teased him about making love, he felt she was holding something back. It was almost as though she would have casual sex with him, but wasn’t about to care too deeply. He wondered what caused that attitude. Had some guy in her past hurt her? He knew for sure he didn’t want casual sex, and that in itself was a major telling point about his feelings for her. After all, he was a man.