“How long have I been out?”
“Too long,” Sullivan muttered under his breath.
Preston glared at him again. Had Sullivan been there longer than she’d thought? She’d ask more questions after she rested. Astonishingly enough, she was still tired, and she’d been sleeping for days. Being injured sucked.
“Sullivan is right,” Preston said in a cheerful tone. He was probably trying to cajole her or make her not worry. A heart injury was serious, and if her blood pressure rose, it might complicate things. “You’ve been unconscious for a week. I expect you’ll be here another week before I’m comfortable releasing you.”
Lana groaned. “I hate being a patient.”
“Nobody likes being in the hospital,” Preston said and laughed lightly. “Don’t worry. We’ll make it as easy as possible on you. I’ll leave so you can rest.” Then he looked at Sullivan and said firmly, “Ten minutes and then you have to depart as well.”
Strangely, Sullivan nodded in concurrence without argument. Lana shouldn’t be surprised at his agreement. Lana and Sullivan didn’t have an easy relationship, and he was probably itching to bolt from the room. Preston and the nurse exited, leaving her alone with Sullivan.
“I don’t need you to stay the full ten minutes,” Lana said. “I am rather tired. Can you tell my mother I’d like to see her in the morning?”
“I will,” he agreed. “And I won’t remain long. I wanted to make sure you were all right before I followed the doctor out.”
Why was he so concerned? He never acted like he cared much before. He’d been more of a nuisance in her life. Almost brotherly. She suppressed a groan and mentally rolled her eyes at that long ago memory. She was not his freaking sister and maybe one day she’d tell him that. “I’m fine,” she told him. “Or I will be in time. Nothing a little rest won’t cure.”
“Don’t joke about it,” he said curtly. “You almost died. I—” He cut off what he was about to say. She wanted to ask him to continue but refrained from pushing the issue. Mostly because she was too tired to argue with him, and partly because of the pained look on his face. Something about that made her uncomfortable and made her think it might be best not to have that much insight to the inner workings of Sullivan’s mind.
Lana sighed. “I don’t understand what is going on with you, and right now I’m too exhausted to try to decipher your mood. If you don’t mind, I’m going to rest, and when you work through whatever is going on in that head of yours, please do me a favor and leave me out of it.”
She closed her eyes expecting him to leave; after all, she had essentially dismissed him. Lana should have realized it wouldn’t be simple. Sullivan never did things the easy way. She opened her eyes to meet his gaze and sucked in a breath. The way he was staring at her—it was almost as if no one else existed in that moment but the two of them.
“Lisanna,” he said. She started to tell him not to call her that, but he shushed her by placing a finger over her mouth. “Don’t argue.” He caressed her hair almost lovingly. “Take care of yourself. I’ll be back in the morning with your mother.”
Then he did something he’d never done before. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers briefly. The shock sent a jolt through her that left her speechless. After he was gone, she lifted her hand to touch her lips with her fingertips. What alternate reality had she woken up to?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Growing up she was the only girl out of six children. She is a single mother of two teenage boys; there is never a dull moment in her life. Reading books is her favorite hobby and she loves all genres.
For more information about upcoming releases or to contact Dawn Brower go to her website: authordawnbrower.com
Books by Dawn Brower
Broken Pearl
Deadly Benevolence
Don’t Happen Twice
There You’ll Be
A Wallflower’s Christmas Kiss
Snowflake Kisses
Marsden Romances
A Flawed Jewel
A Crystal Angel
A Treasured Lily
A Sanguine Gem
A Hidden Ruby
Novak Springs
Cowgirl Fever
Dirty Proof
Unbridled Pursuit
Sensual Games
Christmas Temptation
Linked Across Time
Saved by My Blackguard
Searching for My Rogue
Seduction of My Rake
Surrendering to My Spy
Spellbound by My Charmer
Stolen by My Knave
Separated from My Love
Scheming with My Duke
Heart’s Intent
One Heart to Give
Unveiled Hearts
Heart of the Moment
Kiss My Heart Goodbye
Broken Curses
The Enchanted Princess
The Bespelled Knight
Ever Beloved
Forever My Earl
Always My Viscount