This story is rated yellow start for adult themes and mild sexual situations.
Part Two
The warmth of another body, pressing against hers, was at once familiar and strange. Honey shifted and turned over. Her eyelids fluttered and opened as she realized she was not at home in either the Manor House or the apartment she’d recently moved into near the agency. The bed definitely wasn’t as comfortable, but its occupant…there was enough light for Honey to see his face: so handsome and precious.
His dark hair, longer than he used to wear it, still flopped across his forehead and her fingers moved in an involuntary gesture, forcing her to clench her fist. Whatever else this was, it wasn’t the time for late night caresses. Instead, she allowed her gaze to linger on those perfectly perfect features: the strong, straight nose, the thick dark lashes, the curve of his mouth…Honey inched her body away from his. This had been a bad idea— a very bad idea. When he’d ended their relationship, he’d made it clear that he didn’t have room for her in his life. Not that he didn’t care— he’d never made that claim— but he had made her feel as if she had been too needy, too much of a drain on his time and energy and wasn’t that just as bad? She could still hear his voice, almost harsh and accusing: ‘I can’t always be worrying about disappointing you. It’s too much to deal with.’
What had possessed her to do this? She had been getting along fine— dating, well okay, so that hadn’t gone brilliantly— but she’d stopped missing him so much that it hurt and now…As she watched, a soft moan escaped Brian’s lips and he twisted, as if in pain. Lines appeared between his dark brows, and when she leaned closer she could see little beads of sweat on his forehead.
Carefully, she slipped out of bed, hurrying to the bathroom, where she ran a face cloth under the tap. Back in the main room, she gently applied the damp cloth to his forehead, wiping at his face and finally pushing away that lock of hair. His lashes fluttered against his cheeks and he slowly opened his eyes.
“Honey?”
“Shh,” she said, continuing to soothe his brow. “It’s fine.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’m going to give you another tablet, okay?”
Brian nodded, and she lifted and supported his head while he sipped water from the glass she’d left on the table. He swallowed the tablet and managed a half-smile. “Thanks.”
“Go back to sleep.”
They settled under the covers, and this time she did not pull away when he spooned his body around hers. “Honey?” His voice was soft, barely a whisper, and suddenly Honey felt tears forming in her eyes. She did not reply. Let him think she was asleep already. It was easier that way.
There was a moment of silence, and then he spoke again. Keeping his voice low and soft, he whispered, “Missed you.”
Unwilling and unable to answer, Honey merely mouthed her reply: “Missed you, too.”
Brian stirred and moved to stretch out his long, lean limbs. Instantly, he felt the warmth of another body within the confines of the bed, a very familiar body. He opened his eyes slowly. It was true. His mouth curved in a smile as his dark eyes blinked away the last vestiges of sleep and focused on the woman curled beside him. His mind did not take long to sort through the happenings of the last, precious twelve hours or so, but he refused to let it ruin his feeling of pleasure.
When he’d found himself in Chicago, he’d struggled to come to terms with the change in his circumstances. It wasn’t that being alone in a strange city was tough—he was used to that. It was not having Honey at the other end of a phone to talk to, to bounce ideas and impressions off of, that killed him. He’d known that he loved her. What he hadn’t known was how much he relied on her. How much he needed her. And it didn’t help that both emotionally and financially, getting back to Sleepyside on a regular basis was hard work.
He’d been so determined the night before that he’d be able to get her to leave. Now, he couldn’t help but be glad that he’d failed. Maybe this was all it would be—this few moments of a memory brought to life. But he didn’t care. She was here with him, in his arms, in his bed and that was something.
When he opened his eyes again, that special and particular warmth was gone. He sat up slowly, as the thought flickered in his mind that the whole thing had been in his imagination. A glance towards the kitchen allowed the thought to be cast aside.
“Morning,” he said.
“Morning,” Honey returned, spinning around to face him. “Coffee’s ready and I was just about to fix some breakfast. How do eggs sound, or would you rather just toast?”
“Eggs sound great and that coffee smells amazing.” Lately, with money so tight, he’d been making do with instant. “I’ll turn the heat up,” he said, taking in her appearance. Honey had obviously been rifling through his drawers, as she’d thrown on one of his college sweatshirts over the top of her night attire.
She came out from behind the counter, and his lips twitched as he recognized his sweatpants, sitting low on her narrow hips, their length hampering her movement. She handed him a mug of coffee and dropped down beside him. A slender hand reached out and rested lightly against his forehead. “You don’t feel so feverish,” she said.
“I feel a hundred times better,” Brian said and meant it. He took several sips of the coffee, made, not surprisingly, just the way he liked it.
“Good. Now, where’s the thermostat control for your heating? I don’t want you getting out of bed until it’s a little warmer in here.”
“It’s just behind that bookcase.” Brian nodded towards a tall shabby, pine bookcase that was filled with medical texts and an assortment of novels.
Honey easily located the dial and pushed it up to a more comfortable temperature. She couldn’t help but notice that the top of the bookcase had several photographs lined up along it: one of Brian with his parents at his graduation, one of the Bob-Whites taken two Christmases ago and one of the two of them, taken at her graduation from college. His arm rested lightly around her shoulders and she was looking up at him. Honey blinked a couple of times, seeing the unmistakable love in both of their faces—what had happened to that promise of a future together? She turned her back on the bookcase and her past and headed for the kitchen.
Brian did justice to the scrambled eggs, bacon and toast and happily downed a second cup of coffee. “I can’t thank you enough, Honey,” he said. The food and the caffeine had at least helped restore some of his mental faculties. His guest was one of the sweetest, most caring people he’d ever known. And she loved each and every one of the Bob-Whites. He had been reading too much into her attentions. Hadn’t Trixie and Mart said she was enjoying dating—emphasis on enjoying? Those few moments the evening before and during the night when the possibility of more seemed real, were no doubt the result of his illness.
“I imagine you’ll want to get back home as soon as you can. I know how hard you and Trixie have been working to build the business.”
“We’ll see how you are, once you’ve had a chance to get up and about,” Honey returned. Gathering up their plates, she retreated to the tiny kitchen and filled the sink for their dishes.
“I’ll do that now with Nurse Wheeler’s permission,” he said. “It’s definitely warmer in here now.” Warmer than it usually was. Heat was expensive and he generally wore extra layers of clothing to keep costs under control. Plus, heating in the apartment was spotty at best. He flung back the covers and swung his legs around over the edge of the bed. He got to his feet slowly and was relieved to find he did not automatically fall down again. He grabbed a robe from a hook on the wall and shrugged into it. Doing his best to appear confident, he headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Maybe he should have realized that he was being overconfident. A few minutes later he returned to the main room. “See, good as new,” he announced, spinning around. He stumbled and would have fallen if he hadn’t managed to grab a hold of the narrow peninsular bench that separated the main area from the kitchen.
Honey merely fixed him with her steady hazel gaze and raised her brows.
“Just a minor setback,” he insisted. “You can see I’m fine now compared to yesterday.”
“I think it’s perfectly clear that you’re not ready to be left alone,” Honey said. “You can’t walk six feet without staggering.”
“I’m not planning on participating in a walkathon,” Brian said, knowing he sounded childish.
“It’s nice that you have some idea of your limits. Now, why don’t you get back into bed: it’s still not that warm in here. I’ll run out and pick up a few things. Is there anything you know you need?”
The apartment was still and silent when Honey returned. A quick glance in the direction of the bed revealed Brian, on his side, facing her, fast asleep. Her expression softened. What was it about sleep that made people vulnerable stripping away the veneer of control that so many fought to maintain? She moved quietly, setting aside the few personal things she’d purchased and unloading the grocery items into the tiny pantry and old refrigerator. She could easily fix meals for the next day or so now. She glanced at her watch; she should probably give Brian his next lot of pills, though she hated to wake him. Still, the doctor had said he was exhausted and that for the first couple of days the medication might make him sleep more than usual.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she watched him as he slept. Unable to resist, she let her fingers play with that lock of hair, a smile curving her lips as she recalled the numerous occasions on which he had threatened to get a crew cut like his brother’s. She’d protested, of course—kissing the offending lock and the forehead it fell against— before moving on to other places. Brian would laugh and give a mock sigh. If she really liked it that much…
She did like it; it was quintessentially Brian in her mind, but the truth was he could cut his hair or grow it to his shoulders or shave his head; she wouldn’t love him any less or find him any less attractive. She closed her eyes for a moment as a wave of fatigue washed over her. The previous day had been a long one and her sleep had been broken, not to mention the emotional roller coaster she’d found herself on. Stretching out beside Brian, she shrugged out of her coat and jacket, removed her boots, lifted the covers and slid beneath them. It couldn’t hurt to rest for a little while.
There it was again, the feeling of closeness; of another human being; a very specific human being. Brian drew the warmth a little closer to him and half opened his eyes. Honey burrowed into his chest, just as she had on so many other chilly mornings, her soft golden hair rubbing against his chin. She wriggled and stretched and then was still. After a moment, she shifted her position and titled her head back; his gaze locked with hers. Instinct, habit and longing merged, and Brian lowered his head to cover her mouth with his own. The kiss was tender, gentle at first, deepening when she welcomed him.
And old, wonderful familiar rhythm took hold and they continued to kiss: light, delicate playful kisses, followed by deeper, longer moments where their tongues danced, one against the other. Brian’s hand slid under Honey’s shirt, cupping her breast. Their bodies aligned, and Honey’s breath caught as the evidence of Brian’s desire for her made itself known. Her fingers raked through his thick dark hair, and he fumbled with the waistband of her skirt.
Call me, on the line, call me anytime, call me
The old Blondie song rang out, breaking the silence, forcing the two apart. Honey all but fell from the bed, scrambling to reach her tote bag and fumbling for her cell.
“Hi, Trix,” she said, striving to sound casual and unconcerned. “He’s much better,” she continued without turning her head to look at Brian. “Probably tomorrow or the next day,” she said. “I’ll give you a call later with another update. Do you need me to do anything for work?” There was quiet as she listened rather than talked. “Of course, I’ll put him on. I was just about to take a shower anyway. Talk to you later. Give my love to Jim.” She handed the phone to Brian without allowing their eyes to meet, then grabbed her tote and the carry bag with her personal purchases in it, and headed for the bathroom.
“Hi, Trix. Thanks for asking. I really do feel better.” Brian responded to his sister’s questions, but his gaze remained on the closed bathroom door, and although he had no medical data to back his theory, he was sure his heart was beating faster than usual.
When Honey emerged from the bathroom, he’d managed to get himself out of bed and was dressed in warm sweats and heavy socks. He’d even folded the bedding and stowed it in the old trunk he used as a coffee table. The effort had taken its toll, and he was sitting where he’d earlier lain, but at least the futon was now in sofa mode— in safe mode, he mentally corrected. Honey may have deliberately avoided looking at him before retreating to the bathroom, but that didn’t prevent him from knowing how upset she was.
His former fiancé was wearing a pair of faded jeans that clung to her slender body in a way that made his determination to send her back to Sleepyside hard to remember. She’d teamed it with a soft, olive green sweater that he knew would bring out the flecks of green in her hazel eyes.
Honey saw him looking at her and self-consciously brushed her golden hair back behind her ear. “I needed something else to wear if I’m going to be here for a couple of days, I figured I’d be warmer and more comfortable in this. I picked these up at a little store around the corner.” She didn’t know why she was telling him. Who cared what she was wearing or why?
“Sorry. The heating in this place has never been great.”
“It’s fine.” She crossed to the kitchen. “Would you like tea or coffee?”
“Tea would be good.” Brian hesitated. “Honey, about before…”
“It was nothing,” she said swiftly. “We’re both tired. We were still half asleep. Old habits, I guess.” She managed what she hoped was a carefree smile but suspected looked like a clown-like stretch of her mouth.
“Sure,” he said slowly. “But maybe, given that, you should think about heading home. I don’t want things between us to become awkward.”
No. Right, Honey thought. We wouldn’t want that. Awkward? Try devastating, heartbreaking.
“Well, we are pretty busy,” she said, feeling as if her friend and one-time love just wanted to be rid of her. “But you still don’t look great. Don’t even try and pretend that you’re not sitting there like that because getting dressed and making the bed totally wiped you out. You look like you might pass out again.”
“Even if I did, you shouldn’t be responsible for me.”
“Look, if you prefer to call Cindy and have her watch over you that’s fine with me,” Honey said. “I would have thought she’d be around anyway, considering how unwell you’ve been.” She wasn’t sure how she’d managed to put the thought of the other mystery woman out of her mind.
“Cindy who?” Brian looked puzzled.
“Your friend, girlfriend, whatever,” Honey was beginning to lose patience with the man she loved. Maybe she was better off without him. “The one the doctor mentioned last night.”
“The who, the what, the one?” Brian scratched his head and then a slow smile spread across his face. “Oh, that Cindy.”
“Is there more than one?” She wanted to wipe that smile from his all too handsome face.
“I can actually introduce you to Cindy,” Brian said, getting to his feet and taking a step towards her. He swayed slightly and held out his hand. “You could be right. I might need a hand.”
It was on the tip of Honey’s tongue to tell him to get Cindy to give him a hand, but old habits are hard to let go of. She took his hand and helped him to the front door of the apartment. Brian opened it and then winced at the blast of cold air that hit them.
“Hope Cindy has a nice warm coat,” Honey said, shivering.
“Not really.” Brian nodded his head towards the end wall of the hall. It had some sort of wall-mounted metal rack and in that rack with a lock and chain was a bright pink bicycle. “That’s Cindy.”
“What?” Honey stared, but the confusion she was feeling didn’t seem to be dissipating.
“Cindy is my bike,” Brian said with a grin. “Now, can we get back inside? It’s cold out here.” He pulled on her arm and they stepped back, Brian closing the door as they did so.
“Cindy is a bike?” Honey repeated as she led him back to the futon.
“I picked it up for free off the side of the road,” Brian admitted. “Tinkered a bit, and she rides fine now. I can’t get parking at the hospital, so when the weather permits, Cindy is much faster than the L. Because of the colour, the guys at work named her Cindy.”
Honey couldn’t help but giggle. “Honestly, naming the Queen is one thing, but Cindy the bike? People will think you’ve stopped being sensible Brian Belden.”
“I imagine if people knew the truth about me, they would not be calling me sensible at all.” Brian’s tone and expression were sober.
“What do you mean?” Honey dropped down on the edge of the sofa, her face concerned. “What truth?”
“I need to, want to, tell you something, but I get it if you don’t want to listen. It’s about why I came here.”
“I know,” Honey said quietly. “It was a great opportunity to work at a good hospital. And being here meant you could concentrate on your studies, rather than be distracted.” By me. The last was unspoken, but they both heard it.
“That’s what I told you, but it isn’t true.” He shook his head. “I lied to you. I almost never lie and lying to you…it still makes me feel sick when I think about it.”
“But you must have had a reason for lying.” Honey could hear the words, halting, deliberate.
“Yes. I had a reason.” It was hard to tell if Honey wanted to know what that might have been; her expression was too hard to read.
There was silence and then she faced him squarely. “Was it someone else? Is that why you came here? To be with someone else?” It was the thing she’d feared. When their relationship was in its infancy, she and Brian had agreed to take a break and try dating other people. It was a move designed to prove to themselves as much as anyone else that they were meant to be together; that their relationship was more than just two young people drawn together by proximity and convenience. Dating other people had not worked for either one of them and after several months, they’d resumed their romance, more sure than ever before that they belonged together. When Brian had all but broken off their relationship before moving to Chicago, she’d wondered if there was more to it.
Brian laughed and then stopped when he saw the look in those eyes. He shook his head. “No, Honey. How could you even think that?”
“How could I not?” she snapped. “You pushed me out of your life. Told me I was too demanding, too needy.” Her voice cracked—that had really hurt. As a child Honey had longed for love and affection. Having the people she loved love her back meant so much, and she sensed she clung to their affection, wrapping it around her like a blanket, and that maybe she wanted too much, asked for too much. Brian’s words had carved tiny wounds into her soul.
“I didn’t… I didn’t say that,” Brian insisted. “I just said I couldn’t be pulled in so many directions. Couldn’t focus on everything at once.”
“You said,” Honey began and sat up straight, “that it was too much, being there for me and getting through your rotations. That you couldn’t be there like I wanted you to be, like I needed you to be.”
“That is true, more or less, but it isn’t all of it. And it has nothing to do with another woman.”
“So what is it?” Honey demanded. “What’s the big secret? What lie did you tell?”
Brian took a slow deep breath. He was committed now. For better or worse it was time for the truth. “I’m not here in Chicago because it was a better opportunity for me,. I’m here,” he continued, “because I didn’t perform well enough on my last rotation to get the recommendation I needed to secure the place in New York.”
“What?” Honey’s hazel eyes blinked. “I don’t understand.”
“You remember how many more special occasions and get togethers I managed to attend in the last couple of months of my last rotation?”
Honey nodded. It had been wonderful to have him around more; to make plans for dinner and actually keep them.
“I guess I felt like I had things under control. Everything had been going so well and I thought, why not enjoy myself a little? I figured I’d earned it and I’d paid my dues.”
“You’ve always worked incredibly hard,” Honey said.
“Not hard enough, as it turns out. My assessment fell short of expectations, and I was told that my place in New York was going to someone else.”
“That’s, that’s…” Honey stumbled, more than a little puzzled by what she was hearing. “What?”
“I dropped the ball and lost my place. I was just lucky that I’d worked for the Chief of Staff here on a previous rotation at another hospital, and he gave me a huge break and offered me a place.”
Honey let the words hang in the air between them, trying to glean understanding from them.
“I was lucky as it turns out—this place has been a great learning experience, but I couldn’t face telling you all that I’d failed or at least under-performed. I was ashamed.”
Finally, words began to form into something resembling sentences in Honey’s brain. “You were ashamed,” she repeated. “Because you, Brian Belden, straight A grades, top notch medical student, all round responsible guy, failed something?”
Brian nodded. Honey hadn’t raised her voice, but he knew her well enough to know that her calm, measured tone did not bode well for him.
“Yes,” he said simply. “I know how that sounds.”
“Do you?” she asked. “Do you really, Brian?”
She stood and took a step back and then another, her hazel eyes narrowed, and in spite of his best intentions Brian jumped up, reached out and moved towards her. He lost his balance and stumbled, and within seconds Honey was supporting him.
“Maybe we should finish this conversation sitting down,” she said, easing him back to the sofa.
She ignored the place beside him, choosing the armchair instead.
“I understand you’re mad,” Brian began.
“Well, at least that proves that you’ve regained some of your mental faculties,” Honey said with uncharacteristic sarcasm.
“And I know I sometimes take the pride and independence thing a little too far.”
“Sometimes?”
Brian could see the lift of Honey’s brows even through her bangs.
“You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?”
“Is there any reason why I should?”
“None whatsoever. You should make it as difficult as you possibly can. That’s what I deserve.”
Honey studied the slump of his shoulders and saw the guilt play out in his dark eyes. “I just want to understand, Brian. Are you telling me that this—this whole thing between us— had nothing to do with me being too needy and demanding?”
“Yes,” he said simply. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. You were the most understand and accommodating girlfriend anyone could ask for.”
“But not understanding enough to be there when, for once in your life, you’re not perfect?”
“No, of course not. I mean, I’m not perfect. I’ve never been perfect. I thought you understood that…didn’t expect that.”
“I don’t!” Honey did raise her voice this time. “Brian, your family and friends love you. They also respect and admire you, but none of them— none of us— expect you to be perfect. That is some crazy idea you’ve latched on to, and if you’re looking for a catalogue of your faults, you can start right there. So you messed up. Welcome to the club.”
“But…” Brian wasn’t sure whether her reaction was a good sign or a bad one. “I’d never missed a beat—all that study, all that time and I finally had a chance to work close to home and I blew it.”
“So what!” Honey snapped. “I get that was disappointing, and I understand it would have been hard to tell everyone, but I’m not everyone. I’m supposed to be the woman you wanted to spend your life with. How could you not tell me? Worse, how could you make me believe that I was making your life difficult? ”
“I don’t expect you to forgive me,” he said softly. “I just…I didn’t want to let you down—let everyone down— and if I’m completely honest…”
“Yes?”
“I wanted to blame you because I didn’t want to own what had happened. It was easier for me to believe that you’d distracted me.” He’d owed her the truth but part of him wished he’d just left it alone.
“People usually do take things out on the people they love best,” Honey said after several moments of silence. “No reason why you should be an exception.”
Brian wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly. “So, you know I love you?”
“Do you?”
“More than anything.”
“You might want to find a way to show it,” Honey said exasperatedly.
“I know that I might have left it too late. You have a life separate from me, I get that, but I had to tell you. I owed you the truth.”
“Yes, you did. God, Brian, do you know how much you hurt me? I spent half my life feeling like I was in the way, some kind of obligation to my family. Coming to Sleepyside changed all that and you—our relationship— was a big part of that change. To go back to feeling as if I was clingy and needy and a burden…” Honey trailed off and her hazel eyes were narrowed with anger, not brimming with tears.
“You were never those things,” Brian cried, jumping up. He took a step in her direction, swayed on his feet and Honey leapt up, pushing him back down on to the sofa.
“Will you sit down!”
She shook her head and dropped down beside him. “I imagine this is the only way you’re going to stay put. You’ve always been so damn stubborn.”
“One of my many faults,” Brian admitted, managing—just, not to reach out and touch her.
“So you’re telling me this now because I’ve been here looking after you, and you feel you owe me that?”
“Yes. No. I’m not sure.”
“Well that makes a change for Brian Belden—uncertainty.”
Brian leaned back and studied his former girlfriend. “Maybe you can add it to the list of my flaws.”
“I could probably do that,” Honey agreed. “It is growing.”
“Well, I apologise for being so…” Brian was beginning to feel that baring his soul had not been such a great idea.
“Uncommunicative? Unwilling to admit to failing? Lying to me?”
“All of the above!” Brian snapped.
“Apology accepted,” Honey said sweetly. “In spite of its ungracious nature.”
Brian took a deep breath. “Accepted?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, so where do we go from here?”
“You tell me, Brian. Where do you want to go?”
“I’ve already told you I still love you.”
Honey raised her brows. “The Bob-Whites all love one another.”
“That’s not…I’m not just talking about…you know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t!” Honey looked him full in the face. “I know what I think you mean. I know what I want you to mean, but Brian, unless you tell me—really tell me— I don’t know what you do mean.”
“What do you want me to mean?” he asked, his voice husky.
Honey shook her head. “No. This isn’t about me.”
There was silence as Brian sat unmoving beside her, his expression guarded, uncertain.
Honey saw the look and started to rise.
“Wait.” Brian reached out and grabbed her hand. “I meant I’m in love with you—always have been, probably always will be. But I can be a friend, if that’s what you want.”
Honey resettled beside him. “I always want you to be my friend. You were one of the first real friends I ever had.”
Brian nodded slowly. “Fair enough,” he said, but his voice cracked, just a little, and his dark eyes held a trace of something Honey had never seen before.
“Besides,” she continued, “you said all good relationships were based on friendship.”
His expression altered, ever so slightly. “I still think that,” he said.
“Me too,” Honey agreed. “So we both think that friendship is important, and you’re in love with me…” She shifted her position, curling her long legs under her and brushing against him. “And I’m in love with you.”
“You are?” The words were barely above a whisper and the expression on Brian’s beloved face so full of hope that Honey almost cried.
“Of course I am, you idiot!” she said.
“Add idiot to that list, won’t you?”
“Okay.” Honey leaned towards him as she spoke and brushed his lips with hers.
Brian lifted one hand, placing it gently at the nape of her neck and she stayed where she was. They kissed again, lips lingering longer this time.
When they drew apart, a smile curved Honey’s lips. “Still want me to go back to Sleepyside?”
“I want you to stay forever,” he said huskily.
“That would not be good for the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency.”
“True enough. I might be feeling better, but I am nowhere near strong enough to deal with my sister’s wrath.”
“I have a feeling she might cut you a break under the circumstances.” Honey leaned forward and brushed his lips with another kiss.
“What about you?”
“Me?” Honey’s smile lit her eyes. “I consider it my duty to ensure you are fully recovered before heading home. I’m guessing it will take a couple more days before you’re able to prove to me that you’re well enough to be left alone.”
“Prove?” Brian’s dark brows lifted.
“I am a detective,” Honey said sweetly. “So proof is important to me.”
“Anything in particular in mind?”
“I can think of a couple of things— crossing the room without stumbling, fixing a meal, demonstrating a return to fully physically functional.”
“I’d like to try that last thing now if you don’t mind.” Brian reached out and pulled her towards him.
Honey thought for a moment, and then shrugged her slender shoulders. “I can live with that, I suppose.”
“You always were a very thoughtful and considerate girlfriend.”
“Don’t you forget it,” Honey warned.
Brian’s dark eyes met her hazel. “Never again, my love. Never again.”
“Good. Now let’s get on with the proving thing. I have really missed this.”
WORD COUNT: 5428
THE WHEELERS' LAKE
Author's Notes: Mary C, my wonderful editor, did an amazing job working through all of my errors as well as picking up on some very strange tendencies. I have kept some of idiosyncratic choices in place, so all remaining badness is all my own. Trixie Belden et al belong to Random House and not to me. I am making no monetary profit from these scribblings. The wonderful support of my Jix readers does not for some strange reason count as currency.
His dark hair, longer than he used to wear it, still flopped across his forehead and her fingers moved in an involuntary gesture, forcing her to clench her fist. Whatever else this was, it wasn’t the time for late night caresses. Instead, she allowed her gaze to linger on those perfectly perfect features: the strong, straight nose, the thick dark lashes, the curve of his mouth…Honey inched her body away from his. This had been a bad idea— a very bad idea. When he’d ended their relationship, he’d made it clear that he didn’t have room for her in his life. Not that he didn’t care— he’d never made that claim— but he had made her feel as if she had been too needy, too much of a drain on his time and energy and wasn’t that just as bad? She could still hear his voice, almost harsh and accusing: ‘I can’t always be worrying about disappointing you. It’s too much to deal with.’
What had possessed her to do this? She had been getting along fine— dating, well okay, so that hadn’t gone brilliantly— but she’d stopped missing him so much that it hurt and now…As she watched, a soft moan escaped Brian’s lips and he twisted, as if in pain. Lines appeared between his dark brows, and when she leaned closer she could see little beads of sweat on his forehead.
Carefully, she slipped out of bed, hurrying to the bathroom, where she ran a face cloth under the tap. Back in the main room, she gently applied the damp cloth to his forehead, wiping at his face and finally pushing away that lock of hair. His lashes fluttered against his cheeks and he slowly opened his eyes.
“Honey?”
“Shh,” she said, continuing to soothe his brow. “It’s fine.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’m going to give you another tablet, okay?”
Brian nodded, and she lifted and supported his head while he sipped water from the glass she’d left on the table. He swallowed the tablet and managed a half-smile. “Thanks.”
“Go back to sleep.”
They settled under the covers, and this time she did not pull away when he spooned his body around hers. “Honey?” His voice was soft, barely a whisper, and suddenly Honey felt tears forming in her eyes. She did not reply. Let him think she was asleep already. It was easier that way.
There was a moment of silence, and then he spoke again. Keeping his voice low and soft, he whispered, “Missed you.”
Unwilling and unable to answer, Honey merely mouthed her reply: “Missed you, too.”
Brian stirred and moved to stretch out his long, lean limbs. Instantly, he felt the warmth of another body within the confines of the bed, a very familiar body. He opened his eyes slowly. It was true. His mouth curved in a smile as his dark eyes blinked away the last vestiges of sleep and focused on the woman curled beside him. His mind did not take long to sort through the happenings of the last, precious twelve hours or so, but he refused to let it ruin his feeling of pleasure.
When he’d found himself in Chicago, he’d struggled to come to terms with the change in his circumstances. It wasn’t that being alone in a strange city was tough—he was used to that. It was not having Honey at the other end of a phone to talk to, to bounce ideas and impressions off of, that killed him. He’d known that he loved her. What he hadn’t known was how much he relied on her. How much he needed her. And it didn’t help that both emotionally and financially, getting back to Sleepyside on a regular basis was hard work.
He’d been so determined the night before that he’d be able to get her to leave. Now, he couldn’t help but be glad that he’d failed. Maybe this was all it would be—this few moments of a memory brought to life. But he didn’t care. She was here with him, in his arms, in his bed and that was something.
When he opened his eyes again, that special and particular warmth was gone. He sat up slowly, as the thought flickered in his mind that the whole thing had been in his imagination. A glance towards the kitchen allowed the thought to be cast aside.
“Morning,” he said.
“Morning,” Honey returned, spinning around to face him. “Coffee’s ready and I was just about to fix some breakfast. How do eggs sound, or would you rather just toast?”
“Eggs sound great and that coffee smells amazing.” Lately, with money so tight, he’d been making do with instant. “I’ll turn the heat up,” he said, taking in her appearance. Honey had obviously been rifling through his drawers, as she’d thrown on one of his college sweatshirts over the top of her night attire.
She came out from behind the counter, and his lips twitched as he recognized his sweatpants, sitting low on her narrow hips, their length hampering her movement. She handed him a mug of coffee and dropped down beside him. A slender hand reached out and rested lightly against his forehead. “You don’t feel so feverish,” she said.
“I feel a hundred times better,” Brian said and meant it. He took several sips of the coffee, made, not surprisingly, just the way he liked it.
“Good. Now, where’s the thermostat control for your heating? I don’t want you getting out of bed until it’s a little warmer in here.”
“It’s just behind that bookcase.” Brian nodded towards a tall shabby, pine bookcase that was filled with medical texts and an assortment of novels.
Honey easily located the dial and pushed it up to a more comfortable temperature. She couldn’t help but notice that the top of the bookcase had several photographs lined up along it: one of Brian with his parents at his graduation, one of the Bob-Whites taken two Christmases ago and one of the two of them, taken at her graduation from college. His arm rested lightly around her shoulders and she was looking up at him. Honey blinked a couple of times, seeing the unmistakable love in both of their faces—what had happened to that promise of a future together? She turned her back on the bookcase and her past and headed for the kitchen.
Brian did justice to the scrambled eggs, bacon and toast and happily downed a second cup of coffee. “I can’t thank you enough, Honey,” he said. The food and the caffeine had at least helped restore some of his mental faculties. His guest was one of the sweetest, most caring people he’d ever known. And she loved each and every one of the Bob-Whites. He had been reading too much into her attentions. Hadn’t Trixie and Mart said she was enjoying dating—emphasis on enjoying? Those few moments the evening before and during the night when the possibility of more seemed real, were no doubt the result of his illness.
“I imagine you’ll want to get back home as soon as you can. I know how hard you and Trixie have been working to build the business.”
“We’ll see how you are, once you’ve had a chance to get up and about,” Honey returned. Gathering up their plates, she retreated to the tiny kitchen and filled the sink for their dishes.
“I’ll do that now with Nurse Wheeler’s permission,” he said. “It’s definitely warmer in here now.” Warmer than it usually was. Heat was expensive and he generally wore extra layers of clothing to keep costs under control. Plus, heating in the apartment was spotty at best. He flung back the covers and swung his legs around over the edge of the bed. He got to his feet slowly and was relieved to find he did not automatically fall down again. He grabbed a robe from a hook on the wall and shrugged into it. Doing his best to appear confident, he headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Maybe he should have realized that he was being overconfident. A few minutes later he returned to the main room. “See, good as new,” he announced, spinning around. He stumbled and would have fallen if he hadn’t managed to grab a hold of the narrow peninsular bench that separated the main area from the kitchen.
Honey merely fixed him with her steady hazel gaze and raised her brows.
“Just a minor setback,” he insisted. “You can see I’m fine now compared to yesterday.”
“I think it’s perfectly clear that you’re not ready to be left alone,” Honey said. “You can’t walk six feet without staggering.”
“I’m not planning on participating in a walkathon,” Brian said, knowing he sounded childish.
“It’s nice that you have some idea of your limits. Now, why don’t you get back into bed: it’s still not that warm in here. I’ll run out and pick up a few things. Is there anything you know you need?”
The apartment was still and silent when Honey returned. A quick glance in the direction of the bed revealed Brian, on his side, facing her, fast asleep. Her expression softened. What was it about sleep that made people vulnerable stripping away the veneer of control that so many fought to maintain? She moved quietly, setting aside the few personal things she’d purchased and unloading the grocery items into the tiny pantry and old refrigerator. She could easily fix meals for the next day or so now. She glanced at her watch; she should probably give Brian his next lot of pills, though she hated to wake him. Still, the doctor had said he was exhausted and that for the first couple of days the medication might make him sleep more than usual.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she watched him as he slept. Unable to resist, she let her fingers play with that lock of hair, a smile curving her lips as she recalled the numerous occasions on which he had threatened to get a crew cut like his brother’s. She’d protested, of course—kissing the offending lock and the forehead it fell against— before moving on to other places. Brian would laugh and give a mock sigh. If she really liked it that much…
She did like it; it was quintessentially Brian in her mind, but the truth was he could cut his hair or grow it to his shoulders or shave his head; she wouldn’t love him any less or find him any less attractive. She closed her eyes for a moment as a wave of fatigue washed over her. The previous day had been a long one and her sleep had been broken, not to mention the emotional roller coaster she’d found herself on. Stretching out beside Brian, she shrugged out of her coat and jacket, removed her boots, lifted the covers and slid beneath them. It couldn’t hurt to rest for a little while.
There it was again, the feeling of closeness; of another human being; a very specific human being. Brian drew the warmth a little closer to him and half opened his eyes. Honey burrowed into his chest, just as she had on so many other chilly mornings, her soft golden hair rubbing against his chin. She wriggled and stretched and then was still. After a moment, she shifted her position and titled her head back; his gaze locked with hers. Instinct, habit and longing merged, and Brian lowered his head to cover her mouth with his own. The kiss was tender, gentle at first, deepening when she welcomed him.
And old, wonderful familiar rhythm took hold and they continued to kiss: light, delicate playful kisses, followed by deeper, longer moments where their tongues danced, one against the other. Brian’s hand slid under Honey’s shirt, cupping her breast. Their bodies aligned, and Honey’s breath caught as the evidence of Brian’s desire for her made itself known. Her fingers raked through his thick dark hair, and he fumbled with the waistband of her skirt.
Call me, on the line, call me anytime, call me
The old Blondie song rang out, breaking the silence, forcing the two apart. Honey all but fell from the bed, scrambling to reach her tote bag and fumbling for her cell.
“Hi, Trix,” she said, striving to sound casual and unconcerned. “He’s much better,” she continued without turning her head to look at Brian. “Probably tomorrow or the next day,” she said. “I’ll give you a call later with another update. Do you need me to do anything for work?” There was quiet as she listened rather than talked. “Of course, I’ll put him on. I was just about to take a shower anyway. Talk to you later. Give my love to Jim.” She handed the phone to Brian without allowing their eyes to meet, then grabbed her tote and the carry bag with her personal purchases in it, and headed for the bathroom.
“Hi, Trix. Thanks for asking. I really do feel better.” Brian responded to his sister’s questions, but his gaze remained on the closed bathroom door, and although he had no medical data to back his theory, he was sure his heart was beating faster than usual.
When Honey emerged from the bathroom, he’d managed to get himself out of bed and was dressed in warm sweats and heavy socks. He’d even folded the bedding and stowed it in the old trunk he used as a coffee table. The effort had taken its toll, and he was sitting where he’d earlier lain, but at least the futon was now in sofa mode— in safe mode, he mentally corrected. Honey may have deliberately avoided looking at him before retreating to the bathroom, but that didn’t prevent him from knowing how upset she was.
His former fiancé was wearing a pair of faded jeans that clung to her slender body in a way that made his determination to send her back to Sleepyside hard to remember. She’d teamed it with a soft, olive green sweater that he knew would bring out the flecks of green in her hazel eyes.
Honey saw him looking at her and self-consciously brushed her golden hair back behind her ear. “I needed something else to wear if I’m going to be here for a couple of days, I figured I’d be warmer and more comfortable in this. I picked these up at a little store around the corner.” She didn’t know why she was telling him. Who cared what she was wearing or why?
“Sorry. The heating in this place has never been great.”
“It’s fine.” She crossed to the kitchen. “Would you like tea or coffee?”
“Tea would be good.” Brian hesitated. “Honey, about before…”
“It was nothing,” she said swiftly. “We’re both tired. We were still half asleep. Old habits, I guess.” She managed what she hoped was a carefree smile but suspected looked like a clown-like stretch of her mouth.
“Sure,” he said slowly. “But maybe, given that, you should think about heading home. I don’t want things between us to become awkward.”
No. Right, Honey thought. We wouldn’t want that. Awkward? Try devastating, heartbreaking.
“Well, we are pretty busy,” she said, feeling as if her friend and one-time love just wanted to be rid of her. “But you still don’t look great. Don’t even try and pretend that you’re not sitting there like that because getting dressed and making the bed totally wiped you out. You look like you might pass out again.”
“Even if I did, you shouldn’t be responsible for me.”
“Look, if you prefer to call Cindy and have her watch over you that’s fine with me,” Honey said. “I would have thought she’d be around anyway, considering how unwell you’ve been.” She wasn’t sure how she’d managed to put the thought of the other mystery woman out of her mind.
“Cindy who?” Brian looked puzzled.
“Your friend, girlfriend, whatever,” Honey was beginning to lose patience with the man she loved. Maybe she was better off without him. “The one the doctor mentioned last night.”
“The who, the what, the one?” Brian scratched his head and then a slow smile spread across his face. “Oh, that Cindy.”
“Is there more than one?” She wanted to wipe that smile from his all too handsome face.
“I can actually introduce you to Cindy,” Brian said, getting to his feet and taking a step towards her. He swayed slightly and held out his hand. “You could be right. I might need a hand.”
It was on the tip of Honey’s tongue to tell him to get Cindy to give him a hand, but old habits are hard to let go of. She took his hand and helped him to the front door of the apartment. Brian opened it and then winced at the blast of cold air that hit them.
“Hope Cindy has a nice warm coat,” Honey said, shivering.
“Not really.” Brian nodded his head towards the end wall of the hall. It had some sort of wall-mounted metal rack and in that rack with a lock and chain was a bright pink bicycle. “That’s Cindy.”
“What?” Honey stared, but the confusion she was feeling didn’t seem to be dissipating.
“Cindy is my bike,” Brian said with a grin. “Now, can we get back inside? It’s cold out here.” He pulled on her arm and they stepped back, Brian closing the door as they did so.
“Cindy is a bike?” Honey repeated as she led him back to the futon.
“I picked it up for free off the side of the road,” Brian admitted. “Tinkered a bit, and she rides fine now. I can’t get parking at the hospital, so when the weather permits, Cindy is much faster than the L. Because of the colour, the guys at work named her Cindy.”
Honey couldn’t help but giggle. “Honestly, naming the Queen is one thing, but Cindy the bike? People will think you’ve stopped being sensible Brian Belden.”
“I imagine if people knew the truth about me, they would not be calling me sensible at all.” Brian’s tone and expression were sober.
“What do you mean?” Honey dropped down on the edge of the sofa, her face concerned. “What truth?”
“I need to, want to, tell you something, but I get it if you don’t want to listen. It’s about why I came here.”
“I know,” Honey said quietly. “It was a great opportunity to work at a good hospital. And being here meant you could concentrate on your studies, rather than be distracted.” By me. The last was unspoken, but they both heard it.
“That’s what I told you, but it isn’t true.” He shook his head. “I lied to you. I almost never lie and lying to you…it still makes me feel sick when I think about it.”
“But you must have had a reason for lying.” Honey could hear the words, halting, deliberate.
“Yes. I had a reason.” It was hard to tell if Honey wanted to know what that might have been; her expression was too hard to read.
There was silence and then she faced him squarely. “Was it someone else? Is that why you came here? To be with someone else?” It was the thing she’d feared. When their relationship was in its infancy, she and Brian had agreed to take a break and try dating other people. It was a move designed to prove to themselves as much as anyone else that they were meant to be together; that their relationship was more than just two young people drawn together by proximity and convenience. Dating other people had not worked for either one of them and after several months, they’d resumed their romance, more sure than ever before that they belonged together. When Brian had all but broken off their relationship before moving to Chicago, she’d wondered if there was more to it.
Brian laughed and then stopped when he saw the look in those eyes. He shook his head. “No, Honey. How could you even think that?”
“How could I not?” she snapped. “You pushed me out of your life. Told me I was too demanding, too needy.” Her voice cracked—that had really hurt. As a child Honey had longed for love and affection. Having the people she loved love her back meant so much, and she sensed she clung to their affection, wrapping it around her like a blanket, and that maybe she wanted too much, asked for too much. Brian’s words had carved tiny wounds into her soul.
“I didn’t… I didn’t say that,” Brian insisted. “I just said I couldn’t be pulled in so many directions. Couldn’t focus on everything at once.”
“You said,” Honey began and sat up straight, “that it was too much, being there for me and getting through your rotations. That you couldn’t be there like I wanted you to be, like I needed you to be.”
“That is true, more or less, but it isn’t all of it. And it has nothing to do with another woman.”
“So what is it?” Honey demanded. “What’s the big secret? What lie did you tell?”
Brian took a slow deep breath. He was committed now. For better or worse it was time for the truth. “I’m not here in Chicago because it was a better opportunity for me,. I’m here,” he continued, “because I didn’t perform well enough on my last rotation to get the recommendation I needed to secure the place in New York.”
“What?” Honey’s hazel eyes blinked. “I don’t understand.”
“You remember how many more special occasions and get togethers I managed to attend in the last couple of months of my last rotation?”
Honey nodded. It had been wonderful to have him around more; to make plans for dinner and actually keep them.
“I guess I felt like I had things under control. Everything had been going so well and I thought, why not enjoy myself a little? I figured I’d earned it and I’d paid my dues.”
“You’ve always worked incredibly hard,” Honey said.
“Not hard enough, as it turns out. My assessment fell short of expectations, and I was told that my place in New York was going to someone else.”
“That’s, that’s…” Honey stumbled, more than a little puzzled by what she was hearing. “What?”
“I dropped the ball and lost my place. I was just lucky that I’d worked for the Chief of Staff here on a previous rotation at another hospital, and he gave me a huge break and offered me a place.”
Honey let the words hang in the air between them, trying to glean understanding from them.
“I was lucky as it turns out—this place has been a great learning experience, but I couldn’t face telling you all that I’d failed or at least under-performed. I was ashamed.”
Finally, words began to form into something resembling sentences in Honey’s brain. “You were ashamed,” she repeated. “Because you, Brian Belden, straight A grades, top notch medical student, all round responsible guy, failed something?”
Brian nodded. Honey hadn’t raised her voice, but he knew her well enough to know that her calm, measured tone did not bode well for him.
“Yes,” he said simply. “I know how that sounds.”
“Do you?” she asked. “Do you really, Brian?”
She stood and took a step back and then another, her hazel eyes narrowed, and in spite of his best intentions Brian jumped up, reached out and moved towards her. He lost his balance and stumbled, and within seconds Honey was supporting him.
“Maybe we should finish this conversation sitting down,” she said, easing him back to the sofa.
She ignored the place beside him, choosing the armchair instead.
“I understand you’re mad,” Brian began.
“Well, at least that proves that you’ve regained some of your mental faculties,” Honey said with uncharacteristic sarcasm.
“And I know I sometimes take the pride and independence thing a little too far.”
“Sometimes?”
Brian could see the lift of Honey’s brows even through her bangs.
“You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?”
“Is there any reason why I should?”
“None whatsoever. You should make it as difficult as you possibly can. That’s what I deserve.”
Honey studied the slump of his shoulders and saw the guilt play out in his dark eyes. “I just want to understand, Brian. Are you telling me that this—this whole thing between us— had nothing to do with me being too needy and demanding?”
“Yes,” he said simply. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. You were the most understand and accommodating girlfriend anyone could ask for.”
“But not understanding enough to be there when, for once in your life, you’re not perfect?”
“No, of course not. I mean, I’m not perfect. I’ve never been perfect. I thought you understood that…didn’t expect that.”
“I don’t!” Honey did raise her voice this time. “Brian, your family and friends love you. They also respect and admire you, but none of them— none of us— expect you to be perfect. That is some crazy idea you’ve latched on to, and if you’re looking for a catalogue of your faults, you can start right there. So you messed up. Welcome to the club.”
“But…” Brian wasn’t sure whether her reaction was a good sign or a bad one. “I’d never missed a beat—all that study, all that time and I finally had a chance to work close to home and I blew it.”
“So what!” Honey snapped. “I get that was disappointing, and I understand it would have been hard to tell everyone, but I’m not everyone. I’m supposed to be the woman you wanted to spend your life with. How could you not tell me? Worse, how could you make me believe that I was making your life difficult? ”
“I don’t expect you to forgive me,” he said softly. “I just…I didn’t want to let you down—let everyone down— and if I’m completely honest…”
“Yes?”
“I wanted to blame you because I didn’t want to own what had happened. It was easier for me to believe that you’d distracted me.” He’d owed her the truth but part of him wished he’d just left it alone.
“People usually do take things out on the people they love best,” Honey said after several moments of silence. “No reason why you should be an exception.”
Brian wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly. “So, you know I love you?”
“Do you?”
“More than anything.”
“You might want to find a way to show it,” Honey said exasperatedly.
“I know that I might have left it too late. You have a life separate from me, I get that, but I had to tell you. I owed you the truth.”
“Yes, you did. God, Brian, do you know how much you hurt me? I spent half my life feeling like I was in the way, some kind of obligation to my family. Coming to Sleepyside changed all that and you—our relationship— was a big part of that change. To go back to feeling as if I was clingy and needy and a burden…” Honey trailed off and her hazel eyes were narrowed with anger, not brimming with tears.
“You were never those things,” Brian cried, jumping up. He took a step in her direction, swayed on his feet and Honey leapt up, pushing him back down on to the sofa.
“Will you sit down!”
She shook her head and dropped down beside him. “I imagine this is the only way you’re going to stay put. You’ve always been so damn stubborn.”
“One of my many faults,” Brian admitted, managing—just, not to reach out and touch her.
“So you’re telling me this now because I’ve been here looking after you, and you feel you owe me that?”
“Yes. No. I’m not sure.”
“Well that makes a change for Brian Belden—uncertainty.”
Brian leaned back and studied his former girlfriend. “Maybe you can add it to the list of my flaws.”
“I could probably do that,” Honey agreed. “It is growing.”
“Well, I apologise for being so…” Brian was beginning to feel that baring his soul had not been such a great idea.
“Uncommunicative? Unwilling to admit to failing? Lying to me?”
“All of the above!” Brian snapped.
“Apology accepted,” Honey said sweetly. “In spite of its ungracious nature.”
Brian took a deep breath. “Accepted?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, so where do we go from here?”
“You tell me, Brian. Where do you want to go?”
“I’ve already told you I still love you.”
Honey raised her brows. “The Bob-Whites all love one another.”
“That’s not…I’m not just talking about…you know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t!” Honey looked him full in the face. “I know what I think you mean. I know what I want you to mean, but Brian, unless you tell me—really tell me— I don’t know what you do mean.”
“What do you want me to mean?” he asked, his voice husky.
Honey shook her head. “No. This isn’t about me.”
There was silence as Brian sat unmoving beside her, his expression guarded, uncertain.
Honey saw the look and started to rise.
“Wait.” Brian reached out and grabbed her hand. “I meant I’m in love with you—always have been, probably always will be. But I can be a friend, if that’s what you want.”
Honey resettled beside him. “I always want you to be my friend. You were one of the first real friends I ever had.”
Brian nodded slowly. “Fair enough,” he said, but his voice cracked, just a little, and his dark eyes held a trace of something Honey had never seen before.
“Besides,” she continued, “you said all good relationships were based on friendship.”
His expression altered, ever so slightly. “I still think that,” he said.
“Me too,” Honey agreed. “So we both think that friendship is important, and you’re in love with me…” She shifted her position, curling her long legs under her and brushing against him. “And I’m in love with you.”
“You are?” The words were barely above a whisper and the expression on Brian’s beloved face so full of hope that Honey almost cried.
“Of course I am, you idiot!” she said.
“Add idiot to that list, won’t you?”
“Okay.” Honey leaned towards him as she spoke and brushed his lips with hers.
Brian lifted one hand, placing it gently at the nape of her neck and she stayed where she was. They kissed again, lips lingering longer this time.
When they drew apart, a smile curved Honey’s lips. “Still want me to go back to Sleepyside?”
“I want you to stay forever,” he said huskily.
“That would not be good for the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency.”
“True enough. I might be feeling better, but I am nowhere near strong enough to deal with my sister’s wrath.”
“I have a feeling she might cut you a break under the circumstances.” Honey leaned forward and brushed his lips with another kiss.
“What about you?”
“Me?” Honey’s smile lit her eyes. “I consider it my duty to ensure you are fully recovered before heading home. I’m guessing it will take a couple more days before you’re able to prove to me that you’re well enough to be left alone.”
“Prove?” Brian’s dark brows lifted.
“I am a detective,” Honey said sweetly. “So proof is important to me.”
“Anything in particular in mind?”
“I can think of a couple of things— crossing the room without stumbling, fixing a meal, demonstrating a return to fully physically functional.”
“I’d like to try that last thing now if you don’t mind.” Brian reached out and pulled her towards him.
Honey thought for a moment, and then shrugged her slender shoulders. “I can live with that, I suppose.”
“You always were a very thoughtful and considerate girlfriend.”
“Don’t you forget it,” Honey warned.
Brian’s dark eyes met her hazel. “Never again, my love. Never again.”
“Good. Now let’s get on with the proving thing. I have really missed this.”
WORD COUNT: 5428
THE WHEELERS' LAKE
Author's Notes: Mary C, my wonderful editor, did an amazing job working through all of my errors as well as picking up on some very strange tendencies. I have kept some of idiosyncratic choices in place, so all remaining badness is all my own. Trixie Belden et al belong to Random House and not to me. I am making no monetary profit from these scribblings. The wonderful support of my Jix readers does not for some strange reason count as currency.
