Dangerous Lover (23 page)

“I thought you might. Because of your parents, right?”

He lifted his brows. “Apparently, his memory wasn't entirely wiped out.”

“It's been coming back in bits and pieces. But you know, just because your parents weren't happy together, doesn't mean no one can be. If anything, you both learned from their example—at least learned what not to do.” She shrugged. “I have a feeling you're both going to make great husbands, if you ever get over your issues. Hell, you'll be so attuned to the women you choose to love, you'll make sure they're happy. I know it.”

He was staring at her hard. “They told me you were some kind of a Witch.”

She nodded. “And sometimes a little psychic, too.”

“You really think that can happen?”

“You really want to know?”

Casey was staring at her a little oddly when the doctor came through a set of double doors toward them. They both got to their feet, and it surprised her when Casey's hand curled around her shoulder.

“Ms. Brand,” the doctor said, nodding to her. “And you are?”

“Casey Falconer, Cory's brother. How's he doing, doc?”

“He came through the surgery. We've repaired the damage and given him transfusions.”

“But—?” Casey prompted.

The doctor sighed. “If his body can withstand the shock it's been through, he should make a full recovery. If not…well, the next few hours will tell.”

“Can we see him?” Selene asked.

“We're moving him into ICU. You can both sit with him there. I'll send a nurse for you as soon as he's settled.”

“Thank you, doctor.” They both muttered the words together. Casey slid his arm fully around her shoulders and squeezed. “Hang in there. He's more stubborn than you know.”

“Oh, believe me, I know.”

He looked down at her. “Why are you here all alone, Selene? Don't you have any family or—”

She started to laugh, had to cup a hand over her mouth to stop herself. “Sorry,” she managed. “It's just that—well, up to about ten minutes before you got here, there were so many Brands in this waiting room the hospital was threatening to have them bodily removed.”

“Oh.”

She smiled. “Four sisters and brothers-in-law, plus my mom. And then there are the half siblings—got three of those, plus an entire ranch full of cousins, and all their spouses, and kids, and—well, you get the picture.”

“So where are they?”

“Her mother is still here,” Vidalia said from across the room. She came closer, her eyes on Selene. “How's he doing, daughter?”

“Surgery went well. The next few hours are going to tell the tale. I thought you went back to the Texas Brand with the rest of them.”

Vidalia nodded. “I sent them on without me. We…didn't have much of a chance to talk with them all milling around. And we need to.”

Casey cleared his throat. “I'll uh—step down the hall to that bank of vending machines. Can I bring you back anything Mrs. Brand?”

Vidalia broke off staring at Selene long enough to send him a smile. “You must be Casey Falconer,” she said. “Forgive my manners. Vidalia Brand.”

“Nothing to forgive, ma'am. How's hot cocoa sound?”

“It would hit the spot. And call me Vidalia.”

He nodded, turned and left them alone. Selene stiffened her shoulders once he was out of sight, dreading what was coming next. Her mother had never had the chance to finish dressing her down. She decided to beat her to the punch.

“I'm sorry about running off like that, Mom.”

“If you hadn't, you'd have been in your room that night when that killer came looking. I shudder to think what would have happened then.” Vidalia shook her head and hugged herself. “No, I think your intuition was right on the money, child. Then again, it usually is.”

Selene looked at her mother slowly, unsure what to say. She wasn't screaming at her.

“The uh—the Reverend Jackson and I have been doing some studying together, since you've been away.”

Oh, no. “Studying?”

“Yes. We started with that book you left lying on the kitchen table for me. Which I read with a healthy dose of skepticism, believe you me. It painted this Witchcraft thing in the most flattering light, it was clearly biased. So we did a little more digging.”

Letting her head fall forward until her chin nearly touched her chest, Selene whispered, “And no you doubt found all kinds of crazy sources that told you Witches engage in wild orgies, torture black cats and sacrifice babies to Satan.”

“Well, yes, there were a few of those. But I'm not a stupid woman, Selene. I could see those sources were nothing but propaganda. Besides, Witches don't even believe in the devil, much less worship him.”

Selene brought her head up slowly, opened her eyes, met her mother's.

“And besides, between the Threefold Law and the Wiccan Rede, I can't see how there's room for torture or sacrifice at all.”

“Just who have you been talking to, Mom?”

“Oh, lots of people. Though I wasn't buying a lot of what they told me—not until I had a chat with your cousins, Wes and Ben. I admit, now, I don't like the words you're choosing to use. Witchcraft. Makes it sound like something dark and evil, when the truth is it's nothing more than nature worship and folk magick.”

“That's exactly what it is.”

“Well, I just don't know why you don't call it that, then.” She sighed. “Anyway, I'm sorry I overreacted. But it's as much your fault as my own. You should have told me long ago, Selene. Talked through this with me. Your assumptions about how I would react were as misguided as mine about what this Witch thing was all about.”

“You're right, Mom.”

Vidalia nodded firmly. “Well, then, it's settled.”

“Miss Brand?”

Selene turned to see a smiling, gorgeous young nurse waiting for her. “Yes?”

“You can go in to see Mr. Falconer now. I'll take you back.”

“Oh, but his brother—”

“You go on,” Vidalia said. “I'll send him on when he gets back. Just tell me where.”

“Through those doors,” the nurse said. “Fourth door on the right. Room 307. Then she led Selene through and into the hospital room. Just inside the door, though, she froze—liter-ally. Her skin got goosebumps, she shivered with the chills that raced up her spine and her hands felt like ice.

He lay there, his skin pale except for the slightly blue tint beneath his eyes. The sheets were pulled up to just past his hips, and his chest was bare, except for the leads taped in place there, which, she guessed, were what caused the heart monitor to beep and make wavy lines across its screen. A white bandage encircled his waist. There was an IV line in his arm, another lead clipped to the tip of his forefinger, and tubes feeding oxygen into his nostrils.

He looked fragile, as if he were hovering somewhere between life and death, as if the slightest breeze could send him one way or the other.

She almost didn't dare to move nearer. And then she couldn't stop herself. She tiptoed up to the bed, and leaning close, clasped his hand in hers and lifted it to her lips. It felt cool to the touch. Startlingly cool, and she couldn't help the tears that welled in her eyes as she sank into the chair beside his bed. “Cory, I'm here,” she whispered. “You're going to be okay.”

He didn't reply, so she bent even closer, brushing her cheek over his, closing her eyes because the rasp of his whiskers felt so damned good. “Cory.”

The door opened, closed again. She straightened and blinked at the tears in her eyes.

“You really do have a thing for him, don't you?”

“I love him.” She brushed at her eyes, and turned slightly in her chair. Casey handed her a cup of cocoa.

“You love him?”

“You sound surprised.”

“Most women don't get that involved. Not with him. I mean, he's usually pretty up-front with them about his—well, his intentions.”

“He was with me, too.” She shrugged. “I didn't listen.” She took a deep breath, sighed. “Well, hell, I might as well get to work.” She took a big drink of the just-warm-enough cocoa, then set the cup on the nightstand.

“To work…doing what?”

She was standing by then, leaning over and laying her palms on the top of Cory's head. “Healing him. What else?”

“Oooh-kay.”

She worked on Cory while chatting with Casey for the better part of an hour before he opened his eyes and blinked her into focus. His smile, when it came, was so warm, his eyes so full of emotion, that she almost lost her breath.

“Hey, beautiful,” he whispered.

“Hey, yourself. You feeling better?”

“I'm hurting like hell, but I'm really glad to see you in one piece. You okay?”

“Better than okay, now that I'm pretty sure you're going to be.”

“How's Erica?”

“Grieving for Tessa, but physically fine.” I have a surprise for you.” God, the way his eyes held hers, the way they seemed to be searching….

“What surprise?”

“Your kid brother is here. We've been getting to know each other while you've been napping.”

He lifted his brows and looked past her, and she knew when he saw Casey, because his smile grew wider. Casey came up beside her, leaned down to clasp his brother's hand in a tight-fisted grip.

“About time you woke up, pal. I was getting ready to douse you in cold water, but uh, your girlfriend here thought some of her hocus-pocus would be a little more effective.”

Cory managed a smile. “Have a little patience, Case. You must have been out a lot longer than I was.” He shifted his gaze to Selene. “Wasn't he? How long was I—?”

“Only a few hours.”

He closed his eyes in what looked like relief. “Good. That's good.”

“Why?” Casey asked. “You have a pressing appointment or something?”

“Yeah, I do. Case, pal, I know we've got some catching up to do, but uh—”

Casey looked from his brother to Selene and back again. “Actually, I wouldn't mind getting to know the gorgeous female I met in the waiting room a little better. You mind if I take off for a few minutes? Maybe…I don't know, a half hour?”

“Thanks, little brother.”

“Yeah, yeah. See you later, okay?”

Cory nodded, and Casey surprised the heck out of Selene by leaning over and kissing her cheek before he left. While he was close, he whispered, “From the look in my brother's eyes, hon, I'm beginning to think you really
are
some kind of Witch.”

So she
was
seeing something in Cory's eyes. Something more than what had been there before. It wasn't all in her head, because his brother saw it, too. Suddenly her stomach was churning, and she didn't know what to do with her hands, other than clutch them together in her lap to try to still their shaking.

Cory sat up, winced a little as he did, and she jumped out of her chair, hands going to his shoulders to help him. And then she stayed there, caught in the spell of his eyes. His hands closed around her waist, and he kissed her. His mouth pressed to hers, gently, at first, but when her lips parted and her arms slid around his neck, it grew more urgent. His mouth opened and closed over hers in a slow, sexy rhythm, as he pulled her so hard against him she nearly fell into the bed.

When he finally broke the kiss, Selene was breathless and aching for more.

He still held her, still stared into her eyes. “I don't have any wife,” he said.

“I know.”

“I remember everything now. All the pieces have fallen into place. I live in Perry, a small town out toward Tulsa. Have a big, empty cabin. A rental. And the most precious thing in it is my collection.”

“The raptors.”

“Yeah,” he said, and the look in his eyes grew even more intense. “I'm a wildlife officer, have been for ten years.”

“I know.”

“You've met Casey. He's the only family I have, besides my father.”

“Cory, why are you telling me all this?”

He slowed down, took a pause and a breath and seemed to think for a moment before speaking again. “Well, I've met most of your family. I've gotten to know you pretty well over the past few days. I thought now that I remembered, you should know more about me.”

“I want to,” she said, easing up a bit, and turning to sit on the edge of his bed. She used the button on the side to raise the upper part, so he could lean back without lying down. “I want to know everything.”

“I want to tell you everything.”

She'd been looking at the button on the bed, but the tone of his voice brought her gaze back to his, fast. “Why?”