Tyler chuckled and stared down at her with eyes filled with compassion. “Girl, do you know what kind of condition you’re in?” He communicated everything that the doctor had shared, and told her about the surgery, which she didn’t remember. Within minutes, she’d fallen back to sleep. The next day Dallas awakened, again surprised to see Tyler sitting in a nearby corner. This time he was hunched over a small table with files spread out, talking quietly on his cell phone. She could watch him all day. His self-confidence, commanding presence, and take charge attitude were just a few of many things that had attracted her to him. After several moments, he looked over and saw that she was awake and quickly ended his call.
“Ah, so sleeping beauty awakens.” He ambled over and sat in the chair next to the bed. “You didn’t have to stop what you were doing,” Dallas rasped.
Tyler shrugged. “Just taking care of business, but it can wait. How do you feel or are you tired of everyone asking you that?” She grunted and gave a slight shrug, vaguely remembering much of anything from the past couple of days.
“I talked with Tim and Simone yesterday,” he said, leaning on the bed. “Simone of course wanted to get on the next plane out here, but her doctor has threatened to put her on bed rest in light of a few concerns. And before you ask, she’s okay. I can’t believe she’s five months pregnant, seems like just yesterday they announced they were having a baby.” “Yes it does,” Dallas said, thinking about her best friend and happy she was living the life she’d always dreamed of.
Tim Hollister, Tyler’s brother, married Simone, Dallas’s best friend over a year ago and moved to San Diego. Closer than most sisters, Dallas missed her like crazy and at the moment, wished Simone was the one sitting next to her instead of Tyler. Being near him made everything within Dallas come alive, and she hated it. They’d been apart for months, and she couldn’t understand why the sexual energy was just as strong as when they parted. Her thoughts were interupted when the door swung open.
“Well, I see you’re awake,” the doctor said to Dallas when he walked in. He nodded at Tyler, and then turned back to Dallas. “How do you feel?” “Like I’ve been hit by a truck.”
He smiled. “Almost.”
“When can I leave?” She couldn’t tell which was worse, the shortness of breath or the pounding in her head, but she knew she didn’t want to be there. “I guess I should be thankful ... I’m alive, but I don’t know how ... much more of this I can take. Everything hurts.” “I’ll have the nurse bring you something for the pain,” the doctor said. “As far as you leaving - not just yet. But, since your husband agreed to take good care of you, I guess I can release you in about two days. Right now, try to get some rest. I’ll check on you a little later.”
The doctor was barely out of the room before Dallas cut her eyes at Tyler and said, “Husband?” Each time she spoke she felt like her chest would explode. He stood over her. Noticing her discomfort, he caressed her cheek, immediately making her feel better. But she wanted to know what was going on.
“We can talk about this when you’re feeling better.” “Now.”
He released a loud sigh. “Okay. If you stop talking and relax, I’ll tell you everything.” She nodded.
“Dallas, the only way they would give me any information on your condition, is if I were a relative. So I said the first thing that came to mind.”
She squinted at him, trying hard not to snap, her voice raspy. “You couldn’t tell them... you were my brother?”
“Baby, I didn’t think of that.”
She stared at him until a soft knock at the door drew their attention.
“Hi. I’m Officer Logan, may I come in?”