“Yep. Now, let’s go back to the list. Have you started planning your trip to Paris?”
* * *
Rebecca wasin deep thought as she left the doctor’s office. Knowing she wouldn’t have to deal with the logistics of her death was a massive weight off her shoulders. She walked slowly down the busy, institutional-colored hall, wondering if the doctor was as thoughtful and kind to the rest of his patients.
She moved through a thick haze that only cleared when she spotted the tall, sexy detective walking in her direction. A frown marred his handsome face. He seemed preoccupied as he walked the hall, carrying a large book. When he turned a corner, something inside compelled her to follow.
Two lefts and another busy hall led him to a hospital room. When he entered, Rebecca slowed. After an inner debate about whether to continue to follow him or to respect his privacy, her curiosity prevailed.
She slowly approached the room and peeped through a window. The horizontal blinds were slightly open, allowing her a view inside. The detective pulled out a chair and took a bedside seat near a sleeping woman. From her point of view, she could tell the woman had long, dark hair, but because of the respirator that seemed to be helping her breathe, Rebecca couldn’t really see her face. The cop took the woman’s hand and pulled it to his lips. With a pained expression, he squeezed his lids shut as he kissed her hand. After returning her hand with care, he opened the book and began to read.
“Miss, can I help you?”
The voice caused Rebecca to startle. She jumped and turned to find a frowning woman in pink scrubs. She was glaring at her through narrowed eyes of suspicion.
“N-no,” Rebecca stuttered nervously, backing away.
She turned and hurried down the hall, embarrassed at just how creepy she must have looked spying on the man. She rounded the corner and jogged toward the exit. She could barely catch her breath, but she couldn’t get out of the hospital fast enough.
After making it to the parking lot, a quick dash down a row of cars led her to her driver’s door. Once inside, she inhaled and then exhaled a breath and waited for her heart to stop racing.
“Get it together, Rebecca,” she scolded in a breathless whisper.
6
Cato
“Crown on the rocks,” Nick told the bartender. He turned to Vince, his brother-in-law, and gestured toward the bartender.
“I’ll have the same.”
It hadn’t been hard convincing Vince to join him for a night on the town. As a married father of four girls, he was more than a little eager for male bonding.
When the bartender returned with their drinks, Nick dropped a twenty on the bar and turned around to people watch. In reality, he was looking foroneperson in particular. As he looked around, not seeing her, he hoped she hadn’t changed her mind. If so, he was in the loud, crowded club for nothing.
“Hey, when you said you wanted to step out, I was thinking cognac, cigar… you know, grown-man shit. What are we doing here?” Vince inquired over the loud music.
“I like the deejay,” he lied with a shrug.
He couldn’t very well tell his brother-in-law that he was staking out the place for a woman he couldn’t stop thinking about. Nick tapped him on the shoulder and nodded toward the VIP section. Vince followed as he weaved through the crowd. Standing in front of a velvet rope was Gary, a member of his team. He worked at the club part-time.
“Boss,” he greeted with a smile as he removed the velvet rope.
He and Vince took a step up and got comfortable on a leather sofa. From that vantage point, he could see everyone entering the club.
It didn’t take long before a waitress walked over to them. She was smiling when she asked what they wanted to drink. Nick held up his full glass of whiskey to show her he already had a drink.
“I’m sorry,” she said with a grin. “In order to sit here, you have to buy a bottle.”
“Really?” Vince marveled.
Nick frown. “A whole bottle?”
It was becoming painfully obvious they hadn’t been clubbing for a long, long time. The waitress was no longer smiling. In fact, she seemed downright irritated.
“Okay. How much is a bottle of Crown Royal?” Nick asked.
“$250.”
