Skye had been asked the question before and considered it a supreme compliment.But singing for money was something she’d never consider.She was perfectly content with the uncomplicated pattern of her life, and had no aspirations for fame and glory.
“Some of us are going out for coffee.Will you join us, Skye?”the director asked.
“Not tonight,” she apologized ruefully.“I’m visiting a...friend.”By now she thoroughly regretted the promise she’d made to stop by the hospital.Any contact with Jordan Kiley was asking for trouble, and it would be far better to avoid him.
Walking swiftly to the hospital elevator, Skye didn’t consider stopping to visit Billy; it was after nine o’clock, and he was sure to be asleep.Besides, she didn’t feel up to Sally’s curiosity.
Visiting hours had ended an hour earlier, and since she wasn’t well known by the third-floor nursing staff, they were sure to ask her to leave after only a few minutes anyway.She sighed in relief and stopped just long enough at the nurses’ station to ask Jordan’s room number and be sure they knew she was there.
“It’s past visiting hours,” the nurse informed her disapprovingly after relaying the information.
“I know.I’ll only be a few minutes,” Skye said, and beamed her one of her brightest smiles before starting down the silent corridor.About halfway down, raised voices could be heard.The most prominent, deep and rich, rumbled angrily with a cutting edge.It didn’t take Skye two seconds to recognize the voice as Jordan’s.
“I can see you’re up to your persnickety ways, Oscar theGrouch.”She stood stiffly in the open doorway.Both the nurse and Jordan turned their attention to her.A furrow of painful frustration lined the forehead of the red-faced nurse.
The corners of Jordan’s mouth lifted in a half smile, thawing the cynical curve of his features.“Welcome, Pollyanna.”
“Good evening, miss.”The nurse flashed Skye a grateful smile.“I’m afraid visiting hours are over.”The older woman calmly stepped to Jordan’s bed.“But I feel we can make an exception tonightifMr.Kiley can be convinced to accept his medication.”
The line of Jordan’s mouth tightened in grim disapproval.“I refuse to be blackmailed!”he spat.
“In which case I’ll have to ask your friend to leave,” the nurse returned just as sharply.
“Good-bye, Jordan.”Skye turned away from the door.
A disgusted sound of exasperation came from his throat.“All right, I’ll take the darn pill, but I don’t like it.”
Smiling, Skye unbuttoned her coat and laid it across a chair while the nurse handed Jordan the pill and a glass of water.He had been transferred to a private room.It was spacious, containing two comfortably upholstered chairs and an end table with a lamp.Skye wondered at the expense.This was probably the only bed available, and she murmured a silent prayer that his insurance would cover the additional cost.
The nurse winked on her way out the door, and when Skye turned to Jordan, his face was transformed from the heavy scowl to a welcoming grin.Her unsteady fingers looped a long curl of hair around her ear.
“You should always leave your hair down.It’s lovely,” Jordan said, and watched with amusement as color suffused her face.
Why had she ever let it down?It seemed to welcome comment; several people had mentioned it during the course of theevening, and by now she was thoroughly sorry and vowed it would be a long time before she did it again.
“Thank you,” she replied stiffly, self-conscious and unsure.“Are you eating?”Her gaze followed the pattern of the linoleum floor.
“No one has offered me any rewards or desserts.”The teasing quality of his voice was a mocking reminder of her game the night before.
Her deep blue eyes crinkled in amusement and bounced away from the strong lines of his face.“Trickery and extortion seem to be the only effective means of dealing with that arrogant pride of yours.”
“Ah, but if the food were better, your scheming wouldn’t be necessary.”His eyes held a dancing light.“What I wouldn’t give for a thick pizza and a cold beer.”
Skye’s gaze was drawn back to him.The light dinner hadn’t satisfied her, and now her stomach growled hungrily.“Pizza does sound good, doesn’t it?”
“Like heaven,” Jordan returned wistfully.
“Italian sausage, mushroom, and black olive, covered with a thick layer of mozzarella cheese?”
“Anchovies,” Jordan added.
“Okay, but only on your half.”She sat, unzipped her boot, and pulled a small, flat plastic card from the bottom of the boot.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting out the card to pay for the pizza,” she replied, as if he were dense.
“What pizza?”He sounded like an amnesia victim.
