“Tamlyn Thompson,” she said, offering her hand. “I’m…a friend.”
“My apologies,” he said as they shook. He turned to Stone. “How are you feeling, Mr. Barrington?”
“Like I could sleep for a week. And please call me Stone.”
“That doesn’t surprise me in the least. You were well on your way to hypothermia. Lucky for you it’s summer. If this hadoccurred in the winter, you wouldn’t have lasted a fraction of the time that you did.”
“You say that as if I planned it. If that were the case, I would have been on shore when the boat went down.”
The doctor spent a few minutes shining a light in Stone’s eyes and pressing the business end of his stethoscope against Stone’s chest.
When he finished, he said, “You’re doing quite well, given the circumstances.”
“Thanks, I think.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Does that mean I can go home now?”
The doctor chuckled. “Oh, no. You’ll be with us a few more days, at least. Your body experienced quite a shock, and it would be best if we keep an eye on you.”
“Is that really necessary?”
Before the doctor could respond, Tamlyn squeezed Stone’s hand and said, “If I was the one in this bed, what would you tell me to do?”
Stone grimaced. “Listen to your doctor.”
“Exactly.” To the doctor, she said, “He’ll stay.”
Dr. Wright glanced at Stone, an eyebrow raised.
“I’ll stay,” Stone said.
“If only more of my patients were so cooperative. Get some rest. I’ll check on you later.”
He and the nurses left.
Tamlyn’s phone buzzed. She checked the screen, sighed, and put the device away. She then leaned down and gave Stone a kiss. “I need to go.”
“Work?” he asked.
“Work.”
“Maybe you’re the one who needs a few days of rest.”
“Don’t tempt me.” She smiled. “I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
She kissed him again, then hurried out, her phone already in her hand.
Chapter 4
On Wednesday, a week later,Stone headed downstairs to his townhouse’s ground floor office. Today was his first day back at work since the accident.
“You look almost normal again,” Joan said as he walked in. She was his longtime assistant.
“I feel almost normal again.”
“I suppose you want a coffee.”
