As if the power of suggestion was all it took, she staggered over to the low couch and fell like a tree.
“How much did you give her?” Merry asked.
He sighed. “I have no idea. She said I didn’t know how to make a decent drink and she’d do it herself. She wound up drinking right out of the bottle. What took you so long?”
“Crap.” She looked down at the barely conscious Lila and shook her head. “I was packing for her. I called around to see if anyplace was still open so I could buy her some underwear, but at this time of night I would’ve had to go downtown to a sex shop.”
Jason chuckled. “Damn. Maybe if you had, you’d be tempted to buy a few things for yourself.”
Sly stiffened.
Jason and Merry exchanged those knowing, sexual looks, and he didn’t like it. Didn’t like it at all. Celebrities broke hearts and he’d better not toy with Merry’s.
Lila interrupted the charged silence with a soft snore.
“I’ll stop on the way to the rehab and let her buy some stuff.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Merry said. “I’d suggest checking her in directly, and then you can go buy her what she needs. About six pairs of cotton panties and some sports bras ought to do it. Or I can drop some off for her later.”
Jason stared at the inert body. “Do you think she’d run if I stopped? I don’t know what size to get.”
“Probably not,” Merry admitted. “She’s going to feel likeabsolute crap in the morning. She’ll probably have what I call the ‘never agains.’ But she might barf in your car if she has to wait very long.”
“Sheesh. I’d better take her straight to rehab, then. You sure she won’t bolt if I stop at a red light?”
“She’s more apt to run when they wean her off the anti-seizure medications. She’ll feel better enough to move quickly, but old habits die hard. She might want to drink for quite a while. Sometimes it takes almost the whole thirty days for the cravings to pass. Did you make arrangements for a locked unit?”
“Yeah. There’s a bed waiting for her at the first facility you suggested. They said the first two weeks they’re locked in and only go out onto the grounds if they earn it after that. Even then, they’re supervised.”
“Ask them to make it three in lock-up.”
“You sound like you know what you’re talking about,” Sly said.
“I had to learn this stuff in nursing school and do a semester of clinical practice in a psych ward. I learned that it takes three weeks to break a bad habit, andhopefullyreplace it with a good one.”
“You don’t think she’ll be ticked off if we tell them to treat her differently?”
Merry looked over at Lila again. “Oh, she’ll be pissed. It’s called tough love. If she gets the help she needs, she’ll thank you for it… eventually.”
“Three it is, then.”
Merry hugged Sly. “Well, I’d better say goodnight. And really, I can’t thank you enough.” Then she strolled over to Jason and kissed him with an astounding lip-lock for what seemed like hours.
“Ahem.”
The couple pulled apart,finally.He knew Merry wassensitive about overprotective fathers, but honestly! Did he have to witness them fawning all over each other?
Okay, okay. He hadn’t really been a father except to plant the seed, but his protective instincts kicked in anyway, just like a real dad’s would.
Or, maybe he couldn’t help but be reminded of the passion he’d never have again, and just like seeing any other couple madly in love, it hurt.
Chapter 14
Merry departed to sleep in her own apartment, and Sly settled in on the comfy chair. Jason considered asking him to move to the other one, but in Merry’s mind Sly was going to become his father-in-law… even if Merry was the only one who believed his cockamamie claim…Oh, hell. Let him have it.
Sly leaned back and looked quite comfortable. “Nice place. You must be doing well for yourself.”
“Well enough.”
