handsome gave to Allan when he went to visit you on that first day. Talk about possessive.”
“He did mention seeing Allan, but he didn’t seem to mind.”
“Allan said he was glaring at him.”
“Well, I don’t think it was that. Perhaps it just looked like it,” Diana said hastily. “Besides, he’s not even here anymore. He’s back in L.A.”
“Oh, but he’ll be back for you. Better watch out, sweetheart, that man wants you.”
“Wants me? You make me sound like a dessert.”
Though Mindy laughed, Diana did not join her. Her friend meant well, but she did not know the truth of Diana’s association with Devlan. When the time came for her to attempt another relationship, she wanted it to be real and not some sort of agreement. Devlan had reminded her of their arrangement after their kiss, and the truth was that it made her feel cheap and used. After all, Devlan had given her his word, she had given him hers, and that was that.
She just feared that her heart would pay the biggest price.
~
After the initial relief of Hannah’s recovery, Diana began to dread the hospital rehabilitation almost as much as her daughter did. The pain Hannah went through those first few days was horrible to watch. Diana hovered nearby as she was slowly moved, first to a sitting position, and then to a chair in her hospital room. Tears of agony careened down Hannah’s creamy cheeks with every painful movement, and though she tried to hide it, Diana cried alongside her.
Yet Hannah was proving to be incredibly courageous. Her daily rehab treatments were slow but well worth it, and she continued her speedy recovery. In the middle of her second week, she was discharged from the hospital. The arrangements were made for her to attend the rehabilitation center in Los Angeles, and Diana accepted that Devlan would soon be returning.
Return he did, within hours of hearing the news. When he strode off the elevator dressed in his customary black suit and a long wool coat, all the heads on the floor turned to watch him. Devlan seemed not to notice or not to care, Diana could not tell which, for he came straight toward her with a happy smile on his face and Mike close on his heels.
Diana turned away with a feeling of self-loathing. Of course she was no better than the gawking nurses that watched him as though he some sort of god. She returned to Hannah’s side, wishing that the child would awaken from her nap and save her from Devlan’s impending arrival.
Unfortunately, she did not.
“So how’s our little patient?”
Diana turned around and found Devlan standing directly behind her. He was still smiling broadly, and she noticed for the first time the small laughter lines around his eyes and mouth. It was quite appealing, almost boyish, and she looked away quickly. Holding a finger to her lips, she pointed to the sleeping child in the hopes he would move away. Unfortunately, he did not.
“That’s great - privacy.” He grasped her by the waist and pulled her close.
Diana’s startled gasp was muffled as his mouth covered hers in an enthusiastic kiss. Her hands landed on his shoulders and she pushed as hard as she could, yet Devlan only hugged her tighter this time. His lips were soft and seeking, not hard and probing like the last time he had held her this close.
“I missed you,” he murmured, lifting his head slightly. “You look great.”
Diana opened her eyes slowly and was immediately trapped by his smoldering blue gaze. Just like a schoolgirl, she thought, feeling a blush stain her cheeks.
“Flattery will get you nowhere with me, Mr. Doyle,” she replied in a shaky voice.
He grinned in answer. “Ah, but I can still try.”
Despite her best intentions his enthusiasm was contagious, and she could not resist returning his smile. With a reluctant sigh, he released her and she stepped away in the hopes of putting additional space between them to calm the fluttering of her heart.
“So how have you
“He did mention seeing Allan, but he didn’t seem to mind.”
“Allan said he was glaring at him.”
“Well, I don’t think it was that. Perhaps it just looked like it,” Diana said hastily. “Besides, he’s not even here anymore. He’s back in L.A.”
“Oh, but he’ll be back for you. Better watch out, sweetheart, that man wants you.”
“Wants me? You make me sound like a dessert.”
Though Mindy laughed, Diana did not join her. Her friend meant well, but she did not know the truth of Diana’s association with Devlan. When the time came for her to attempt another relationship, she wanted it to be real and not some sort of agreement. Devlan had reminded her of their arrangement after their kiss, and the truth was that it made her feel cheap and used. After all, Devlan had given her his word, she had given him hers, and that was that.
She just feared that her heart would pay the biggest price.
~
After the initial relief of Hannah’s recovery, Diana began to dread the hospital rehabilitation almost as much as her daughter did. The pain Hannah went through those first few days was horrible to watch. Diana hovered nearby as she was slowly moved, first to a sitting position, and then to a chair in her hospital room. Tears of agony careened down Hannah’s creamy cheeks with every painful movement, and though she tried to hide it, Diana cried alongside her.
Yet Hannah was proving to be incredibly courageous. Her daily rehab treatments were slow but well worth it, and she continued her speedy recovery. In the middle of her second week, she was discharged from the hospital. The arrangements were made for her to attend the rehabilitation center in Los Angeles, and Diana accepted that Devlan would soon be returning.
Return he did, within hours of hearing the news. When he strode off the elevator dressed in his customary black suit and a long wool coat, all the heads on the floor turned to watch him. Devlan seemed not to notice or not to care, Diana could not tell which, for he came straight toward her with a happy smile on his face and Mike close on his heels.
Diana turned away with a feeling of self-loathing. Of course she was no better than the gawking nurses that watched him as though he some sort of god. She returned to Hannah’s side, wishing that the child would awaken from her nap and save her from Devlan’s impending arrival.
Unfortunately, she did not.
“So how’s our little patient?”
Diana turned around and found Devlan standing directly behind her. He was still smiling broadly, and she noticed for the first time the small laughter lines around his eyes and mouth. It was quite appealing, almost boyish, and she looked away quickly. Holding a finger to her lips, she pointed to the sleeping child in the hopes he would move away. Unfortunately, he did not.
“That’s great - privacy.” He grasped her by the waist and pulled her close.
Diana’s startled gasp was muffled as his mouth covered hers in an enthusiastic kiss. Her hands landed on his shoulders and she pushed as hard as she could, yet Devlan only hugged her tighter this time. His lips were soft and seeking, not hard and probing like the last time he had held her this close.
“I missed you,” he murmured, lifting his head slightly. “You look great.”
Diana opened her eyes slowly and was immediately trapped by his smoldering blue gaze. Just like a schoolgirl, she thought, feeling a blush stain her cheeks.
“Flattery will get you nowhere with me, Mr. Doyle,” she replied in a shaky voice.
He grinned in answer. “Ah, but I can still try.”
Despite her best intentions his enthusiasm was contagious, and she could not resist returning his smile. With a reluctant sigh, he released her and she stepped away in the hopes of putting additional space between them to calm the fluttering of her heart.
“So how have you
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