Undercover Passion by Raye Morgan Page A

den that I asked you to bring me?”
    Daniel reached into his pocket and pulled outa small envelope. “Sure did. Looks like tickets to the Opera Center.” He handed it to her. “What are you planning to see there?”
    Phoebe took the envelope and peeked inside, smiling. “ Madame Butterfly. The tickets are for next Monday.”
    Daniel grimaced. “You won’t be out of here yet, I’m afraid. At least, from what the doctor told me this morning.”
    She nodded happily. “I know that. I’m going to have to miss it. But you two will go in my place. Won’t you?”
    â€œWhat?” they both cried in unison.
    â€œIt’s the perfect solution.” She beamed at them. “I can’t stand to think of my two seats sitting empty during the performance. But if you two go…”
    â€œI can’t go,” Daniel said quickly.
    Phoebe’s smile dimmed. “Why not?” Her challenge was sharp.
    â€œI’m going to be busy.”
    â€œDoing what?”
    â€œGram!”
    She grabbed his hand and squeezed very hard, reaching out and taking Abby’s hand again as well.
    â€œPlease go,” she said, her face anxious. “As a favor to me.”
    His jaw tightened. She looked so small and vulnerable. He glanced sideways at Abby. She was staring at him, her eyes wide.
    â€œDo you want to go?” he asked gruffly.
    â€œI’ve never been to the opera,” she said.
    He gave her a half smile of surrender. “Then I guess it’s time you went,” he said.
    Phoebe sighed happily and fell back against her pillows. “You don’t have to stay for the whole thing,” she said, suddenly visibly weakening. “If you hate it, you can leave at intermission.”
    Daniel leaned down and kissed her forehead. “We won’t hate it,” he promised her, taking the tickets. “Thanks, Gram. Now you get some rest.”
    Abby thanked her, too, and they started to leave the room together.
    â€œDaniel!”
    He turned back to see what she wanted. She motioned for him to lean close and spoke softly.
    â€œYou come back when you can. Alone.” She grinned at him mischievously. “I’ve got something for you.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œOn the case, I mean.” She winked at him significantly.
    â€œOh, that.”
    â€œYes, that. Come back this afternoon and I’ll tell you everything.”
    He smiled at her indulgently. “Okay, Gram. You take a nap in the meantime.”
    â€œI’ll try to,” she said, her voice trailing after him as he made his way out. “But they’ll be bringing in a tray and forcing me to eat something soon.”
    He waved from the doorway, then found, to his surprise, that Abby was waiting for him in the hall.
    â€œIs anything wrong?” she asked, looking a bit anxious.
    â€œNo. She just wanted to tell me something.” He studied her face, touched by her concern. “Thanks for being so nice to her,” he added gruffly.
    Her smile lit the area. “Oh, that’s no trouble at all. She’s a peach.”
    â€œShe is that,” he agreed. It was nice to meet a woman who was concerned about other people as much as she was about anything. Nice—and unusual. Still, he had certain concerns himself.
    â€œBut listen,” he added, frowning slightly, “don’t encourage her about the cruise thing, okay? It’s impossible. She can’t go. I don’t want to see her getting her hopes up.”
    â€œReally?” Abby looked as though it mattered to her that Phoebe would be disappointed. “That’s a shame. She is so looking forward to it.”
    He shook his head. He wasn’t going into it any further, but he wanted her to know there was no use pursuing it. “Can’t be done,” he said shortly.
    Then he hesitated. The next step would be to ask if she was busy for lunch, wouldn’t it? After all, if