Lisette Belisle - His Pretend Wife

“By claiming we’re married?” he snapped in disbelief.

“Exactly. There was no other way,” she said heatedly. “You don’t think I’d go through all this for any other reason?”

His eyes narrowed. “Why would I think that? You’ve got Seth Powers back home on a short leash. The guy’s obviously nuts about you.”

“He doesn’t own me.”

“He acts as if he does. He’s going to be furious when he hears about this.”

“I don’t see why he has to know. After all, I did what I thought necessary, now it’s over. And even if Seth should find out, I’m sure he’ll understand when I explain the circumstances.”

Jack wondered about that—if she belonged to him, he wouldn’t be that understanding. “Then he’s a fool.”

“Because he trusts me?”

“You said it, I didn’t.”

Abby sighed. “This isn’t getting us anywhere.”

Abby didn’t know what else to say.

Of course, there was no logical explanation for what she’d done. She must have lost her mind. How could she have claimed this man, even temporarily? Being in the same room with him was like entering a cage with a live tiger. Even in Jack’s weakened condition, he was still a major threat. His blue eyes, so often remote and indifferent, burned into hers, scouring her with a look that made her heart beat faster with alarm—and something more threatening.

His face was gray, and his mouth tight with pain—it was there in his eyes. How could it hurt so much to see him hurting?

His weariness apparent, he leaned back against the pillows and said dryly, “Did you ever think that maybe I’m not worth it? Maybe you should have left me on that mountainside.”

She gasped at the words. “Don’t say that! Don’t even think such a thing. I’ve gone to all this trouble, don’t you dare let me down now!”

“All right.” He laughed, obviously surprised at her vehement response, then gently mocked her with the words, “You may still live to regret it.”

Was that a promise or a threat?

They stared at each other, confused and conflicted.

Abby broke the awkward silence. “In any case, the situation is only temporary until I go home.”

“Right.”

His easy agreement hurt, which made absolutely no sense at all! “Until then, telling the hospital would only prove awkward for everyone concerned.” Of course, she had no logical explanation for what she’d done. “We could keep up the pretense for now.”

He taunted her. “And how do you suggest we accomplish that?”

“You could start by calling me Abby.”

“That should do it for the staff. If the news doesn’t leak any further, we should be able to keep a lid on it.”

“I hope so.”

He let out an exasperated breath. “If this gets back to Henderson, I’ll never live it down.”

Abby stifled a laugh. He was worried about what his friends would say. What about her friends? Her family? Her mother didn’t even approve of Seth. What on earth would she say about Jack? With luck, her mother would never have to know.

“Well, I’m not planning on telling anyone,” she assured him. “In the meantime, is there anything you need?”

He nodded. “Some ice chips.”

“What?” The simple request startled her.

“The nurse said she’d bring some ice chips, she must have forgotten.” He looked pale, his patience with their situation obviously worn thin.

With her own nerves on edge, Abby grasped the excuse and left. She found an ice machine in the staff kitchen, and filled a paper cup with ice chips.

That didn’t take very long.

His eyes were closed when she returned to his room. Assuming he must be asleep, she set the cup down on the rolling bedside table, edging it closer. She was startled when he opened his eyes and murmured, “Thanks.”

“I promised the nurse I wouldn’t tire you. I should go,” she said, her emotions brittle, aware that she was looking for an escape from all the tension. Their relationship had always been strained. Now, it was almost to the breaking point. “I’ll just leave the ice.”

His eyes flickered over her. “Sure.”

Stung by his indifference, she rushed into explanations, more excuses. “I should check into a hotel. I’ll come by later, just to see if you’re okay.”

His mouth twisted with a mocking, “Don’t go to any trouble on my account.”

“No trouble.”

That was an understatement.

After the door closed behind her, Jack’s grin faded.

Blocking everything out, he stared at the white ceiling. A light hung in the middle, casting a pale round yellowish glow. If he focused on that, he wouldn’t feel the waves of pain. He could ask for more painkillers, but he knew what those could do. He had enough problems without adding an addiction to the list.

He’d been in a lot of fixes, there had to be some way out of this one. His gaze fell to his injured leg. He stared at his foot, willing it to move. Nothing happened.

What weren’t the doctors telling him?

There was swelling around the spinal cord. What if it wasn’t that simple? Wearily, he closed his eyes.

Pain clawed at him, but his leg remained curiously numb. He tried to put it all out of his mind, focusing on something else. That something was Abigail…Abby.

She was playing some sort of game, pretending to be his wife. What were the advantages, the risks? They were totally mismatched, and he didn’t know the rules.

An image of her appeared…Abby clearly flustered when she’d kissed him. Forced to pretend she actually enjoyed it, she’d looked so annoyed, like a treed cat, spitting and clawing, unable to scratch his eyes out when he’d kissed her back in the nurse’s presence.

He smiled.

Much better.

Abby desperately needed a break. She hadn’t left the hospital in days. Although everyone was kind and helpful, they expected her to behave like a wife. Jack’s wife. Letting him in on their secret had been difficult. At the moment, continuing the pretence was beyond her acting ability.

On her way out of the hospital, Abby caught a fleeting glimpse of Jack’s surgeon. Determined to question the doctor about Jack’s prognosis, she followed him down one hall, then another. She caught up with him near an exit.

“Excuse me, I wonder if I could have a moment, I’d like to discuss a patient—Jack Slade.”

The doctor was surprisingly youthful considering his reputation as a first-rate orthopedic surgeon. Obviously in a hurry, he glanced at his watch. “I have a plane to catch.”

“This won’t take long.” Abby needed to tie up a few loose ends before going home to Henderson. She might not be Jack’s wife, but she was the only available person who could run interference with the hospital staff and speak on his behalf. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done.”

“Don’t thank me just yet,” he said bluntly.

Swallowing hard, Abby braced herself for more bad news. “But I was told the surgery went well.”

“Your husband will recover. Technically, we saved his leg. As you know, the surgery is experimental and there’s no guarantee how much use the leg will be to him.”

Abby absorbed the shock. “So what can be done for him? I don’t care what it costs.”

“It’s not a matter of cost,” he said more gently.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“There are things that can be done. Maintaining his general physical and mental health are vital. When it’s time, he’ll be transferred to a rehabilitation unit. And that’s where the tough part comes in. That’s where you come in.”

She bit her lip. “I don’t understand.”

“Over the next months, he’s going to be fighting an uphill battle. Much of his success will depend on his desire to get well. He’s going to need you.”