Witchy Woman by Karen Leabo Read Free Book Online

and in her eyes he saw so many emotions, he couldn’t sortthem out—longing, desperation, and fear. Definitely fear.
    He still remembered that brief flash of panic he’d seen in her eyes when he had simply grasped her hand.
    The need to feel her body next to his, if only briefly, almost overrode his common sense. He reached out to her. But instead of meeting him halfway, she grasped his hand in a clumsy greeting.
    Nate’s disappointment was almost tangible. He’d never had so much trouble reading a woman’s signals before.
    He squeezed her hand in return. “How’s she doing?”
    Tess shook her head. “Not good. I waited for you out here so I could warn you—she looks awful, with all those machines hooked up to her. But I told her you were coming, and she’s looking forward to seeing you.”
    He nodded. “Let’s do it, then.” He reached into his jacket pocket for a notebook and pen, then followed Tess into the room.
    Despite Tess’s warning, Nate was shocked by Judy’s appearance. She was hardly the same, vibrant woman who had argued with Tess over a cracked Chinese vase. Without her makeup and colorful clothes, she was a shadow of herself, gaunt and pale against the white sheets.
    “Look who I found roaming the halls,” Tess said brightly.
    Before Judy could even respond with a greeting, Nate launched into his cheer-up-the-patient routine. It was one he knew well enough. “Hey, what’s all this?”he asked, making a dramatic sweep with his arm, taking in the various medical paraphernalia that stood like grim sentinels around Judy’s bed. “Are you sick, or are you trying to make it into the
Guinness Book of Records
for ‘Most Life-Support Equipment Attached to One Human Being’?”
    Apparently it was exactly the right thing to say. Judy grinned up at him. “Maybe both. Will you promise to enter me posthumously if I croak?”
    “You bet,” he said as he pulled a chair up to the bed. “But only if you leave me something in your will.” He noticed that Tess cringed slightly at the gallows humor. He couldn’t blame her. But frank talk was sometimes a coping mechanism. “Now,” he continued, “I understand you’ve had some interesting experiences buying antiques. But before we start, I want one thing understood. If you get tired of me, say the word and I’m outta here. Deal?”
    Judy worked her arm out from under the covers and took his hand in a weak grasp. “Deal. Oh, Tess, honey, you must be sick of this room by now. I know I am. Why don’t you take a break and go get yourself something to eat? Read a few pages of that romance novel hidden in your purse and relax for a few minutes. Nate and I will have a nice chat.”
    So, Tess read romance novels. Interesting. She appeared slightly reluctant to leave, but he urged her on out with a nod. Aside from the fact that Judy might need a break from her friend’s well-meaning hovering, he wanted this chance to speak with her alone. If anopportunity presented itself, he might ask her about Moonbeam Majick.
    Tess wandered down to the cafeteria, but the only thing she thought she could keep on her beleaguered stomach was a vanilla milkshake. She bought one, then returned to the third floor and paced in front of the nurses’ station, wondering what Nate and Judy were talking about. She hoped Judy didn’t have it in her head to play matchmaker.
    These last three days had taken their toll on Tess. She had stayed by Judy’s bedside day and night, unable to bear the thought of her friend lying in that sterile room, alone and afraid. But there was only so much Tess could take. By asking Nate to visit, she had been looking after her own concerns as well as her friend’s. She needed a break. And she’d needed to see Nate Wagner again.
    Tess had seen the silent understanding that passed between Nate and Judy, the grasp of hands. A warm, reassuring touch was one thing Tess couldn’t provide. She was doubly glad now that she’d asked him to come, for