Ghost Of A Chance (Harlequin Te(Bookos.org) by Unknown Read Free Book Online

stomach began making demands around nine o'clock,
    however, and Anne traipsed back into the kitchen to find something to
    eat. She was slicing some bread for toast when a faint noise made her
    swing around in surprise.
    "Julian! You shouldn't be out of bed."
    He stood in the doorway, staring at her. The fever had left him looking
    exhausted and a little unsteady, but the intensity of his gaze made her
    realize he was fully aware of his surroundings once again.
    "I told myself I'd dreamed the whole thing," he whispered harshly.
    "Julian, please go back to bed." Anne dropped the knife she had been
    using and went toward him trying hard to ignore the fact that he was
    standing stark naked in front of her. "You mustn't get chilled again."
    "Are you sure you're not a ghost?"
    "Quite sure." Perhaps he didn't remember everything that had
    happened during the night. It might be easier now if he didn't recall the
    lovemaking, Anne thought as she gently took his arm to lead him back to
    bed. Easier on her.
    He ignored her hand, continuing to gaze at her in fascination. "You
    shouldn't be here. You're not supposed to be anywhere around here. You
    should be neatly tucked away back in Indiana doing research for that old
    professor who employs you."
    "This way, Julian. I'll get you some breakfast if you like. Some poached
    eggs on toast."
    This time he yielded to her firm tug, allowing himself to be led back to
    the tousled bed. She straightened it quickly and then urged him back
    between the covers. Somewhat to her surprise he obeyed, although he
    never took his eyes off her.
    "Julian, are those tablets in the bathroom medicine chest for this kind
    of thing? I've already given you two of them but it says on the label you
    should have more."
    "Two?" He frowned as he sank back into the pillows. His hand moved
    briefly across his eyes. "Only two?"
    "Do you think you should have another one?" She plumped the pillows
    around him, bending over as she did so.
    "No!" Then he relaxed a little. "No, not unless the fever comes back. It's
    never gone away this quickly, not even when I've taken the full dosage.
    Maybe… maybe I'm finally getting over…" His voice trailed off as she
    continued to fuss solicitously with the blankets. "Anne?"
    "Yes, Julian?"
    His hand came up to rest on her sweater right over the full curve of her
    breast. She froze, her eyes going anxiously to his intent face.
    "Last night. I didn't dream any of it, did I? I carried you in here and
    made love to you."
    Quite suddenly Anne knew she had been right earlier when she had
    wondered if everything would be much safer for her if Julian didn't
    remember the hour of passion.
    "You were very ill last night," she soothed lightly, stepping out of reach
    of his hand. "In fact you were hallucinating at times, I think."
    "Probably," he agreed dryly. "I usually do. But I didn't dream up that
    scene between you and me, did I?"
    "I'm afraid so," she said gently, smoothing the hair back off his brow.
    She managed a nurse's smile. "You were ill when I arrived and it wasn't
    long after that before you were in bed."
    "With you."
    "Well, I was here," she admitted easily, "but not in a particularly
    romantic capacity. I spent a lot of time dampening sheets and soothing
    your fevered brow."
    "Anne, I never would have guessed you were such a little liar." He closed
    his eyes in weariness. "When I wake up next time you're going to tell me
    why."
    He was asleep before she could think of a response. But as she stood
    looking down at the proud, tired lines of his face Anne told herself she
    would make an attempt to stick by her story. He had been delirious
    enough last night that he couldn't really be certain just what had been real
    and what had been a figment of his imagination.
    She had been wrong using her brother's plight as an excuse to seek out
    Julian, Anne realized. It was true that she badly needed his help, but it
    had still been just an excuse to see the man who had haunted her
    memories