The Spellbinder by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online Page A

tired.”
    Brody suddenly found himself laughing helplessly. He closed the door and leaned against it, his face alight with mirth. “Amazing. You’ve just been through a knock-down-and-drag-out fight and you
think
you’re a little tired. You’re damn lucky you weren’t hurt.”
    “I’m always lucky,” she said lightly. “Now, getdressed quickly. You mustn’t catch cold or I’ll feel most guilty.”
    “Heaven forbid.” There was a lingering smile on his lips as he took his street clothes from the closet and disappeared into the bathroom.
    He dressed quickly in jeans, sweatshirt, and loafers and ran a comb through his damp hair. He opened the bathroom door. “Was that quick enough? I’d hate to give you a guilt tri—”
    Sacha’s head was tilted back against the high rise of the chair, her eyes closed and her lips thinned in unmistakable pain. Her lids flew open, and she straightened hurriedly as soon as she heard his voice. She smiled. “That was very quick. You were most accommodating. Now, perhaps—”
    “What’s wrong?” Brody asked curtly.
    “Nothing. I told you I was tired.” Sacha struggled to her feet. “Let me tidy up a little and then I’ll be ready to go.”
    “Don’t lie to me.” Brody crossed the room in three strides. “You’re in some kind of pain. What’s wrong with you?”
    “I’m fine. I just need a little rest.”
    “Sacha, answer me,” Brody ordered with dangerous softness. “We’re not leaving here until you do.”
    Her gaze met his and she made a face. “You’re being difficult again, Brody.”
    “Right.”
    “And you’re not going to give up?”
    “Right again.”
    She sighed. “I didn’t think so.” She held out herarm. “It’s my right wrist. Guenevere twisted it and—”
    She was interrupted by a round of unprintable words as he saw her swollen and bruised forearm. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
    “It isn’t important. It will be fine once I get back to the hotel and bathe it. It’s probably only a little sprain.”
    He took her right hand gently in both of his. “It could be broken,” he said thickly. “Your bones are so damn delicate.”
    “No,” she assured him. “I only look delicate. I’m actually very tough.”
    She had said that before, but there appeared to be nothing tough about either her or the hand he was holding. Both were slender and seemed infinitely fragile. “We’d better get you to the emergency room at the hospital and have them X-ray it.”
    “No!” She jerked her hand away. “No hospitals.”
    “Sacha, it would be better—”
    “No! I don’t like hospitals.” She shook her head emphatically. “I won’t go.”
    “But that’s stupid. It will only take fifteen minutes or so, and then we’ll be sure you’re okay.”
    “I’m not going,” Sacha said flatly. She turned away. “I’ll go back to the hotel and bathe it. It will be fine.”
    “Hold it,” he ordered curtly. “Very well, we’ll let the X ray go for now. But if the swelling doesn’t go down a hell of a lot by tomorrow, I’ll drag you there by your hair. Now, sit down and let me seewhat I can manage in the way of first aid. I’ll get a basin of water and a washcloth.” He turned away. “I think I saw a kit in the medicine chest in the bathroom.”
    Ten minutes later Brody was still kneeling by the easy chair, bathing her wrist in cold water. He scowled intently as he transferred the cold cloth from the basin to her wrist for the umpteenth time. “I think it’s going down a little.”
    Sacha nodded, her gaze fixed bemusedly on his face. “Oh, yes, it feels much better.”
    His gaze lifted from her wrist to her face. “Much? I thought you never lied.”
    “Well, I
do
exaggerate,” she admitted with a grin. “But it’s truly a good deal better, Brody.”
    “The hospital—”
    “No hospital.” Her smile faded. “I told you I don’t like them.”
    “So you did.” His frown deepened. “Idiotic. The entire episode is