Making a Comeback. Kristina Mathews

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      “I’m here.” He leaned just a little closer. “I won’t let anything happen. To you, or your daughters.”

      And for some reason, she believed him.

      * * * *

      Cooper waited for half an hour before finally taking a quick shower. He threw on his clean T-shirt and shorts and tried to make himself comfortable in the guest room. Annabelle was in the next room, and in two and a half hours, he would need to creep up to her bed and gently wake her.

      Waking up next to her had been a long-time fantasy, but not like this. Especially since he had the feeling she didn’t want him there. He just hoped it was the situation and nothing personal. Then again, if she’d known who he was, she wouldn’t have continued to invite him over. She certainly wouldn’t have let him stay.

      Still, he had a hard time falling asleep. Especially when he knew he’d have to wake up in two hours. Wake up and creep into Annabelle’s bedroom, tap her on the shoulder, and then tell her to go back to sleep. Then he would repeat the whole process at least once more before morning.

      He should have just jogged around the bus.

      But then where would Annabelle be? At the hospital still? And what about her daughters? Would the bus driver have eventually let them off, having a schedule to keep? Or would she have kept them on the bus, returned to the school, and tried in vain to reach Annabelle?

      It seemed as if he’d only blinked twice before his phone chimed, sounding the alarm to check on his patient. He roused himself out of a fairly comfortable bed, even if it was only a queen-sized mattress. Stumbling across the room, he ran his fingers through his hair and braced for the task ahead of him.

      He pushed Annabelle’s door open. Moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains that hung on her windows. Curtains that offered only the smallest amount of privacy. He’d seen her shadow from his porch. Could make out the shape of her figure as she’d moved around at night. He’d tried not to look up when her bedroom light had been on, but she was Annabelle Jones.

      She was sleeping soundly. He could see the soft rise of her chest, hear the barest trace of a snore. She looked so peaceful. So beautiful. He hated to wake her, but that was why he was here.

      “Annabelle.” He touched her shoulder, gently shaking her. “Annabelle, honey, wake up.”

      Honey. What was he thinking?

      She responded with a soft moan, and it was all he could do not to slide into bed with her.

      “Annabelle, you need to wake up.” His heart rate started to spike and not in a good way. He should have paid closer attention to the doctor’s instructions. How many times should he try to rouse her before calling 9-1-1?

      She rolled over, facing him, and opened her eyes. Blinking, and then rubbing her eyes, she looked at him as if she didn’t know why there was a strange man in her bedroom.

      “Annabelle, it’s me, Cooper.” He took a deep breath. “I’m here to make sure you’re okay after your accident.”

      She drew her brows together and winced. Her hand moved to the bandage on the left side of her face.

      “I’m okay.” She yawned. “Just a little sore. And tired.”

      She dropped her hand and rolled onto her back.

      “Well, I’ll let you get some rest.”

      “Thank you.” Her eyes fluttered closed and she drifted off to sleep.

      He stood there crouched at her side for a few minutes, fighting the urge to brush her hair off her face. To touch her in some way.

      Clenching his fists, he stood up and backed out of the room. It was going to be a long night.

      He shuffled back to bed, reset the alarm, and tried to get comfortable amongst the feminine pillows and subtle scent of lavender and Annabelle.

      Yeah, it was going to be a really long night.

      Chapter 4

      Annabelle was tired, sore, and a little disoriented after being woken up twice during the night. Or was it three times? She wasn’t sure, she just knew that every time she felt like she was finally resting, that man came into her room. And each time, it took her longer to fall back asleep. It wasn’t from the head injury, though. It had more to do with the gentle concern in his voice. The electric, yet cautious touch as he shook her shoulder.

      And the dreams. Oh, the dreams she’d had during the night. It was a strange combination of fear and longing. She’d dreamed of being in the car, of something coming toward her, careening out of control. But then she’d find herself on a gurney, naked, with her sexy neighbor playing doctor.

      She knew it was pointless, especially in her current state. She’d taken a long, hard look at herself in the mirror this morning. What she saw wasn’t pretty. Not by a long shot.

      The gash ran from her temple to her jaw. Another cut slanted over her eyebrow, and a third extended toward her cheek. She looked like someone had carved a large letter K in her face. There was not enough makeup in the world to cover that scar. Her modeling days were indeed over.

      She tried to let that thought sink in. She’d walked away from the job once before. She could do it again.

      It wasn’t about the money. At least that’s what she’d tried to convince herself. She’d taken a cash settlement over future alimony. With the sale of Clayton’s share of the Goliaths, there was plenty to live on. She just wished she could feel better about taking it. Her short-lived modeling career had provided the only income she’d ever earned. The rest had come from Daddy. And then Clayton. If it wasn’t for her children, she would have been tempted to tell him to take his money and shove it. Instead, she’d put most of it away for her daughters’ future. College. Travel. Whatever they’d need.

      What she’d wanted to give them more than anything was someone they could look up to. Or at least someone they could be proud of. She’d wanted to show them that they could be more than just spoiled little rich girls. True, modeling wasn’t exactly saving the world. But it was the only job Annabelle had ever had.

      She’d have to think about that after she got the girls their breakfast. At least she could still be a mother. She hadn’t done too bad in that job. Her daughters were happy, healthy, and adjusting better than expected with all the changes they’d gone through in the last few months.

      She’d been plagued by guilt for making the girls change schools in the middle of the year, but they had all needed a fresh start. At least they loved their new teacher. Both girls were absolutely smitten with Miss Ramirez. They’d come home from their first day engaged in a heated debate over whether she looked more like Jasmine or Pocahontas from their favorite princess movies.

      Her daughters didn’t seem to mind the move from the big city of San Francisco to the small coastal town of Aurelia Beach. They liked living half a block from the ocean. Being able to build sandcastles practically in their backyard was a definite plus.

      Heading downstairs, she heard her daughters’ voices coming from the kitchen.

      “Is that your guitar?” It СКАЧАТЬ