Read Online The Curl Up and Dye by Sharon Sala - Free Book Online Page A

then strode down the hall to Mike’s room and went in, closing the door behind her.
    “She just went inside!” Rachel cried. “I don’t understand why we can’t, too.”
    The nurse had already guessed this was part of the reason Miss Bronte had asked for the No Visitors sign: too many well-meaning people too soon.
    “She is considered family. Are any of you related to Mr. Dalton?” the nurse asked.
    They shook their heads.
    “She’s no kin to him,” Rachel argued.
    “Oh, we know that, but she has been asked by Mr. Dalton’s family to stand in for them until they can arrive from Colorado. I’m sorry, but rules are rules, and until Doctor announces Mr. Dalton is strong enough for guests, you’ll have to leave.”
    The women left the plant they’d brought, along with a little card that said “We are praying for you,” and headed toward the elevators.
    Rachel was fuming. She knew she’d been bested and had to face the fact that she wouldn’t see Mike until he got back to work. But that was fine with her. When she was there, LilyAnn Bronte was not. Then she would have him all to herself.
    ***
    Mike was sitting up in bed, glaring at the cup of chicken broth and the bowl of red Jell-O on his lunch tray. When he saw LilyAnn, his mood and pulse went up, as was evidenced by the sudden beep of the heart monitor. Thankfully, she didn’t notice.
    “I hope you brought me something to eat,” he muttered.
    Lily was so happy to see him awake and making sense that she wanted to hug him. Instead, she laughed.
    “Sorry. Looks like you’re on a liquid diet for a while.”
    Mike frowned. “Lots of help you are. Save my life and then let them starve me to death.”
    When she laughed, the sound did crazy things to Mike’s heart, making it very difficult to maintain that frown.
    “At least drink the broth,” she suggested.
    “You taste it and then say that to me again.”
    She shrugged as she took a quick sip. Her eyes widened as the tepid liquid oozed down her throat.
    “Ick. Okay. It’s definitely missing something,” she said, then saw a packet of salt beneath his napkin and stirred it into the mug. “Try it again,” she said.
    He took a small sip. “Yeah, that helped. Thanks.”
    Lily beamed. “You’re welcome. Have you heard from your parents yet?”
    “Dad called early this morning. He said Faith’s husband rented a helicopter to come get them. It took them to the airport and he’s having them flown here in the company jet, so they should be here within the five or six hours.”
    Lily’s eyes widened. “Wow! What does Faith’s husband do, anyway?”
    “I have a dummied-down explanation about his company making something that is part of the guidance system on army jets.”
    “Way to go, Faith,” Lily said, as she plopped down in the chair beside his bed.
    He frowned. “Yeah, I guess every woman wants to marry a rich man.”
    Lily frowned back. “No, Mike. Most of us just want to love the man we marry.”
    His heart dropped. “Yeah, so at the rate you’re going in the love department, I assume you’ve taken yourself off the market?”
    The tone of his voice was only slightly less shocking than what he’d said.
    “What on earth made you say a thing like that?”
    “I don’t see you dating. I don’t see you even interested in dating.”
    Before she thought, she spouted off, “Maybe that’s because you aren’t paying attention.”
    All of a sudden he felt light-headed as the blood drained from his face. Now the diet and wanting to change her life were beginning to make sense. Son of a bitch! It was happening again, and just like before, he was not part of the equation.
    “I guess I wasn’t,” he said softly, then shoved the tray away, leaned back, and closed his eyes.
    “You didn’t eat your Jell-O,” she said.
    “I don’t want my Jell-O.”
    She frowned. “Okay, I just thought—”
    “I’m going to rest now. Stay if you want, but I don’t feel like talking.”
    LilyAnn knew he