Read Online Vivid Temptation (Touched By You) by Emily Jane Trent - Free Book Online Page B

Natalie sat at her desk trying to get into a designing mood. The truth was that she missed her husband, and had to admit she was spoiled. So often they traveled together, spending days, even weeks, alone. Sharing him with work was surely a reasonable request, but still she felt a bit low.
    Needing a distraction, she went into the kitchen to see what Sara was planning for lunch. “Glad you are back. I missed having you around,” Natalie said, sitting on the stool at the breakfast bar. “Did you have a good time?”
    “Wonderful,” Sara said. “I don’t have much family, but I wanted my parents to meet Andre. And they loved him, of course. He’s such a wonderful man.”
    Natalie smiled. “Yes, he is. I agree.”
    “And I have news,” Sara said, conspiratorially.
    “What? Tell me.”
    Sara flushed and her eyes shone with happiness. It had to be something good. If only it was what Natalie hoped it was.
    “Andre asked me to be his wife.” She beamed.
    “Really? That’s wonderful. He asked you to marry him while you were visiting in your parents in Montana?”
    “Yes, it was so romantic. We went for a walk alone. Beautiful, majestic mountains were all around. He got down on his knee in the snow, got soaking wet. He told me he loved me and he couldn’t bear to live without me. He would be honored if I would be his wife.” Sara laughed and blushed at the same time. “He’d been planning to ask me for a while. He already had the ring.” She removed her left hand from the apron pocket where it had been hidden, and stuck it out to show off her lovely diamond engagement ring.
    Natalie shrieked and leapt from the chair to rush over and give her friend a hug. They giggled and danced around the kitchen like schoolgirls. “Wow, Sara. I’m so happy for you. When? When is the wedding?”
    “We are going to Las Vegas this weekend, when I’m off. We don’t want a big wedding. His family is in Paris; they wouldn’t be able to fly over. And my parents are aging; the trip would be too hard. But everyone is happy for us.
    “We are going to have an intimate wedding, just the two of us, and a long weekend in Las Vegas. Andre talked to Tanner, and he’s letting us take the private jet, which will be an experience in itself for me. That way the trip will be faster and we’ll have more time together.”
    “Yes, and anything else you need. We want you to be happy. And Andre too.”
    “We are, truly. I’ve never been happier.”
    Natalie’s phone rang, shattering the joyous moment. “Yes, this is Natalie Baker.” She was puzzled. “The hospital?” She felt the blood drain from her face and her limbs get weak. “I’ll…yes, I’ll be right there.”
    Stunned, Natalie looked at Sara, seeing her concern but unable to react. She made no attempt to explain, not then. “Call Andre. I need him to take me to the hospital. Right away.”
    *****
    Natalie had a vague sense of being in shock. Nothing seemed real. As the city sped by outside the window, she thought only of getting there in time. They parked by the emergency entrance and Andre escorted her to the desk to get the room number. “Call Tanner for me,” she said, heading for the hallway.
    Andre nodded. “Right away. I’ll be right here if you need me.”
    Her heart pounded and a confusion of emotions fought inside her. At the nurses’ station, she looked around for room numbers on the door. Spotting the one she looked for, Natalie put her hand up to pull it open. At the same moment, a doctor in a white coat stepped out. “Are you Natalie?” he said.
    She nodded.
    “May I speak with you for a moment?”
    She nodded again.
    Guiding her away from the door, the gray-haired doctor asked, “Are you a relative?”
    “He’s my father.”
    Satisfied with that answer, he continued. “We found your name and number in his pocket.” Natalie recalled giving Nicolas one of her business cards when she’d last seen him. It had her cell number. “We will need you to