“At last. I never thought you would come right out and tell me! I was going to pry it out of you if you waited much longer. We are no longer invisible. I think we’d better go up to the house and get inside in case Lisa comes out here and notices we did not bring a car. I saw the curtains flutter upstairs.”
Corinne turned eagerly to the house, hurrying up the porch steps to the front door. Before she could tap, the door was yanked open. “Corinne!” Lisa flung herself into Corinne’s arms so hard, she nearly knocked them both over. Dayan saved them with a steadying hand on Corinne’s back. Tears were swimming in Lisa’s blue eyes, streaming unchecked down her face. The two women clung together, laughing and crying at the same time while Dayan looked on in helpless male horror.
“I was so afraid for you,” Lisa said, clinging to her. “Let me look at you. They told me in the hospital that you were going to die. You just disappeared out of your hospital bed. Syndil told me your heart is strong and the baby is alive. Where is she?”
Corinne hugged Lisa to her as the words began to tumble out. “I didn’t die. My heart is very strong, stronger than it has ever been. Dayan’s family knows healers – incredible doctors, they saved the baby and me. Jennifer is still in an incubator, but I promise, as soon as they let me have her, I’ll bring her to you. Tell me about Cullen. How is he?”
Lisa was leading Corinne through the beautiful house, toward Cullen’s bedroom. Dayan followed, keeping his distance, allowing Lisa to have Corinne’s complete attention. “Cullen is really doing well, but he won’t stay in bed no matter what I say. Yesterday morning he wanted to get up and fix me breakfast! He’s like that – he’s always wanting to do the sweetest things. I like doing things for him, but he doesn’t want me to; he thinks he’s imposing.”
“Has he tasted your vegetarian lasagna yet? That should convince him you can be very domestic,” Corinne advised.
Lisa stopped before pushing open the door. “I want to be with him, Corinne. I mean it – I’ve never met anyone like him, anyone I could just talk to for hours. I love being with him.” She smiled. “He’s sort of been a captive audience.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?”
Lisa shrugged. “I’d give up modeling to be with him. You know how much it means to me to know I have a huge retirement fund, and plenty of money to fall back on. But I’d give it up for him, I really would.”
“But…” Corinne encouraged gently.
Lisa glanced at Dayan, who was some distance down the hall, studying a painting. She lowered her voice. “Cullen hasn’t said anything to me. I think he likes being with me, I know he’s attracted, but I don’t know how he really feels about me. Or how much. He’s different from other men, Corinne, he really is.”
“I’m happy for you, Lisa. I like Cullen. I think I could grow to love him, and I can’t imagine that he wouldn’t adore you as I do.” She took Lisa’s arm. “Before we go into Cullen’s room, I should tell you that Dayan and I are married.”
“What?” Lisa glared at her, clearly hurt.
“It was necessary to protect the baby. I love him, really love him, and I want you to love him as a brother. He’s been so good to me. He saved my life; he saved Jennifer’s life.” Corinne looked up at Lisa with a steady, almost mesmerizing gaze. “I intend to spend the rest of my life with him. I need you to accept him as family.”
Lisa nodded, flinging her arms around Corinne again. “I owe him everything for saving little Jennifer and you.”
“Lisa!” Cullen’s voice was still slightly hoarse but he sounded strong enough. “What are you doing out there?”
Dayan knew perfectly well that Cullen could hear every word with his enhanced hearing. Dayan walked down the hall, reached past the two women to push open the door. “Hey, lazy boy, these two cannot make up their minds whether to cry or laugh or just stand there hugging each other. I need another male around for balance.”