and her bare legs covered with a pink thermal blanket. The blond man sat by her side. Sam.
Who was he? Why was he always there?
She looked down at her hand, held gently by his. The big, tan hand warmed hers, made her feel connected to him. Why, when he was a stranger? How could she feel so close to someone she’d seen for the first time mere hours before?
“Amy, are you all right?”
Adrienne didn’t even bother to correct his use of that name. Nor did she bother to answer his question. Confusion, pain and exhaustion assailed her from all sides. She didn’t want to be here. Knowing she lay hurt in a hospital bed wouldn’t stop Vaughn from coming after her. That he hadn’t appeared already left her more confused.
“Why did you bring me back?” she asked, unable to raise her voice above a whisper. Her little side trip had sapped whatever energy she had.
“You had a bad fall. The doctor needs to examine you before she releases you.”
“I’m fine.”
He grimaced. “You’re not fine. You fainted.”
She could feel a blush come to her cheeks. “I guess it was foolish to try to walk so far so soon.”
“Maybe,” he said. “Acts of survival often are. Maybe after the doctor examines you you’ll tell me what you’re running from.”
She looked away from him, still not ready to trust.
“You rest, sweetheart,” he said, a strange catch in his voice. “I’ll go get the doctor.”
The sound of his voice, the way he said sweetheart almost made her feel safe. “Wait,” she called as he reached the door.
He stopped and looked back at her.
“What’s your name?”
He looked at her searchingly. “It’s Sam, remember?”
“Yes, but Sam what?”
“Sam Delaney.”
The doctor had called her Mrs. Delaney earlier. Suddenly she didn’t feel so safe anymore. Something very strange was going on. Something her confused mind couldn’t begin to comprehend. Why would the doctor call her by the name of a man she’d never met? Why would he allow it? “What do you want with me? Why are you here?”
His blue eyes became intense with an unspoken emotion. “To make sure you get well. Now, get some rest, okay?”
Unable to help herself, she closed her eyes. She was so tired. Tired of the pain. Tired of the incessant questions in her head. She tried to focus on a once-favorite place, to let her mind drift away from the fear, away from the pain. But all she could see was Sam’s face.
CLOSING THE DOOR softly behind him, Sam stood for a moment, listening. For what, he didn’t know. Maybe just the sound of his name. Spoken by a woman who knew him and shouldn’t have to ask why he was there.
Impatient with himself, he crossed to the nurse’s station. Kathy, the young, red-haired nurse he’d yelled at earlier, looked up from a chart as he approached. Taking in her wary expression, he spoke quietly. “Is Dr. Yamana back yet?” Once he’d calmed down, he’d realized it hadn’t been the nurses’ fault Amy had escaped.
“No, she’s not, Mr. Delaney.” She smiled tentatively. “Why don’t you go get yourself something to drink? We’ll let you know as soon as she returns.”
Sam appreciated the suggestion, but he wasn’t leaving the floor. “It’s very important that I speak to her. I’ll be in the waiting room.”
He walked to the small room at the end of the hall. Glad to see it empty, he slumped onto a barely comfortable cranberry-colored couch. The relief he’d felt at finding Amy safe and sound had worn off. Now he just felt tired. He rubbed a hand across his dry eyes. What was he going to do? He had to think.
“The nurse said I’d find you here.”
Sam looked up at his brother. “Where else would I be?”
Casey sat on the couch opposite him. “Where did you find her?”
“At the diner down the block. You were right. She didn’t get far.” Sam sat up, leaning his elbows on his knees. “What about you? What did you find?”
“Nothing yet. Damian’s still looking into this Adrienne Winston. But that doesn’t mean she exists. She could have gotten the name from a book she’d been reading before she fell.”
Sam rubbed his eyes. “I don’t understand it. It’s as if she’s made up some secret life. She keeps talking about some guy named Vaughn.”
Casey sat forward. “Did she give you a last name?”
Sam shook his head.
“How is she?”
“Exhausted. I managed to convince her to get some rest. It wasn’t easy. She’s scared, Casey. The fear’s eating at her.”
“Does she know who you are?”
He shook his head. “There’s not one bit of recognition in her eyes. Why, Casey? Why is she calling herself this strange name? Why is she afraid of this Vaughn person? Why is she afraid of me?”
“There’s something you have to consider, Sam.”
The seriousness of his brother’s voice spurred him from his seat. “She’s not crazy!”
Casey stood up. “I wasn’t going to suggest she was. In fact, I have a hunch it’s the opposite.”
“What are you talking about?” Sam demanded.
“Maybe she really is Adrienne Winston. Maybe she has been all along.”
Sam couldn’t believe his ears. “You said it was a long shot.”
“That was before I knew she’d been talking about this Vaughn guy. I can see someone with a head injury picking up a name from a book. But to be afraid the way you say…”
“Stop!” Sam wouldn’t hear another word.
Casey put a hand on his shoulder. “I wish I could have spared you this.”
“Me? I don’t give a damn about myself. It’s Amy I care about. If all this stuff she’s been coming up with is true, it’s possible she’s in very real danger. I need to see her.” He strode out of the room.
Halfway down the corridor, Casey caught up with him, grabbing his arm.
Sam glared at him. “Let me go.”
“You’re too worked up. You think going in there like this is going to help her?”
His brother was right. He had to be strong now. And calm. He had no idea what he was dealing with. “It’s been three years, Casey.”
