Ever After by Jude Deveraux

was leaving the side of the house and walking quickly toward the red gate.
    Jamie pushed up the window and leaned out. “Edith!” he shouted in a voice so loud that the force of it nearly knocked Hallie backward. She had an idea that he may have been heard in Boston.
    Hearing it, the little woman halted and smiled up at them. “Jamie? Is that you? I can’t stay, but the Tea Ladies left something for the both of you. Is that Hyacinth with you?”
    Hallie was a bit startled at being called that, but then she leaned close to Jamie and put her head out the window. “It is me,” she called down. “It’s very nice to meet you. Stay and we’ll come down and have something to eat.”
    “Thank you, dear, but no,” Edith said, her hand up to shield her eyes. “I’m full now. At least for a few minutes.” For some reason she seemed to find this statement highly amusing. “Maybe tomorrow. Kiss Jamie for me.” Turning away, she began to hurry toward the gate.
    “Good idea,” Jamie said.
    Hallie realized that she was practically lying against him, his face close to hers.
    “I think you should kiss Jamie,” he said in a low, seductive voice.
    Ignoring his words, she moved back to the opposite side of the seat. “I thought you just met her, but she’s sending you kisses?”
    “What can I say? Women fall for me.”
    She narrowed her eyes at him. “And do they manage to get your clothes off you?”
    “Only if it’s very, very dark.”
    Laughing, Hallie stood up and got his crutches. “What did she mean that the Tea Ladies left us something? And who are they?”
    “I have no idea. Maybe they work for the B&B.” When he took the crutches, he acted as though he’d forgotten how to use them. “I’m going to need help getting down the stairs.”
    “What if I remind you that the food is downstairs and you can’t have it unless you get down there?”
    “I think part of being a good physical therapist is making sure your patient is fed.” He sounded serious.
    “No, it’s not. In fact, even the massages aren’t part of it.” Smiling, she was walking backward toward the staircase. “I learned that art form in totally different classes that I took before I became a physical therapist. Used massage sessions to pay for school. In fact, they were—”
    She broke off because she tripped on a loose corner of the big floor rug and was about to fall. But in a lightning-fast move,Jamie dropped his crutches and reached out to grab her. They went down together. He hit the floor hard, with Hallie on top of him, his braced leg to one side.
    Hallie’s head hit his chest almost as hard as his back slammed into the floor. “Jamie! Are you all right?”
    He lay on the rug, utterly still, his eyes closed.
    She clutched his head in her hands. “Stay here.” Her voice was frantic. “I’ll call an ambulance.” She started to roll off him, but his arm held her tightly against him. “Let go! I have to—”
    When she realized that he wasn’t even near being unconscious, she lay where she was, her upper body on his wide chest. “Let me guess. High school football taught you how to take down your opponent.” She saw the tiniest of smiles on his lips. “What were you? The entire defense team?”
    His smile grew and she felt his stomach move in laughter.
    “Let me up or I’ll—” Since she couldn’t think of anything to threaten him with, she put her elbows in the two spots on his chest where she knew she’d cause the most pain and pushed down.
    “Yeow!” Jamie yelped, his eyes flying open.
    Hallie rolled off him and stood up. “Can you get up by yourself or do I need to get a crane?”
    “I think my back is broken,” he said, smiling up at her.
    “That’s too bad. I guess I’ll have to get scissors to cut your shirt off and have a look at your bare back.”
    Jamie gave a sigh, rolled over, grabbed a crutch, and stood up.
    “It’s a miracle,” Hallie said and went down the stairs, Jamie not far behind