True Perfection [Aspire 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Allyson Young Page A

motioned for her to stand. Haley carefully moved Warren’s hand to the bed and pressed a kiss on it. She felt the tears on her face, running hotly down to drip off her jaw. The nurse escorted her back to the waiting area and tucked some tissues into her hand. Haley numbly wiped her face and blew her nose. Warren was alive, and despite how terrible he looked, she thought he just might be okay in time. Her gut clenched and spasmed, and she hurried down the hall to the restroom. Gordon found her there nearly half an hour later, curled in a ball on the floor in front of the toilet in the closest stall to the door.
     
    * * * *
     
    Gordon was fairly overwhelmed by the turn of events. Warren was making remarkable progress by anyone’s standards and had been moved to a private room within three days. Haley had not left the hospital in all of that time period, but had shown no sign of illness since vomiting and passing out in the washroom the first day. The doctor contended that it was the combination of the sedative she had been given for shock and the additional stress, combined with the relief of seeing Warren right after surgery. Haley gave no explanation, other than quietly insisting she was fine. Instead, she had become a docile creature who drifted cautiously in and out of Warren’s room, speaking only when spoken to, anticipating any and all of Warren’s needs and doing her level best to pay strict attention to everything Gordon had to say and obey him without question. She already seemed to have lost weight despite trying to eat when he told her she needed to do so for her health.
    It was totally disconcerting, and while Warren wasn’t awake for long enough periods of time to have a discussion, Gordon felt that his friend was bewildered as well. It was like Haley had regressed back to the days when she was Warren’s submissive. Gordon tried to talk to her, tried to tease her a little and get a rise out of her. She merely smiled and nodded, agreeing with everything he said, and it was frustrating the hell out of him. He had suggested that she take a leave of absence from her job, hoping that tending to practical and mundane matters would help her become the Haley they cherished. She had nodded, immediately heading to a place in the hospital where cell phone use was allowed to call Nick Lewis. She had then told him it was taken care of, but hadn’t elaborated. Gordon found her lack of emotion unsettling.
    He received a call from Lewis later, the man wanting to make certain that their previous deal on the insurance rebate still stood. Gordon learned that Haley had been replaced, albeit with regret, and that it was unlikely the new restaurant would have a place for her either, depending upon how long she was unavailable. Lewis was apologetic, but clearly Gordon had used up all his influence with the man, and the anticipated damage to both restaurants’ reputation because of the stabbing and Haley’s involvement in the scene hadn’t endeared her to Lewis. Gordon sorely longed to plant his fist in the man’s face. Haley hadn’t told him that she had been, in effect, fired, and Gordon hadn’t been able to read anything from her. No regret, no anger, no disappointment, nothing. It was like she simply accepted it as her due.
    He then perversely suggested that they take the vacation after all, in order for Warren to have further opportunity to recover, and while he saw swiftly hidden panic in Haley’s eyes, she quietly agreed. When he asked her what was wrong, she assured him that there was absolutely nothing wrong. After all, Warren was alive and recovering. Haley told him that nothing could be wrong, considering that miracle. Gordon was struggling with the green-eyed monster and was disgusted with himself for being jealous of his friend who had just barely escaped being mortally wounded. But he had witnessed Haley’s meltdown during what had nearly been a tragedy, and had come to think that her love for Warren was so