“They were with me. The entire night. We had a very nice reunion. But I’m not up to entertaining them. At six this morning, I bid them goodbye.
“Now that I’m out of the hospital, I’d like to recuperate in my own home with someone who knows instinctively how to take care of my needs. If you’d be willing to postpone your travel plans for a few days, I’ll make it worth your while.”
“You mean you want me to act as your nurse.” Memories of the massage she’d given his legs refused to go away.
“I simply want you to be yourself,” he said, shifting his weight.
Terri darted him an anxious glance, afraid he was feeling weak after his ordeal.
One dark brow dipped lower than the other. “Did I misunderstand you when you told me your work at the chamber of commerce consisted of doing a little bit of everything?”
“No—” She hadn’t meant to sound cross, not when anger was the last emotion she was experiencing. Excitement would be more like it. A growing excitement she couldn’t seem to contain.
“Then that’s all I’m asking,” he said reasonably. “According to the doctor, I’m supposed to be on a liquid diet today. Depending on how my throat feels tomorrow, I may be able to tolerate some soft food.
“If you could take care of the meals and answer my phone for me, do a little correspondence while this arm is in a sling, I’d be grateful.”
Her eyes traveled to his palms which the dressings still covered. She’d worried he’d done more injury to his hand when he’d written those messages at the hospital. Of course he would never complain about the pain. As she’d already discovered, Ben Herrick was no ordinary man.
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask why he hadn’t sent for Martha Shaw. She had an idea his brother’s secretary would sell her soul to be in Terri’s shoes right now.
But he probably had his male pride and didn’t want the other woman to see him like this. At least not until he’d recovered and no longer needed to wear dressings over his stitches. Since Terri had already been around him during his worst moments, no doubt he felt comfortable in her presence.
“There’s another reason I want you stay,” he added.
Alert to a different inflection in his voice, her breath caught.
“Captain Ortiz came to the hospital last night. With the information I gave him, your ex-husband’s body could possibly be found in the next few days. Since you would have to identify it before it could be shipped back to South Dakota for burial, remaining in Guayaquil will save you another trip to Ecuador.”
Now that she knew the real reason for his extraordinary request, she suffered a vicious stab of disappointment. In fact it almost incapacitated her. She averted her eyes.
There was no mystery here.
The man was only trying to spare her the grief of an unnecessary flight later on. Manufacturing a job as his nursemaid would give her something constructive to do while she waited for word from the police.
Before she could give him an answer, there was another rap on the door. His inquiring gray gaze met hers. “Are you expecting someone?”
“Earlier I told the desk I was checking out. They’ve probably sent a bellboy to help with my luggage. Excuse me.”
She hurried past him and opened the door.
“Parker—” she blurted in complete surprise.
“Good morning.”
Terri quickly stifled a groan. “What are you doing here?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” He smiled before removing his cowboy hat.
“I thought you were on your way back to Texas.”
“Plans have a way of changing. I’m glad I caught you in time. If you’d allow me, I’d like to drive you to the airport.”
She felt Ben’s presence behind her.
“I’m afraid Terri’s not leaving the country for a while,” came Ben’s whisper.
As he drew alongside her she noticed he’d helped himself to her apple juice. After being fed intravenously, she imagined it tasted good sliding down his sore throat.