Crazy For You by Marie Higgins

heart. Repay me? He could stay by her side...forever. But if he was really a future-man—and she was beginning to think he was because he knew about Terrels ’ dealings—that could never happen.
     
    * * * *
     
    “I want to visit your father.”
    Eli smiled, his heart jumping to his throat. He reached across the table and took hold of Kendra ’s hands. Since they’d returned, they’d been at the kitchen table discussing what they found in Terrel’s office.
    “You will, eventually.”
    “I know, but I want to do it now.”
    He shook his head. “What are you going to say to him? Are you going to tell him you’re helping his son?” He chuckled. “He doesn’t know he has a son yet.”
    “No, of course I won’t tell him that. I thought about telling him I know he was put into the hospital under false pretenses, and I’m going to try to release him.”
    He squeezed her hands. “That’s a good idea, but I don’t know if you’ll be able to make it past the doctor. His particular doctor is being paid quite nicely to keep Joshua inside. Doctor Goodwin isn’t going to just let anyone in to see him.”
    She shrugged. “There’s got to be a way. Maybe I could go when the doctor leaves to return home.”
    “Only if you have a way to talk the nurses into letting you in.” He tightened his hold on her hand. “And remember, my father isn’t listed under Joshua Montgomery.”
    “He’s not?”
    “No. Terrel made sure every little thing was covered so people wouldn’t recognize him.”
    “Then what’s his name?”
    “He’s still Joshua, but they used Smith for his last name.”
    She scrunched her nose. “Smith? That’s a regular name, for heaven’s sake.”
    “Exactly. Harder to track that way.”
    She frowned and slumped her shoulders. “You’re not doing a great job of encouraging me, you know.”
    He laughed, pulled away from the table, and stood. Keeping her hands in his, he lifted her up with him. After wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her close . “There are other ways to encourage you, my dear.”
    She smiled and stroked his goatee. “I just want to help you out any way I can before you leave.” The smile disappeared; even the sparkle left her eyes. “Which reminds me...when are you supposed to leave?”
    “I’ll be gone tomorrow morning.”
    She frowned. “So soon?”
    “Yes.” He sighed. “I don’t want to leave yet, but I have to.”
    She nodded. “Then we have a few more things to do before you leave.”
    “Like what?”
    “Like contacting my father.”
    He narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
    “Because my father will know what we need to do to get Doctor Goodwin checked out. Apparently he’s not a very good physician, and the mental hospital needs to know this.”
    “This is true.” He rubbed his hands slowly over her back, loving how she fit so perfect in his arms. “Then let’s hurry and get a hold of him. I want to spend the last little while we have holding each other. ”
    She tilted her head. “Hmmm…w hat a w onder ful idea. ”
    Bending his head, he pressed his lips to her neck. His tongue teased her sensitive spot, and she giggled.
    She pulled away and walked to the wall where her keys hung. “That will have to wait until after I talk to my father. It won’t take long, I promise.”
    He frowned, folding his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall. “I’m holding you to that promise, because if you’re not back here within an hour, I’m coming after you. And I don’t think your father will like the way I kiss his little girl in front of him.”
    She laughed and blew him a kiss, then hurried out of the room.
    His heart tightened. How could he walk out of her life tomorrow? In the past week, she’d found a place in his heart, and he didn’t want to let it go. Since meeting her, life had more meaning, and to think that might be taken away nearly stopped his heart from beating…for she had somehow become his life.
    But, he had no other