Just Believe by Anne Manning Page B

you up at your mother's house
at seven."
    Annabelle stared at the card for a
moment before reaching for it. Her fingers closed around the very
edge. She couldn't believe he made her afraid to let their
fingertips touch. Then she made the mistake of glancing up. Gaelen
held her eyes and the card tight for just a second. Releasing it
with a promising smile, he turned and strolled toward the
stairwell.
    She watched him go, watched the eyes of
all the women in the hall follow him.
    "Ms. Tinker?" Dr. Duncan came up behind
her in the silent shoes all the staff wore around the hospital.
"You may return to your sister's room now. We're
finished."
    "Thank you," Annabelle answered,
fingering the card in her hand. The name was plain in bold black
letters on the creamy stock.
    The doctor's eyes were fixed on the
card, on Gaelen Riley's telephone number. Annabelle slipped the
card into her slacks pocket. Dr. Duncan smiled shyly, caught
peeking.
    "Please be careful what you say to
Erin. I think we've made some progress today," she said and turned
without waiting for a response, heading down the corridor toward
her next patient.
    Annabelle glanced at the tiny woman's
purposeful progress as she pushed open the door to Erin's
room.
    "So, what did the Wicked Witch say
about me this time?" Erin asked, her lips pursed in a
pout.
    "That you're certifiably nuts, and we
should donate your brain to science since you're not using
it."
    "Be serious, Annabelle."
    "I am serious. She'll be back in
fifteen minutes to perform the procedure. You should get your
affairs in order. Can I have your Barbie dolls?"
    Erin's pout rearranged itself into a
sweet smile and a laugh.
    "You always could do that to me." She
sat up. "So, what did the totally dreamy Dr. Riley want to see you
about?"
    "What are you talking about? When I
came in, he was sitting on the edge of your bed telling you Lucas
stories."
    "He was only waiting for you to show
up. He came up here to talk to you." Erin's eyes sparkled. "I think
he likes you."
    "He asked me to dinner."
    "Really? Well, see?"
    "Please, Erin. Think about it. His
invitation has nothing at all to do with me. He just wants to find
Lucas and he thinks I can help him. He'll probably quiz me over the
appetizer." She frowned. "Does it seem funny to you that he's
apparently not able to find his own brother? Has Lucas said
anything to you about problems they're having?"
    Erin shook her head. "No. All I've
heard from Lucas about his brother is very complimentary. I think
Lucas has a bad case of hero-worship for Gaelen."
    "Then why would he be afraid of Gaelen
finding him? There's more here than brotherly love."
    "I don't have any idea. But maybe you
can find out on your date." Erin smiled slyly. "So, when is your
date?"
    "I didn't say I said yes."
    Erin flashed a look of disgust. "You're
telling me a man who looks like Gaelen Riley asks you to dinner and
you're hesitating even a second? Where is he taking you? Provided
you get smart and accept, of course."
    "The Tea Room."
    "You're kidding. You are
going?"
    Perhaps a little investigation of her
own was called for. There was more to this whole situation than met
the eye and it was time to put her skills to the test.
    "Sure I am."

Chapter Seven

    Gaelen stood at the front door of the
Tinker residence at seven sharp as promised, looking like an ad out
of GQ, a fresh bouquet of daisies in his hand. Peeking from behind
the living room curtain, Annabelle went all gooey. How had he known
daisies were her favorite?
    She let the lacy curtain drop and took
a deep breath to calm her racing heart. And she chastised herself
for getting all excited about this date. It was the same
chastisement she'd flung at herself as she took great pains getting
ready, even borrowing the sleeveless black cocktail dress with the
scooping neckline from her mother's closet. She hoped it would be
dressy enough.
    Opening the door slowly enough to not
look anxious, but quickly enough to be polite, Annabelle pasted