Fool's Gold Collection Volume 3: Almost Summer / Summer Days / Summer Nights / All Summer Long

“You’ve never been here before, have you?” she asked.

“Here being this town?”

“Fool’s Gold.”

“This is my first visit.”

“Well, it’s the kind of place that welcomes everyone. We take care of our own. Word got out that you were here and sick and the town responded.”

“Meaning what?”

She tilted her head. “I work several jobs. I teach yoga, I’m a part-time receptionist at one of the local fire stations and I have a couple of shifts at Morgan’s Books.”

“Very industrious.”

“I’m a girl with a plan. Anyway, taking care of you has meant letting people know I won’t be in for work. One person told another and the town stepped in. I am currently in possession of enough food to feed much of the entire state of California. My freezer overflows with all kinds of casseroles. I also have an assortment of homemade remedies for everything from fever to warts.”

“I don’t have warts.”

“Not now.” She smiled. She took the last bite of the cupcake and waved the wrapper. “If you want one of these, there are eleven more downstairs.”

“Maybe later.”

He’d taken a single bite of the cheese sandwich and found it as delicious as Paige had promised, but he was already full and getting sleepy.

“Have you really had to miss work to take care of me?” he asked. “I’m awfully sorry about that.”

“Not a problem. I couldn’t miss all my shifts, so I’ve had a couple of friends in to watch you while I was gone. You flashed a friend of mine, by the way. She was both thrilled and intrigued.”

“Flashed?”

“You climbed out of bed wearing nothing but your very manly briefs. Heidi hasn’t been on a date for a while. She might be by later to check you out.”

“I’m not sure if I should be flattered or hide.”

“She’s pretty adorable.”

Alistair doubted anyone could be as adorable as Paige. “I appreciate your care.”

“It’s not a problem. I’m getting plenty of meals out of it. Plus it’s nice to have someone in the house. Sometimes it gets lonely here.”

He glanced around at the floral wallpaper and the simple white dresser. “Aunt Sophia had a very nice room.”

“It’s not fancy.”

“For me, it’s a palace.”

“Oooh, and this coming from a man who has probably been in a palace.”

“Windsor. Buckingham. Mongolian.”

She frowned. “What’s the Mongolian Palace?”

“A great restaurant I know in New York.”

She laughed. “Very funny. You’re feeling better.”

“Exhausted, but yes. I’d flown straight back from Asia. I’d been working there for six weeks with back-to-back surgeries.”

“I heard you’re a surgeon, like Simon.”

“Yes.” His head started to swim and he was losing a battle to keep his eyes open. “I work around the world.”

“I’ve always wanted to see the world.”

“I could show you.”

He wasn’t sure if he’d said the words or only thought them. Because right then everything went dark and he found himself drifting. He thought he felt the tray being lifted off the bed, then cool, gentle hands stroked his forehead.

“Sleep well, My Lord.”

He smiled.

Something soft touched his cheek. Instinctively, he turned, wanting more of whatever that was, but it was too late. Exhaustion claimed him and the opportunity was lost.

Chapter Three (#ulink_c6a2c5cb-a2d6-56d2-8cef-25afaf33fcab)

Paige fingered the worn pages, studying the stamps. So many different countries, she thought. Some were from places she’d never even heard of.

“Going through my things?”

She looked up and saw that Alistair was awake again. He looked better than he had. More rested, with normal coloring.

Over the past couple of days, much of his rash had faded. He’d basically been eating and sleeping, the latter more than the former.

She held up his passport. “Of course. What else was I going to do to pass the time? You’ve been to very interesting places. I don’t suppose you’d tell me about them?”

“I’d love to, but on the condition that I get to eat.”

“Done.”

“At a table. Like a real person.”

She stood and looked down at him. “Seriously? You want to come downstairs?”

“Yes, but first I want to take a shower.”

“You are kind of stinky,” she agreed. “You also need a shave. I didn’t think viscounts were supposed to be scruffy.”