Among the Tulips Read Online Free

attendant shrugged. “She probably has a fractured tibia or fibula and possibly a concussion. Normally we wouldn’t give meds so strong, but she’s a tourist and pretty unsettled. Americans,” the technician said disrespectfully and then winced. “Except for you, Mr. Rivers. Your mother was from Holland so you’re not really American, exactly.”
    Victor thought that attitude was typical and sighed. “It’s not important.”
    As if to make up for his lapse, the attendant sat up straighter and examined the patient more closely. “She could have internal injuries. The doctor will let you know.”
    They pulled into the entrance to the hospital.
    The technician leaned forward and wiped away the blood that was running along Annie’s hairline.
    Victor didn’t care too much for real blood.
    Then he realized his own hands had her blood on them, in quite another sense.
    He hoped she wasn’t seriously injured.
    She was actually very pretty in a simple sort of way—innocent, perhaps. She didn’t have that world-weary look that so many of his friends did.
    In the circles he traveled, it was rare to see someone that looked so fresh at…forty, she’d said?
    Forty.
    He would have guessed her much younger.
    She was only two years younger than he. He had turned forty-two two months ago.
    Annie shifted her head. Victor blanched.
    A cross.
    She wore a tiny cross around her neck.
    All good feelings toward this woman were shoved aside as memories of his parents flooded his mind.
    She was a Christian—like them.
    How could she be? he wondered. But then she hadn’t been herself either.
    The bitterness and anger—hidden but always near to his heart—threatened to surface. It would have too if he’d had more time to dwell on it, but just then, the ambulance pulled to a stop at the emergency room entrance. Victor realized he still held Annie’s hand.
    Releasing it, he stepped back and allowed the technicians to do their job.
    He followed the stretcher into the hospital and into the ward. Maybe she just wore the necklacebecause she liked the look. Besides, not all people who wore crosses were like his parents. His parents hadn’t believed in wearing any jewelry, so maybe she wasn’t like them at all. Anyway, it didn’t matter. She was here alone and needed help. And he would help this woman, regardless of her religious beliefs. He forced those bitter memories away by becoming the persona he had created so many years ago through so many parts.
    When the nurse came in, he gave all of the information he could and then stepped away to make a call to his home. He needed some fresh clothes. He also needed to talk to this woman when she woke up.
    Of course once she was in her right mind and had calmed down, she would recognize him and that might pose a problem. But then, he was used to that.
    He would simply be prepared for whatever her reaction would be.
    He supposed that the sweet innocence he’d perceived would disappear and he would find out just what type of person Annie really was. Money had that effect on people—money and fame. And he had both. Wearily he sighed and accepted that that was how it would be.
    Thinking about that, he decided it might not hurt to put in a call to his lawyer as well.
    It was going to be a long day.

Chapter Two
    A nnie groaned.
    She heard someone speaking to her, though she couldn’t understand him, and then she felt herself being prodded to sit up.
    Painfully she opened one eye. And immediately realized she had been unconscious—again.
    â€œA cast?” She looked down at her right leg in dismay. “I’m in a cast.”
    â€œYou’re awake.”
    Her gaze went past the other beds in the room she was in, and, to her relief, she saw her rescuer coming down the main aisle, the very man who had just spoken. Wow. She hadn’t imagined it. He was hot.
    His footsteps echoed on the tiled