Page 1 of Bitter Heat

Chapter 1

“Jasmine?”

She turned from her contemplation of the snowy world outside to see Kaia was finally awake. The older woman lay in a hospital bed. The gray hair at her temples was damp with sweat, and her stout figure seemed to have shrunk in the span of six hours. A thick bandage peeked out of the top of her hospital gown, covering a fresh incision down the middle of her chest. Jasmine went to Kaia’s side and grasped her hand.

“How are you feeling?”

Kaia grimaced. “Like I got kicked in the chest by a horse.”

Her mouth curved in a wan smile. “You pulled through the surgery like a champ. Everything’s going to be okay now.”

Kaia’s eyes glistened with tears. “What are the chances that after all these years of asking you to visit, the first time you come, I have a heart attack?”

She blocked out the mental image of how she had found Kaia this morning. “It was meant to be that I was here to help.”

Kaia searched her face. “Are you okay?”

She let out a choked laugh. “You’re asking me that? You’re the one who had open heart surgery.”

“Jasmine.”

Kaia’s sympathetic voice made her eyes sting. She averted her gaze and cleared her throat. “I’m fine. I’m just glad you’re all right.”

“I know you’re supposed to head back to New York, but can you stay a little longer?”

The panic that had dogged her all day crawled up her throat and threatened to choke her. “I would, but …” She met Kaia’s pleading gaze. “They called him.”

Kaia’s brows drew together.

“I can’t be here when he arrives.” Despite her best efforts to keep her shit together, her words started tripping over each other. “It’s been five years. I can’t… If he sees me, he’ll—”

Kaia gripped her hand with surprising strength. “He won’t come.”

She blinked. “What are you talking about? Of course, he will.”

“He won’t.” Kaia closed her eyes as if she couldn’t keep them open a second longer. “You know we’ve never been close.”

She did know. It was the only reason she decided to come in the first place. “I’m sure once he hears you had a heart attack…”

“He’s visited once since he left for college. He won’t come back, even for an emergency. Promise me you’ll stay, at least until I get back on my feet.”

She couldn’t deny Kaia when she looked so frightened and fragile. “Okay, I’ll stay.”

Kaia’s relief was obvious as she shifted on the pillows and let out a pained gasp.

“Do you need a nurse?” she demanded as she leaped for the call button.

“No, no,” Kaia mumbled. “I’m fine. You should leave now before the snow gets any worse.”

Automatically, her gaze went back to the window. White flakes flirted with the frosted glass before drifting innocently down. Two hours ago, she called the only inn in town, but it was at capacity. Either she had to make the trek back to Kaia’s remote mountain cabin or sleep in the hospital. She didn’t like either option.

“Ma’am?” A nurse appeared in the doorway. “Visiting hours are over. You can come back tomorrow.”

She nodded and looked back at Kaia to see that she had fallen asleep. When she leaned down and kissed Kaia’s weathered cheek, the older woman made an urgent sound and reached for her.

“She’ll be fine,” the nurse said when she hesitated. “It’s been a long day for both of you. You should get some rest.”

Jasmine left the room on quaking legs that carried her just beyond the doors of the ICU. She leaned against the wall, closed her eyes, and let out a shaky breath. It had been a long, exhausting day, but it was over. Kaia was going to be fine. That’s all that mattered.

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