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“Miss Sullivan, welcome back.”

Marissa blinked against dim lights as she fought to figure out where she was. What was in her nose? She clawed at whatever it was only to have hands grip her wrists.

“It’s just oxygen. You’re in the hospital, Marissa.”

She recognized the voice but didn’t know why.

Finally, the fog cleared, and she saw Austin Yates hovering over her.

“What happened?” she croaked as she breathed around the oxygen tubing in her nose.

“Someone knocked you out and set cabin one on fire.”

Everything came rushing back and she gasped.

“Jodie. It’s Jodie. She was with a man but that’s all I remember. Lance?”

Austin gripped her hand. “I need to go call him. He’s fine, sweetie. Let the nurse take care of you. You’re sure Jodie was there?”

Marissa nodded. “Positive.”

Austin pulled free and headed for the door with her cellphone in her hand.

Her head ached and she gingerly lifted a hand to the back where the pain was.

“My hair,” she whispered.

The nurse gave her a gentle pat. “You had a pretty nasty wound. A good hairdresser will be able to fix it right up.”

Marissa fought back tears.

“How’s your pain on a scale of one to ten?”

Marissa took a ragged breath and winced as her head brushed the pillow. “Maybe an eight,” she said on a shaky breath.

The nurse nodded and pulled a vial and syringe from her scrubs and injected something into her IV.

Images of Lance swirled in her mind as a warm fuzzy feeling enveloped her.

When she opened her eyes sometime later, Isabelle and Holly were by her side. Disappointment flooded her. Where was Lance?

“Hey sweetie. Glad you’re awake,” Isabelle said as she poured water into a plastic cup and handed it to her. Holly helped her sip.

“Want to sit up more?” Holly asked.

Marissa gave a nod and the bed whirred as it raised her up.

“I’ll go find a nurse,” Isabelle murmured.

Holly’s phone rang and she excused herself as well, leaving Marissa to stare at the empty hospital room.

A few minutes later, a shadow cast over the entry and she looked up to find Lance staring at her.

“Lance,” she croaked.

He moved to her side and looked down at her, something like anguish on his face.

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