Page 48 of Hot to Trot

Scarlet stepped back because she was afraid the woman might ask to kiss her in some weird attempt to transfer the effect. If only the woman had seen her lancing blisters on the bottom of Stefan's feet last year after he'd run the Boston Marathon. And the man left used Q-tips around the bathroom. So not sexy. "Um, yeah. If it's any consolation, he sometimes has garlic breath."

Both women laughed.

"Well, it was nice talking to you. Better find the E.R." Scarlet waved as they called out how much they'd liked meeting her. Having fans was cool sometimes... and yet sometimes surreal.

Scarlet followed the directions and found herself in the middle of the E.R. She headed to the triage desk.

"Hi. I'm looking for the two young ladies who were brought in earlier from a car accident near Oak Stand."

The older man looked up."You a relative?"

"Um, not exactly. One of the state troopers called and said one of the girls was a fan." She glanced around, looking for someone in a uniform. Maybe the guy was still around and could vouch for her.

''A fan of what?" the man said, narrowing his eyes at her. He took in her T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops before refocusing on his magazine.

“Of a television show I work on,” Scarlet said, pushing her bangs back and giving the older man a smile."Deep Shadows."

"Never heard of it," he said, not bothering to look up. "What's it? A streaming show or something? Dime a dozen these days.”

Scarlet bristled. He made it sound as though her show was a fly-by-night production. Streaming was the hot ticket these days. "Yeah, thanks. Um, can you point me in the direction?”

“Can’t. You're not a relative, and there are laws and such.”

"It's okay, Charlie," a voice said from over her shoulder.

She saw a burly man in uniform coming her way. His name tag read Barlow. He held out his hand. "Thanks for coming, Ms. Rose. I appreciate you taking the time."

She shook his hand. "No problem. I'm glad to help.”

Charlie rolled his eyes. "Go on, I guess."

Scarlet gave Sergeant Barlow a secret smile. "He doesn't believe l'm on a television show."

Charlie snorted. "I've seen the crap they show these days on the television.”

Scarlet sighed. "Okay, where are the girls?"

"Charlene is in X-ray, but Destiny's down here. She's the one who wore your show's shirt. I didn't know you were in town, but one of the other officers at the crash site did. He suggested I give your sister a call."

Scarlet wondered if it was Adam. The wreck had been close to Oak Stand, so it stood to reason he would be on the scene. "I'm glad you did."

"Okay, she's back here. She's a little scratched and a lot shaken up."

Scarlet nodded and he pulled back the curtain of the emergency-room bay. Lying in the bed was a teenage girl wearing a hospital gown. She had short dark hair and a small elfin face that looked as if it had been peppered with glass on one side. She looked very much alone and scared. Scarlet didn't have many maternal instincts, but she felt as though she could scoop up the child and hold her in her arms.

"Destiny?" Sergeant Barlow said softly. "l brought a friend to say hello."

The girl shifted her gaze to Scarlet. Her eyes widened, but she didn't say anything.

"Hi, Destiny. I'm-"

"I know who you are," Destiny said. "You're Veronica Collins."

"Well, I play her. My real name is Scarlet. Mind if I sit with you for a little bit?"

The girl shrugged. “Yeah, that would be cool."

Scarlet stepped in front of Sergeant Barlow and pulled up one of the chairs sitting in the corner of the bay.

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