Page 6 of Diagnosis Attraction

“But that’s a start.”

“I was hoping that Dr. Delano could help me dredge up some other facts about myself.”

Kramer looked at him. “Can you help her?”

“I’m afraid not. The name came to her. It wasn’t anything I did,” he protested, not sure that he was telling the truth buttotally unwilling to explain. Something strange had happened when he touched her, but he wasn’t going to do it again.

The nurse nodded, then changed the subject. “Is Elizabeth ready to be discharged?”

“If I knew where to send her,” Matt muttered. “Nobody’s come forward looking for her?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Do you have any suggestions for what I should do?” Elizabeth asked.

“I might,” Nurse Kramer murmured, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

Matthew waited for her to say what was on her mind.

After a long pause, the nurse said, “I have a spare room that I haven’t used since my daughter got married and moved away. I was thinking that … Elizabeth might want to stay with me until she remembers who she is.”

In his Dulaney Valley mansion, Derek Lang leaned back in the comfortable leather chair behind his desk. He was a tall man, and the expensive chair was specially designed to give him a comfortable headrest. A four-hundred-dollar haircut tamed his dark hair. His well-muscled frame was clothed in a thousand-dollar suit. And he was currently having a facial massage administered by Susanna, one of the gorgeous young women he kept around the house. He liked them to have a skill he found useful, in addition to being good in bed. And Susanna was a perfect example.

When she finished and stepped away, he picked up a hand mirror and inspected his face. At forty-five he still looked fit—because he took good care of himself with daily sessions inthe gym on the weight machines and ellipticals. And he’d also had some of what he called nips and tucks by one of the most expensive plastic surgeons in the city.

“Thank you, honey,” he murmured.

“You’re welcome, Mr. Lang.”

He gave her a long look as he thought about asking her to take off her halter top and miniskirt. As per his instructions, she wouldn’t be wearing anything under either one, and she could stand in front of him while he ran his hands over her. Then, he could pursue a couple of interesting alternatives. Like having her kneel in front of him. Or having her sit with her legs open at the edge of the desk.

Enjoying her intimate services was a tempting prospect, but he had some urgent business to take care of. He flicked his eyes to her face, knowing she was following his thoughts and waiting for him to make a decision. He liked the power he had over her and everyone else who worked for him—either voluntarily or involuntarily. Susanna was one of the latter, of course.

He repressed a sigh. Business before pleasure. “Tell Southwell to come in.”

“Yes, sir.”

As she turned away, he ran his fingers over her ass, then pulled his chair up to the desk as she stepped out of the room. Moments later, one of his best men entered and stood respectfully in front of the desk.

Gary Southwell had been a high school football star, and Derek had recruited him at the end of his senior year because of his bulk and menacing appearance. Since appearance wasn’t enough, he’d sent him for special training both in martial arts and on the firing range. The man was adept at hand-to-hand combat and an excellent shot. And he was grateful for the good salary he earned, the comfortable accommodation, and thewomen he could shag anytime he wanted. All of that made him loyal to a fault. And anxious to please.

“Do we have a report on the Elizabeth Forester situation? Is she still in the hospital?” Derek asked. He’d been having his men keep tabs on her for weeks, and he’d been closing in for the kill when she’d wrecked her car. Before Patterson, another one of his top operatives, could whisk her away, a crowd had gathered at the accident scene. With a whole slew of witnesses, Patterson had decided to cut his losses and disappear. Derek didn’t like it when his plans went sour, but under the circumstances, he understood the decision.

“She’s still in the hospital,” Southwell answered. “Her physical condition is okay, but they’re keeping her because she’s lost her memory.”

“You think that’s true?”

Southwell shrugged.

“If it is, I wonder if it’s because she’d rather not remember,” Derek mused.

“That could be part of it,” Southwell agreed. “And it’s good for us, isn’t it?”

“At the moment, but how long will that last?” Derek asked.

“No way of knowing.”

“If the memory loss were permanent, that would solve our problem. But I don’t want her suddenly remembering why she’s been so busy over the past few weeks and calling in the cops.”

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