Free Coffee Sonata by Greg Herren Page B

Vivian whispered. Her hands trembled as she gave the bottle back to Mike. “Can you help me? Normally I can do this on my own, but I’m in rather a lot of pain—”
    “Of course.” Mike unscrewed the top of the bottle and found an eyedropper. “How many drops?”
    “Two in each eye.” Vivian’s voice was barely audible.
    Mike leaned over Vivian. “Try to look up.”
    Vivian opened her eyes slowly, clearly wincing when the light and air hit her cornea. Quickly but carefully, Mike took the eyedropper and administered two drops in each eye. “Okay. You can shut your eyes again, I think.”
    After Mike sealed the bottle and placed it on the nightstand, she remained nearer than necessary, telling herself it was because Vivian was even paler now. Her long hair, usually so neatly contained in a twist, lay tangled around her shoulders, reaching almost below her breasts. “Better?”
    “In a minute or two.” Vivian sighed. “I want to rub my eyes, but that’s strictly forbidden.”
    Mike thought she saw Vivian shiver. “Are you still cold?”
    When Vivian nodded, Mike reached for a white comforter lying on the foot of the bed and wrapped it around her. “There you go.”
    “Oh, God, that feels a lot better.” Vivian sighed again, her eyes still closed. “I guess I don’t have to tell you that today is a particularly bad day.”
    “I can see that for myself.”
    “I left rehearsals early. Right after Manon Belmont paid a visit. I hate canceling rehearsals but I just couldn’t go on.” The dismay was obvious in Vivian’s voice. A deep blue cashmere sweater hugged her above black slacks.
    “What’s wrong, Vivian? It’s something with your eyes, right?”
    “Yes. I won’t go into any boring details, but I’m pretty dependent on my medication. When the eyedrops start to work, I’ll have to take a battery of pills. Then I’m fine. I have to go back within the hour because I have to rehearse with a children’s choir this afternoon.” She opened her eyes slowly and blinked a few times before focusing on Mike. “Good Lord, you must have a million things to take care of at the café. And here you are looking after me. You should go back.”
    “Don’t even think about it. I asked Martha and Edward to hold down the fort. I’ll help them later.” Mike hesitated, but couldn’t resist pushing the hair back from Vivian’s forehead. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look exhausted.”
    Vivian sat up straighter and smiled with obvious effort. “I’ll be fine.”
    Taking in Vivian’s high cheekbones, her full lips, and the way her sweater clung to her form, Mike realized that Vivian Harding was probably the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Something forbidden, at least for her, constricted her throat and made it difficult to swallow.
    Shaken, Mike recoiled. Her mind whirled in response to her body’s red alert.
    It’s the way she looks. Fragile and helpless right now. I can’t forget that these things tend to change, and fast. The fragile become the furious. As she rose she willed herself not to reveal her apprehension.
    “Can I do anything else, Vivian? Make you some coffee or a snack?” She was backtracking while she spoke, eventually standing in the doorway, and felt her cheeks burn as Vivian shook her head.
    “No, thank you, cara .”
    The term of endearment hung between them, testing the last straw of Mike’s resolve. She took two more quick steps backward. “All right. I’ll be off, then. See you at the café later today? We serve great pies for the after-work crowd.” Mike knew she was babbling. She wanted to see Vivian later, but in a more…secure setting. This gorgeous woman’s bedroom wasn’t a safe place.
    When Vivian swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, slightly wobbly, Mike resisted the urge to rush to her side.
    “I’ll be there after rehearsal. Around five thirty or six.” Walking up to Mike, Vivian smiled. “I can’t thank you enough. May I impose on