Midnight Kisses Read online

She hadn’t heard properly, but it sounded as if the patient had whispered the word Angel.

  Daniel felt his stomach churn. He hated the antiseptic odor of the hospital. A wave of nausea slowed his steps. He stopped, breathed in deeply and forced himself to continue.

  The corridor echoed with the firm staccato of his footsteps on the spotless white tiles. He stifled the overwhelming urge to tiptoe, knowing that he was being ridiculous.

  Why couldn’t hospitals have some color? Maybe red or yellow for cheer. The dull gray reminded him of a night he didn’t want to remember. Daniel forced the memories from his mind.

  He’d reached the end of the corridor. The lights shone brighter here. Flowers, vivid red and yellow, languished in tiny vases on tables in the waiting area to the left of the nurses’ station. He headed to the nurse on duty, nodding politely at those in close proximity, aware of the eyes that smiled back at him, and those that lingered.

  He never ceased to be amazed that women found him attractive. He, an ordained minister. Well, he was no longer of that vocation, but it still caused him discomfort when women stared at him so boldly. For that reason alone, he missed his collar.

  His last embarrassment had taken place just a few days ago at the Center. One of the assistants had left him a gift, a bottle of his favorite cologne. She was almost fifteen years his junior, but he’d noticed the way her eyes seem to devour him. He could not imagine what a girl of her age could find appealing about him.

  That night, he’d stared long and hard at himself in the mirror, realizing that he didn’t look quite bad for his age. His brothers were known for their good looks—and he did look a lot like them. He had that tall, lithe but well-toned frame and amber eyes that women seemed to love.

  The nurse cleared her throat, drawing him for his momentary lapse.

  “I’ve come to get some information about the young lady that was just brought in?” he said quickly

  “We did just admit a few young girls, sir. Can you be a bit more specific?”

  “Sorry, the young lady who was beaten up?” he replied.

  “Are you a relative?” she asked, her eyebrow raised.

  “No, but I’m the one who stopped the attack. I wanted to make sure she was all right.”

  “I’m sure the doctor will be by soon, but I’m not sure…”

  “I’m a minister,” he interrupted her, reaching for the ID he still carried in his pocket.

  She looked at him down her nose, her eyes assessing him critically, but she did not take his card.

  She turned to him again, her eyes wary. “Listen, I’m not sure if you’re telling the truth or not, but you did help. I’ll let the doctor speak to you as soon as he’s done with her.”

  “Thank you. I’ll just sit over there until he comes.”

  Without waiting for a response, Daniel turned and headed to the waiting area.

  He sat, noticing that he was trembling. He didn’t like hospitals. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. But memories from his past kept him from becoming calm.

  He saw his wife and his daughter. He heard Lorraine’s constant laughter, saw her stomach round with their child. He’d always wondered what she’d seen in him. He had been too serious, too fanatical about his faith. The past few years had taught him that much.

  Daniel knew that he’d changed; not only because of the anger that he felt at his loss, but because he had discovered so much about the person he’d been. A lot of it he didn’t much care for. He’d been self-righteous and single-minded. Oh, he had been kind to his congregation, but his own family had borne the brunt of his fanaticism.

  Yes, Daniel still felt angry with God. He still wondered why his wife and child had been taken away from him.

  A noise at the nurses’ station distracted him and he turned to see a tall woman standing there, her back to him.

  When the nurse pointed at him, she turned and the strangest thing happened. For a moment, he could not breathe.

  She moved toward him, her hips swaying from side to side. He did all he could do to control his reaction.

  When she reached him, she stopped, a cautious smile on her face.

  He immediately stood, not liking the fact that she towered over him while he sat. Now that her head reached his shoulder, he relaxed, feeling more in control.

  His standing forced her to step back, but not before he caught a whiff of the fragrance she was wearing. She smelled good, like the freshness after a gentle shower. He almost closed his eyes, feeling the urge to inhale deeply.

  She stretched out her hand, shaking his when he accepted her greeting. Pure electricity surged through his body and he did all he could not to release her hand immediately. The startled look on her face made him aware that the touch had affected her in the same way.

  “I’m Renée Walker,” she said. Her voice was surprisingly strong and husky.

  “I’m Daniel Buchanan,” he replied.

  “The nurse told me that you rescued the young lady?”

  “I don’t know if I would use the word rescued but I was driving home from work when I saw her being pulled into the alley. I had to do something.”

  “That girl can consider herself lucky. You probably saved her from being raped or killed.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “The doctor examined her a while ago, but she’s still suffering the effects of the blow she took. We’re still not sure how she is.”

  “I don’t want to be rude, but I’m still not sure who you are,” Daniel said.

  “Sorry, I should have made it clear from the beginning. I’m one of the hospital’s social workers. I’m responsible for cases like this,” Renée replied. “She’s a teenager and we’re going to have to call the police.”

  “I’m a counselor at The Hope Center on the West Side. I was on my way home from work when I saw her being pulled into the alley.”

  “A bit late to be out on a cold night like this.”

  Daniel wasn’t sure if it was a comment or a question. He didn’t particularly like her tone.

  “I work late sometimes.”

  “Well, I think your work here is done for now. I don’t want to keep you out even later. It’s almost 2:00 a.m.”

  “True, it’s about time I head home. I just wanted to make sure she was all right.”

  He turned to walk away, replaying their brief conversation. Leaving now was for the best. He didn’t need anyone in his life to complicate it, and this woman already seemed very complicated.

  “Wait,” her voice called out. “I’ll call the Center and let you know how she’s doing. And thanks again for helping her. Some people would have just gone on their way. You may have saved her life.”

  He stared at her for a moment.

  “I should be going,” he replied. “Thanks for offering to call. I’d like to know what happens to her.” Daniel turned to walk away again.

  “Hey, sorry to bother you, but can you stop by tomorrow sometime?” she asked cautiously. “She asked for you.”

  “She asked for me?” he asked, calm and distant.

  “Yes, she replied,” her voice more pleasant. “I’m sorry, Mr. Buchanan. We have to be careful. I didn’t mean to be rude at first. Please accept my apology,” she said, her hand outstretched.

  He gripped her hand firmly. Her initial skepticism had upset him, but the sincerity in her apology calmed him.

  “Yeah, we’re fine,” he said, turning. And without looking back, he walked away.

  Renée closed the door behind her, dropping her bag on the coffee table before collapsing onto the sofa, as she did whenever she entered the apartment after working the night shift.

  Fatigue washed over her and she knew it would take strength of mind not to fall asleep right there on the sofa. She needed to take a quick shower. Then she planned to sleep for the next twelve hours before she headed back to work.

  She planned on plowing through the piles of paperwork on her desk and finalizing the recommendations she had to submit t
o the hospital’s board. Thank God it was her last scheduled night shift for the rest of the month.

  At times like these she was glad she’d made the decision to live near to the hospital. She lived only ten minutes away, unlike some of her coworkers who had to take a long drive out of the city to the suburbs.

  Renée assumed that someday she’d have to make that move but for now she was content to be right where she was. She had moved to this apartment when she received the offer from the hospital. She had been surprised, knowing that most of the applicants had been more qualified that she was. She had felt that she’d had a good interview, but she didn’t know it had been that good.

  She shifted on the sofa, her body aching in places that made her wonder if she was aging faster that she should be. As she sat there, her mind drifted to where she did not want it to go.

  The man she’d met tonight. What was his name?

  Daniel Buchanan.

  She liked him. Just liked him. Nothing more.

  Who was she fooling? she thought with a sigh. She’d felt hot and bothered from the moment she laid eyes on him. Tall, dark and handsome.

  The stranger had certainly shaken her in a way she didn’t much like or understand. He’d stirred her in places she didn’t feel were still possible.

  Still, she was in no hurry to commit to any relationship, nor was marriage a part of her immediate plans, despite her mother’s matchmaking. Maybe in the next fifty years or so. Marriage just didn’t mean much to her.

  And yet her body continued to betray her, still tingling with awareness. Every nerve ending seemed to remember how he looked, his face animated with concern for the young lady.

  What had captivated her most had been his eyes. Pale, liquid amber…an unusual color for a black man.

  But Renée had also caught a glimpse of something else in those captivating eyes.

  He seemed sad.

  She wondered what in his life had caused him such sadness.

  Outside, the cool wind whistled, warning of the colder days to come. Autumn was Daniel’s favorite time of year. He loved to see the trees’ transformation. In a few weeks, the whole of Chicago would be covered with shades of red, orange and brown.

  Today, however, dark clouds filled the city’s skyline. There would be a storm that day.

  He shifted thoughts of the weather from his mind, replacing them with the vivid image of a woman.

  Renée Walker.

  He liked the sound of her name on his lips. But another woman’s image flashed in his mind.

  Lorraine.

  Guilt washed over him. For the first time in a long time another woman had tenderly entered his thoughts.

  He’d remained celibate after that one disastrous encounter soon after he’d arrived in Chicago. He’d left the woman’s apartment feeling as if he had defiled himself. Not because he’d made love to a woman, but because he’d picked her up in a bar and left not knowing her full name.

  He’d never been like that. He’d always seen sex as something sacred and intensely spiritual, like the moments of passion he had with Lorraine.

  Despite the potential for loss, he missed being in love. He missed sex. He ached for the touch of a woman. He’d loved Lorraine with an intensity he didn’t think possible. Though their lovemaking had not been the explosive stuff people talked about, there had been a sweetness and gentleness that had made their intimacy satisfying. That’s what he missed the most.

  The intimacy and oneness of marriage.

  He may be angry with God, but he still knew the meaning of true love. And he didn’t think he would ever find it again.

  His thoughts again drifted to the social worker and he felt an unexpected stirring in his loins. His body felt alive, as if it were awakening after a long coma. Maybe that’s what it was. His body had been in this deadened state for too long.

  At the window, the coolness of the wind chilled the heat that burned inside his loins. He stripped, letting his shirt and boxers fall to the ground. His penis hardened and he felt a strange pride. Oh, he had the occasional erection, nature’s routine, but never like this.

  He turned the lights off, stretched out on the bed and imagined Renée next to him.

  He closed his eyes, her scent lingered, so strong…like raindrops on roses. He wasn’t even sure if he’d see her again, but he knew in the moment just before he fell asleep that he wanted her and that he would see her again.

  He urged himself asleep, allowing the tension in his body to dissipate slowly.

  Yes, he would.

  Chapter 2

  On Monday, Daniel finally stepped out of his apartment, his purpose clear. He would see Renée Walker before the day was over.

  Because of the constant, heavy rain, he had not left home over the weekend. His body had given in to the need to relax and he’d spent most of the time sleeping.

  Chicago seemed refreshed from the rain. The sky sparkled and the trees, lush and vibrant with life, danced in the gentle breeze.

  Daniel took the familiar road and headed straight to the center. He noticed that Shelley’s car was already there. It was unusual for his boss to arrive before he did. As he stepped into the building, he wondered if something was wrong.

  As soon as he entered his office, the intercom beeped. He paused, then answered, “Hello, Daniel Buchanan.”

  “Daniel, it’s Shelley. I saw you come in. Hope you got some rest during your days off, after I had to force you out of here.” Laughter was in her voice.

  “Yes, I did. My body needed the rest. I spent most of the time sleeping.”

  “I’ve been telling you for the longest time that you need to take care of yourself. I’m glad you finally took my advice,” she commented.

  “Yeah, but I’m sure that’s not what you called me about.”

  “You’re right. It’s not. A Renée Walker called for you several times. She wants you to call her at the hospital.” He could hear the curiosity in her voice.

  His heart stopped. He hadn’t expected her to call.

  “Daniel?”

  “Sorry, I’m here. Did she leave a number?”

  “Yes, she did. Hold on, let me get it for you.”

  He heard the shuffling of paper and then she was back. She rattled off a number, which he wrote on his desk pad.

  “Remember, you have an appointment with Jerome today,” she said.

  “I didn’t forget. I knew he was back from D.C.”

  “Good, I have that meeting with the mayor this morning, but when I get back, we have to talk. I have a few things I want to run by you.”

  “I should be here. I just have to run over to the hospital around five, and then I’ll be back to meet Jerome.”

  “Good, we can talk before you leave for the hospital. But after your meeting with Jerome, it is home for you. No later than seven o’clock,” she insisted. “That’s my rule for you. I don’t want you in here all hours of the night. That’s the night shift’s responsibility.”

  “Fine. Seven it is. I’ll be packing up at five minutes to the hour from now on.”

  Daniel placed the mouthpiece in its cradle, but not before he heard her laughter. He liked Shelley Roberts. She was his boss, but they’d become friends and he knew she valued his contributions to the Center.

  In fact, she was the only friend he had.

  Yes, he spoke to the other workers, but when he had started there a little over two years ago, he had really connected with Shelley. She’d seen into the hell that was his soul and taken him under her care.

  At first he’d tried to keep his distance, but she had refused to allow him to. One day she’d bring cheesecake and then the next a book by one of his favorite authors. He didn’t know how she remembered, but he was sure that he had revealed more and more of himself with every conversation, until one night, sitting in her cozy living room, watching one of his favorite movies, he’d broken down and told her all about Lorraine and his daughter.

  After that night, their relationship had ta
ken a turn. They’d become solid friends. She was one of the reasons he loved his job as administrator/counselor/mentor. Officially, he was the assistant director of the Center, but all that really meant was that he helped Shelley with everything. But he didn’t mind. The Hope Center was a place that gave troubled kids a chance to keep on the straight and narrow.

  He caught himself whistling and stopped. Today, he felt different…as if the unexpected awaited him. An eagerness he hadn’t felt for years made him pick up the handset and dial the number.

  She answered on the second ring.

  “Renée Walker. How may I help you?”

  “This is Daniel Buchanan.” He paused for a response. “You left a message for me to call.”

  “Oh, Mr. Buchanan. I’m glad to finally reach you. Our Jane Doe is awake and asking for you.”

  “For me?”

  “Yes, she specifically asked for the man who saved her. I’ve added your name to her visitors’ list so you won’t have any trouble getting in to see her.”

  “Is she all right?” Daniel asked.

  “She’s still having some pain as a result of the concussion. We may have to keep her for a few more days for observation, but she should be okay,” Renée replied.

  “I’ll come over after work today. Around five. I have to be back at the Center by seven o’clock.”

  “I’m not scheduled to be back at work until tonight, but I can drop by the hospital at four if you can be there an hour earlier. Ask for me at the nurses’ station. I want to be there when you talk to her. And thanks for offering to help.”

  “It’s no problem. I’ll be there at four o’clock. There’s no need to worry. I’m accustomed to working with kids.”

  “That’s good to know. She won’t tell us anything about herself. Hopefully, she’ll respond better to you.”

  “I’ll see what I can do. I have to go now. I’ll see you around four.”

  “Bye,” she said, before she put the phone down.

  He liked her voice. It was strong and confident, no nonsense, but, he imagined, holding the promise of more.

  Man, what was happening to him?