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“I’m too wired for that.” Alex’s eyes widened as though Morgan should understand. Which of course, she did.

“Alex, you’re a grown-arsed woman who is perfectly capable of not acting on her impulses. Now, if that isn’t the case, my professional opinion would be more therapy to address it, but this heightened state of being you feel will wear off if you relax and allow it to.”

“Oh, I like her,” Francine said from the doorway, overhearing the conversation.

“Shut up. I don’t pay you to like her.” Alex laughed, and turned to Morgan. “You’re right, I guess I can try and find another outlet.”

“I’ll order a hot chocolate to be sent up; you need to rest,” Morgan asserted. She glanced around to make sure Francine was out of earshot. “You’re not the only one who can take control of a situation. Now, pyjamas and bed.” She turned and walked out of the room, leaving an open-mouthed composer wide-eyed and a little more turned on than she had been.

In the lounge, Francine was pouring a drink. “If she does as she’s told, I’ll eat my hat.”

“Challenge accepted.”

“She told you about the euphoria then, did she?” Francine swung around with two glasses in her hands and held one out for Morgan.

She took it. “Thanks, she mentioned it.” Morgan turned before the blush could give her away. “I think it’s probably a normal reaction for most people in her situation. The adrenaline pumps and a heightened sense of joy can build and at some point, it needs to be released.”

Diplomatically, Francine said nothing more, and Morgan wasn’t going to let slip just how well she understood Alex and her blissful reaction. Francine swallowed down her drink.

“Right, I’ll head off then. Call if you need anything.”

“I won’t, but thank you. I’ll give her the sedative in a few minutes and then head to bed myself.”

She saw Francine to the door, holding it open as she watched her make her way down the corridor, and then she closed the door.

“Morgan?” Alex called from her room.

“Yes?” Morgan answered, walking back into her room. She was sitting up, hands clasped together on top of the bedding.

“Will you sit with me for a while?”

“I think that would be difficult,” Morgan answered honestly. She wet her lips and looked away. “Unless there’s a medical issue, I should probably go to my own room.”

Alex nodded slowly. “I see. Yes, I guess that’s…”

“I think it’s for the best, for now, don’t you?” Morgan said, now staring at her intensely. Daring her to say otherwise. When nothing further came, she turned and walked slowly back towards the door.

“I can’t give you what you want,” Alex said, and Morgan stopped but didn’t turn around. “I wish things were different, but I have to…focus. I made three mistakes tonight. Thankfully, most won’t notice but I can’t do that if I want—” She cut herself off from saying anything further about what she wanted. She couldn’t jinx it or mess it up. ”I just have to focus right now.”

“Goodnight, Alex.”

Morgan closed the door behind her. Her eyes closed and she fought back the tears that threatened, letting out a shuddery breath before she headed back to her room and the sanctuary of her bed.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Exeter

The following morning, Morgan was ready to leave and headed down to the car. A long journey awaited with the next stop, Exeter. She had a little bit of mischief in mind and figured why not. It would be fun to get one over on Francine, and she needed something to lift her spirit right now.

Mike already had the boot open, ready for the luggage. She spotted what she needed and grabbed it, climbed into the car, and tossed it onto Francine’s seat.

She giggled to herself when barely a few minutes had passed, and she could hear Francine’s loud voice shouting instructions to Mike. When the door opened, Morgan was almost surprised that it was Alex who poked her head through the space first.

“You’re eager,” she said with a sad smile as she stepped inside and sat in her usual spot. “Sleep well?”

Morgan nodded and picked up her Kindle, pretending to read. “Like a baby, you?”

“Eventually,” Alex confirmed. “I watched some TV and then I must have switched it off and fallen asleep.”