The Rental: The Rental, #2

By Linda Mooney

Megan Kolt has been trapped, a prisoner in her own body, for the past six years. Her husband, Turner Kolt, has watched her slowly waste away in a coma, but he's been assured her brain is functioning and she still has her senses. When offered a chance for his wife to live vicariously through someone else through a fairly new service from Rall Rentals, he wants to let his wife experience…something. Anything.

 

Wanting to use her own life to help others, Jory Wittenhouse applies for the Rall Rentals program to allow others who are less fortunate to live through her. After vigorous testing, she's approve and given a special case, not the usual disabled or handicapped client. The renter is completely comatose and paralyzed, but still reacts to stimuli. She's told the woman's family wants her to spend whatever time she has left being happy, and Jory wants to give her that.

 

Turner has his reservations, and questions are raised. He proposes the opportunity to meet the rental, if she's willing, to put his own mind at ease, under the guise of letting Megan see his face one last time. He wasn't expecting her to be perfect. For Megan, that is.

 

He wants Megan to experience what it's like to be alive again, to be loved, and that's why he's attracted to Jory. Because Megan is in there somewhere, or so he's trying to convince himself to ease the guilt. But as much as he wants Megan to live again, Turner isn't living himself.

 

Time and love will make that decision for him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Mooney
• Release date: Apr 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781953797285

Linda Mooney

Linda loves to write sensuously erotic romance with a fantasy, paranormal, or science fiction flair. Her technique is often described as being as visual as a motion picture or graphic novel. A wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Kindergarten and music teacher, she lives in a small south Texas town near the Gulf coast where she delves into other worlds filled with daring exploits, adventure, and intense love. She has numerous best sellers, including 10 consecutive #1s. In 2009, she was named Whiskey Creek Press Torrid's Author of the Year, and her book My Strength, My Power, My Love was named the 2009 WCPT Book of the Year. In 2011, her book Lord of Thunder was named the Epic Ebook "Eppie" Award Winner for Best Erotic Sci-Fi Romance. In addition, she write naughty erotic romances under the name of Carolyn Gregg, and horror under the pseudonym of Gail Smith. For more information about Linda Mooney books and titles, and to sign up for her newsletter, please visit her website. http://www.LindaMooney.com

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

SUGGESTION

Mr. Kolt?

Turner Kolt turned his head to find Dr. Childs standing in the doorway. Noticing a strange expression on the doctor’s face, he sat up in the chair. Dr. Childs? He started to rise, but the man waved it off.

No need to get up. I was told you were here and thought it would be better if I spoke to you in person rather than on the phone.

Turner allowed himself the briefest moment of hope. Is it good news? Please tell me you have some good news.

Well…it might be, Childs admitted but there was no smile to accompany the admission.

Entering the room, the physician went over to the small room sink and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest. Turner never took his eyes from the doctor and realized he was holding his breath in anticipation.

Let’s get the bad news out of way first, Childs said. Your wife is never going to regain full consciousness. We have done everything we can, and we’ve admitted that much. I’m pretty sure you’ve already come to that conclusion.

Turner let the air out of his lungs like a deflated balloon as he dropped his gaze. Yeah, you have. But you also said she still has active brain waves. That she’s mentally awake and cognitive of everything going on around her.

She is. Dr. Childs nodded. For all intents and purposes, she’s very much alive. At least, her mind is. It’s just that she’s trapped inside her body. It’s become her shell.

You mean it’s become her prison, Turner bitterly countered.

Childs didn’t flinch. That’s another way of putting it.

So if there’s no hope of her ever coming out of this, this paralysis, or whatever it is you call it, what’s the good news? Turner felt a pang in his chest. You said bad news first, which means you also have good news, right? I mean, you didn’t look like you wanted to tell me something bad without something to counterbalance it, right?

It might be, the man repeated.

Sighing, Turner rubbed his forehead. You’re fudging. Why don’t you come right out and tell me why you’re here?

Mr. Kolt, have you heard about a company called Rall Rentals?

Turner shook his head. Nope. What do they rent? Ambulatory equipment? Hospital beds?

It’s a bit more complicated than that. Reaching inside the breast pocket on his hospital jacket, Childs withdrew a business card and held it out to him. Taking it, Turner glanced at the verbiage on the piece of cardstock. There wasn’t much to read: the name of the company, a woman’s name, and a phone number. Plain black letters and numbers on white. No fancy logo or decal.

He looked up at the doctor. Is this for me or for Megan?

A grin finally creased the man’s face. For both of you, actually, but more for Megan.

What do you want me to do with this? Call this— He double-checked the name. Janet Mosher?

Call her. Make an appointment. Go see what she has to offer.

Why? He knew he sounded blunt and angry, but after all these years he had little to no patience left.

The smile that replaced the grin was unmistakably warm, not condescending. I understand your reluctance, Mr. Kolt. But it wouldn’t hurt to go check out what Miss Mosher has to offer Megan and you.

How did you find out about this company? Or is it something you’ve known about for some time and are just now bringing it to my attention?

Actually, I got this in the mail today, Childs confessed. I called and spoke to Miss Mosher to hear what she had to offer, and the first person I thought about it helping was Mrs. Kolt. We had a nice long conversation, and before we hung up, I knew I had to contact you. Knowing that you usually come by after work, I was hoping to catch you.

Turner eyed the card again. Dr. Childs, I’ll be honest with you. I’m willing to try just about anything if it’ll help Megan. But at this point I’m tapped out. Insurance is already giving me hell about her medical bills. If they don’t cover this, and if I do decide to try whatever this rental company is offering—

There is no cost to you, the physician hastily reassured him.

Turner didn’t try to hide his astonishment. What?

From what Miss Mosher told me, yes, normally the recipient pays for the procedure, but she promised that Megan is a unique case. Which means she’s going to be a test subject. She promised all costs will be covered by them personally under their research and development grants.

Procedure? Turner repeated. What kind of procedure?

Childs sighed loudly. Like I said, it’s a bit complicated. She and I spoke at length about it. But, to put it in a nutshell, there’s a person who they refer to as ‘the rental.’ That person has an implant placed near their brain, and a similar implant would be placed in Megan. Megan, in this instance, would the ‘the renter.’ Megan would then be able to access the rental’s eyes, ears, taste buds, everything, and effectively live vicariously through the rental.

Wait, wait. Turner held up a hand. Are you telling me Megan would, sort of, possess the rental?

No, not possess, Childs corrected him. Think of it more like going along for the ride. From what I gathered, Megan would live vicariously through the rental. Everything the rental sees, she’ll see. Everything the rental eats, she’ll taste it, although she won’t physically be eating it herself. Everything the rental hears, smells, touches… Listen, go talk to this woman and hear what she has to say. I’m not telling you it’s the end-all and be-all for Megan, but it’s an opportunity for your wife to actually feel alive again. To live life again, even though it’s not actually her own. The doctor bit his lower lip, then added, I wouldn’t be bringing this up unless I felt it could help your wife. You and I both know we’ve reached the end of our rope when it comes to treatments. He tapped his temple. Remember, Mr. Kolt. She’s still awake and cognizant up here, but she’s a virtual prisoner inside her own body. A body that doesn’t respond to her commands or stimuli, or anyone else’s. I dread to think what she’s mentally going through, being mentally active but physically unable to do anything. All I’m saying is listen to this Mosher woman and see if it’s something that you think would benefit Megan. At this point, what have you got to lose?

Turner slipped the card inside his shirt’s breast pocket. All right. I’ll make an appointment to see what this company can offer. He gave the doctor a chagrined look. You’ll have to excuse me for being a cynic.

Childs snorted. Being a cynic came with my degree, Mr. Kolt. After you’ve talked to the company, let me know your decision, and we can proceed…or not. Good luck.

The physician left without saying anything further, leaving Turner alone once more with his wife.

Wife. Turner almost broke down in tears.

Getting to his feet, he walked over to the side of the bed and brushed the sweaty strands of hair from her face. Her eyes were closed. Always had been since the accident and always would be, since she wasn’t able to open them of her own accord. Impulsively, he bent down to kiss her forehead.

I know you probably heard me and the doctor talking about this supposedly revolutionary technique. But I need to hear from you. I need to know if you’re willing to try this rental thing. It won’t be the same thing as… His voice cracked, and he ran a shaky hand over his eyes. He tried again. It won’t be the same thing, but it has to be better than this hell we’re both living at the moment, right?

He didn’t know what to expect. No idea how she’d react, if she could. Hell, she was probably asleep this whole time and—

The monitor behind him began beeping. Glancing at it, he saw how the heart rate had elevated. How it was spiking. And her breathing was quickening.

He stared at the pale face lying on the bed. Megan, is that you? If that’s you, calm down, sweetheart. Try to calm yourself down before you set off an alarm and a nurse comes in to check on you.

He looked back at the monitor. It was not his imagination. Her