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When a wounded man shows up, Lily agrees to nurse him back to health, not realizing she will fall for his scowling brother. She vows to teach him to smile even as revenge-seeking criminals threaten their lives.
Lily’s peaceful life in a small town vanishes when two men arrive, one bearing a bullet wound. She’s nominated for private nursing care in her home and grudgingly accepts despite her uncertainty. However, she soon finds herself drawn to the scowling Cale.
Cale, a.k.a. Tiger, isn’t thrilled either, but agrees to the arrangement for his wounded brother’s sake. He learned a hard lesson from his deceitful barracuda ex-wife and has vowed never again. With a handful of revenge-seeking criminals hot on their heels, though, Cale fights his developing feelings for the tender-natured Lily.
Can the brothers survive the upcoming clash while protecting Lily? When they leave, will Lily’s fears come true? Will she never see the man she loves again?
Publisher's Note: This book was previously released by another publisher. It has been considerably expanded, revised and re-edited for release with Totally Bound Publishing.
General Release Date: 1st August 2014
Four forty-five. Fifteen more minutes before their extended Thanksgiving holiday began. Margaret, the receptionist, had dashed off right behind the final client of the day, eager to hit the grocery store and begin cooking for her large brood. The benefits and expectations of being a grandmother, she’d pointed out. That left Lily to clean and stock up after the harried day, while the doctor finished his notes.
Lily pulled the last bag from the trash can, adding it to her increasing pile to be taken out as she left work for the day. Mundane chores didn’t care if she was a housekeeper or a nurse like she was—all part of the job. A job she was more than happy to have after her life had toppled like a deck of playing cards.
If there ever was an angel, Carson fit the bill. If he wasn’t married, probably every woman in a fifty-mile radius would be banging on his door for some undivided attention from the handsome, smart, and friendly doctor. He radiated compassion and caring, working long and often late hours in order to see any client with a need—all his dedication along with a smile, kind word, and gentle hand. He’d given her a job when she had needed it most. For that, she’d happily spend the rest of her working life picking up the trash and whatever other task needed doing in his small practice.
Quickly, Lily tied up the final garbage bag, before stuffing a clean replacement in the plastic can near the back door while mentally checking off the closing routine chores.
The back door whined as it opened.
Spinning around, Lily saw a tall, dark-headed man step confidently through the back door, camouflage covering a powerful build. Her attention quickly moved from the man to the weapon he carried in his right hand. A rifle for sure, but not one used for hunting game. More like what she would expect someone in the military or even a SWAT team to use. Her heart raced as she kicked her stunned brain into action.
The newcomer’s stark blue gaze quickly raked over the room before landing on her. His grim mouth, with a deep scowl, spoke of his current mood. Black smudges covered his face, sending her fear skyrocketing.
She opened her mouth to scream, only to find the strange man’s hand immediately covering her mouth. His other arm wrapped around her middle, keeping her in place, facing away from him, but easily under his control. Instinctively, she began to struggle, kicking and pulling at his arm, anything to try to break free.
“Hold still. I’m not here to hurt you.” The deep husky voice penetrated her brain.
That’s probably what all the villains told their victims, lured them into a false sense of safety then did their worst. A momentary pause later, she renewed her fight.
He shook her a bit, the strong, tanned hand immobile over her mouth. “Stop it. I don’t have time for this.”
The sheer frustration and annoyance in his voice stilled her endeavors for release. That and the brute strength she felt in the body holding her told her that this man possessed the ability to do just about anything he wanted to her and there would be little she could do about it.
“Mayberry!” he shouted through the clinic.
Confused, Lily focused on breathing and searching for any opening to escape. Mayberry? What did that mean?
Carson strode quickly into the back room, coming to an abrupt stop when he spied the situation. A frown covered his face as he blinked a couple of times, as if trying to figure out some complex puzzle. His hands clenched into fists before his body stance relaxed. “Tiger?”
If the man acknowledged the name, Lily couldn’t tell. Instead, she watched her employer’s face, hoping that recognition meant a happy reunion, not a past of hatred. Her fear lessened as she heard her captor’s voice once more.
“Sorry to barge in like this, Mayberry, but it’s Dillon.”
Immediately, Carson stepped forward. “Release my nurse and tell me what you need.”
His hand loosened slowly along with the snug hold he had on her body. “No screaming.” With that warning he set her free.
Without thought, she slammed her elbow back into the guy’s gut, grumbling when he stepped away in the nick of time, only receiving a whisper of the impact.
“Damn she-cat.”
She turned to glare up at the man who scared the living daylights out of her, even opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind, but the doctor quickly interrupted.
“Dillon? What happened? Where is he?”
Both men hurried out the back door.
A minute later, they re-entered the room, supporting a man between them. They both wrapped an arm around him from each side, carrying him in a standing position.
Lily moved into action, clearing the path to the exam table, noting the state of the obviously injured newcomer. Close-cropped hair made the color difference between dark blond and sandy brown too difficult to call. Not quite as tall as the first guy, he still carried muscle and mass enough to impress. Both had scruffy whiskers, hinting at a few days without seeing a razor. Dust and dirt clung to his camouflage clothing just like the other man’s with one major distinction. A large tear ran down the left thigh. Blood soaked the area, both fresh and dried.
Dillon, they’d called him.
He groaned as they laid him easily down on the exam table.
Lily raced for the bandage scissors, yanked them from the nearby drawer, and handed them over to Carson. As he cut the clothing, she dashed from cabinet to cabinet, gathering any supplies she thought might be needed. The men spoke softly in the background as she scurried around. Gauze, cleaning solutions, bandages, tape, and a sterile tray soon piled up on a nearby table, all within the reach of the doctor.
“How long ago was he shot?” Carson whispered across the space.
Tiger glanced at his watch. “Approximately fifteen hours ago.”
“Damn.” Carson continued with his work, cleaning and inspecting the wound. “Should have sought the nearest hospital, Tiger. This could be bad.”
“Couldn’t.” The words rasped out of Dillon.
“Bullshit. Flash any of those high security clearance government passes that I know you both have. The locals wouldn’t have batted an eye.”
Everyone watched while the doctor worked in silence for a bit longer. He turned Dillon over, asked him a dozen questions, and studied the leg thoroughly before releasing a breath.
Growing up in the Midwest, I began reading romance novels in high school, immediately falling in love with the genre, to the point where I decided to write professionally for a career. However, that dream splattered against a brick wall, resulting in a quick death in my first writing class in college when my professor told me bluntly that I wasn't any good at it. I shifted gears quickly, and left my writing dreams behind, eventually settling on becoming a nurse.
A few years back, I stumbled across a fan-fiction writing site on a favorite author's webpage. I began to read stories others wrote, not only making some wonderful close friends from the experience, but also, really learning to write for the very first time. Here I was able to share short stories, practice my writing skills, and truly develop into a writer. More than that, the experience allowed me to revitalize my dream, as I rediscovered joy in writing. Now, I spend my days off with my alpha male characters, quick witted heroines, and see how much trouble everyone can get into.
When I'm not working or writing, I enjoy working in the garden, canning, and seeing my backyard as a living canvas for my whimsical landscaping, and, of course, reading romance novels.
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