Switchback (Harlequin Intrigue, Band 1587) - Softcover

Anderson, Catherine

 
9780373698547: Switchback (Harlequin Intrigue, Band 1587)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0373698542 ISBN 13: 9780373698547
Verlag: Harlequin Intrigue, 2015

Inhaltsangabe

A KIDNAPPED CHILD. A DEADLY ENEMY. 

Bud Mac Phearson's job is to protect Mallory Christiani and her young daughter, Emily—not to get personally involved with either. But after Emily disappears and the trail leads directly to a well-known crime boss, Mac can't refuse the beautiful single mother's pleas for help. With assassins hot on their trail and danger around every corner, the tentative partners race to find the missing key needed for the ransom…even as they try to fight the attraction blooming between them. But when Mac trades his own life for Emily's, Mallory must risk it all to save the man she's come to love…

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

New York Times bestselling author Catherine Anderson resides with her husband, two spirited dogs, and three indomitable cats on a vast, forested ridge overlooking beautiful central Oregon scenery. 'It is the perfect place,' she says, 'for a writer to find inspiration.’

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

The moment Mallory Christiani stepped into the Intensive Care Unit, she saw the fear in her father-in-law's eyes. He lay propped against two pillows, the weight of his silvery head creasing the starched cases, his sunken face cast in stark relief against white linen. She took a steadying breath, repositioned the shoulder strap of her leather purse and pasted on a smile.

The click of her heels echoed as she walked toward the bed. She was glad she'd taken extra pains freshening up while she was at the house. Her collarless blazer and matching green skirt were crisp and wrinkle free. Keith would never know she hadn't eaten or slept since he'd been stricken yesterday.

"Dad. It's so good to see you awake." Mallory leaned over to kiss his cheek, holding her amber-colored hair back so it wouldn't trail in his face. As she straightened, she took his right hand in hers. His skin felt cold. The lack of response in his limp fingers shocked her. Until now, she hadn't realized how dearly she had come to love him, how big a part he played in her life now that they shared the same home. Keith was more a father to her than her own had ever been. "You're looking better already, you know? Some of your color's coming back."

A treacherous catch in her voice nearly betrayed her. Why hadn't she recognized his prestroke symptoms? Any nurse worth her salt would have.

Spying tears slipping down his pallid cheeks, she gave him a careful hug. "Oh, Dad. We're through the worst, right? From here on in, you'll be amazed at how quickly you recover."

Keith's blue eyes followed her as she drew away. Was there something wrong here, something more than anxiety over his paralysis? She glanced at the monitor above his head. It seemed to her his heartbeat was too rapid, but she could detect no irregularities in the configurations. If the fast pulse were anything to be concerned about, the monitor alarm would be going off. Through the glass partition, she could see the ICU nurse sitting at the desk, her dark head bent as she filled out charts. Nothing out of the ordinary, apparently.

Pulling up a chair, Mallory eased her purse to the floor. Spittle ran from the corner of her father-in-law's mouth. Suddenly the nightmare of what had happened to him became a reality. She reached for a tissue and wiped his face, keeping her smile steady, her hands sure.

"Emily will come see you as soon as they move you to a regular room. She can't wait. She lost another tooth, but she won't put it under her pillow until you get home. Holding out for more money, I think. So much for believing in fairies, huh?" She laughed. The sound reminded her of two tin cans clanking. "She's staying with Beth Hamstead until Mother and Dad get home. They're driving back from Texas immediately, but it'll take them an extra day. Dad lost the motor-home keys. Can you believe it? You remember Beth, the lady with all the little redheads?"

Keith's eyes clung to hers, frantic, pleading. His bottom lip quivered as he strained to speak. Spying a flutter of movement, she glanced over to see his left hand twitching, his fingers extended like claws. A low moan erupted from him.

"What is it?" She shot up from the chair. "Are you in pain?" The green graph line was rocketing across the monitor screen. He was clearly agitated about something. Her own pulse began to race as she grabbed the nurse buzzer. "There, there, it'll be okay. Relax, Dad. Take deep breaths."

The approaching swish of the nurse's polyester uniform eased the tension from Mallory's shoulders. She turned to watch the plump woman hurry to the bed. "Problems?"

"I don't know. He was fine and then—" She broke off. The nurse looked so unperturbed by the racing monitor that Mallory felt foolish. "I was just talking. And he became agitated."

The nurse smiled. "He's just pleased to see you. Right, Mr. Christiani?" She slid her twinkling blue gaze to Mallory. "A little too much excitement, that's all."

Another moan erupted from Keith. The nurse flashed Mallory a concerned glance and lifted her patient's hand. After studying the configurations on the monitor a moment to be certain nothing was wrong, she said, "You're fine, Mr. Christiani. Just too many visitors." Turning toward Mallory, she added, "Why don't you have a cup of coffee? Let him nap for an hour or so. We have a lovely cafeteria."

"Visitors? I thought only immediate family was admitted."

"Yes, but we make exceptions for clergy. Your parish priest got your message and came in about an hour ago. And a few minutes after that, Mr. Christiani's son came in. You're the third in a short period of time. Even brief visits from family and close friends can be wearing the first day."

A prickle of alarm ran up Mallory's spine. "I'm the only relative and we're Methodists. Are you certain you're recalling the right patient? Mr. Christiani's son is—" She hated to remind Keith of Darren's accident when he was so ill. "I'm a widow."

The nurse looked nonplussed. "How odd."

Mallory was beginning to feel extremely angry. Keith shouldn't be having a parade of people marching through his room so soon after a massive stroke. The priest could have come by mistake, but the so-called son had clearly lied to gain admittance. Who had the man been? Why had he lied to see Keith? "What did this son look like?"

The nurse pursed her lips. "He was tall, blond, quite good-looking. The athletic type. Mid to late thirties, I'd say. He was wearing scruffy gray sweats and a blue windbreaker. He asked after you, wanted to know where you were. He seemed like a very nice man."

A very nice man wouldn't have lied to get into Intensive Care. Mallory racked her brain, visualizing all Keith's friends and associates. None she knew fit the description the nurse had just given her. Glancing at Keith, she decided the less said about it in front of him the better. No wonder he was tired.

"If I'm quiet, wouldn't it be all right if I stayed?"

"It would really be better if you gave him a rest," the nurse replied with underlying firmness. "I know he seems distressed about your leaving, but that's quite common the first day. Trust me to know what's best."

"Well… I believe I'll go have that cup of coffee you suggested, then." After stooping to retrieve her purse, Mallory touched her father-in-law's hand reassuringly. His eyes seemed to beg her not to leave. She felt as though she were abandoning him. "I'll be back soon, Dad. Okay? You take a short nap while I'm gone. When I come back, I'll read to you for a bit. I found a great issue of National Geographic in the hall. Would you enjoy that?"

Keith's reply was a dry sob. She forced herself to smile with a cheerfulness she was far from feeling. Once outside the room she drew the nurse aside and said, "Our minister is Reverend Miller. He should be the only church visitor allowed in. And I'm the only relative except for my daughter, Em, who's only seven." Mallory glanced at her watch. "An hour, you say?"

"Give or take a few minutes." The nurse seemed to empathize with Mallory's difficulty in leaving and gave her a kindly pat on the shoulder. In a low voice, she said, "Thank you for cooperating. I'll put the visitor information on his chart."

The sound of Keith's sobs echoed in Mallory's mind as she left Intensive Care and walked down the long hall....

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Verlag
Harlequin Intrigue
Erscheinungsdatum
2015
Sprache
Englisch
ISBN 10 
0373698542
ISBN 13 
9780373698547
Einband
Taschenbuch
Anzahl der Seiten
256
Kontakt zum Hersteller
Nicht verfügbar
Verantwortliche Person
HarperCollins Publishers Ireland
enquiries@harpercollins.ie

Mayor Street Upper 39/40
Dublin
D01 C9W8
Irland

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