by Jill Sanders
When her eyes opened again, it was to brightness. The sound of a siren caused pain to radiate behind her temple. She tried to reach up and grab her forehead to steady it, but her hands were locked in place.
“Easy,” a male voice sounded from directly above her. The lights were too bright for her, so she’d shut her eyes, but now they flew open, in fear of being kidnapped again. “Easy,” the voice said again, and she realized it was an EMT looking down at her. The kid looked like he’d just graduated from high school. God, had she looked that young on her first day at the hospital?
“I’m Joel.” The guy smiled at her. “You’re going to be okay. We’re heading to UMH.” He glanced back and talked to someone else, then turned back to her. “Can you tell me your name?”
She thought about it, but the only name that came to her was Jamie. She blurted it out, but instantly knew that it wasn’t right.
What was her name then? She couldn’t think of it. Not when her head was hurting so much. Closing her eyes again, she figured it would come to her if she could just get some rest.
“Okay, Jamie,” the kid said easily. “We’re going to take care of you.” He continued to talk to her, trying to ask her questions, but she was too tired and blocked him out.
When she opened her eyes again, she was being wheeled through a long hallway.
She knew this place, she thought as she passed a rainbow tile on the ceiling. Hadn’t she helped put that up there to add color and brighten the stark white ceiling tiles?
“Jamie?” someone said above her, but this time when a face hovered over hers, she recognized it.
“Emily?” Karin Talbert glanced up and shouted out. “Someone call Rafe, STAT.”
Rafe. Emily. She knew those names. Yes, she was Emily. Rafe was… everything to her. Jamie was… Her entire body tensed.
“Karin, he has Jamie,” she cried out just as Rafe’s face hovered over hers. “He has Jamie,” she cried, her eyes filling with tears until she could barely see Rafe’s face anymore.
“That was quick.” Karin said.
“We had just walked in.” Rafe told her then turned back to Emily. “Easy, we’ve got you. It’s okay, you’re okay.” He was crying as he moved aside so Karin and the other nurses could start working on her.
“Emily, I’m right here,” Rafe said as he moved out of her vision.
“Rafe, someone needs to go find Jamie,” she cried again. “She pushed me out of the car.” The sob caused her body to shake. “She saved me but didn’t get out of the trunk herself. Please find her.”
“We will,” she heard Rafe promise as she felt the morphine hit her again and, once more, she drifted into the darkness.
When she woke next, she knew some time had passed. The lighting was different, and everything was quiet. Too quiet.
She must have moaned or made a noise, because suddenly, her father appeared above her. His eyes were red, and it looked as if he hadn’t slept in days. For the first time in her life, she realized that he looked older. His hair was messed up and his shirt had what looked like a coffee stain on the collar.
“Em.” A tear slipped down his nose and he brushed a fingertip down her cheek.
“Dad?” Her throat was sore and raw, and she wondered why they’d had to vent her. Had she had surgery? What for? She tried to assess her body, but everything was too dull.
“Don’t try to move,” her father said when she tried to sit up. “Here.” The bed suddenly started moving upward into a sitting position. She could finally see that she was in a private room.
Flowers and balloons from the gift shop downstairs filled the table.
“What happened?” She couldn’t quite grasp why she was here once again. She knew she had been hurt but couldn’t remember how.
“You jumped out of a moving car,” her father answered her.
“More like she was pushed,” Rafe said, walking into the room. “And it might have just saved her life.” He moved to the side of her bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired,” she answered.
Rafe looked pissed and tired. Like her father, his hair was messed up and it looked as if he hadn’t shaved in a full day. How long had she been there?
“Em.” He took her father’s place and started brushing her hair from her face. “I want to stay here, but I’ve got to go help Blaine.” Rafe glanced towards her father. “Your dad is going to stay with you until I get back.”
“Jamie?” she asked, remembering once again. It was like her emotions and memories were tied to the end of a freaking yoyo. Up and down, each time she remembered what had happened.
“Yes.” Rafe leaned down and rested his forehead against hers gently. “We have to find her. Blaine has a stupid idea and, well, we’re going to go check it out.”
“Okay,” she said without hesitation. “Be careful,” she added feeling groggy again.
He leaned down and kissed her. “There’s something I wanted to say before I go.” His eyes locked with hers. “I love you.”
Through all the pain and dullness, she smiled. “I know. I may be having problems remembering my own name, but…” She chuckled and instantly regretted it as pain shot through her chest. “I know.” He kissed her again.
Her father said, “We’ll be here. If there’s anything you need of me…”
“Just take care of her.” He started to go, but then turned back and looked her father in the eyes. “I’m going to ask for your daughter’s hand soon. When I do, remember this moment.”
Her father laughed, then reached out and shook Rafe’s hand.
Rafe glanced down and winked at her, then left the room.
“I like that man,” her father said, sitting beside her.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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DIGITAL ISBN: 978-1-945100-10-9
PRINT ISBN: 978-1-671621473
Copyright © 2020 Jill Sanders
All rights reserved.
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No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
Also by Jill Sanders
The Pride Series
Finding Pride
Discovering Pride
Returning Pride
Lasting Pride
Serving Pride
Red Hot Christmas
My Sweet Valentine
Return To Me
Rescue Me
A Pride Christmas
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The Secret Series
Secret Seduction
Secret Pleasure
Secret Guardian
Secret Passions
Secret Identity
Secret Sauce
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The West Series
Loving Lauren
Taming Alex
Holding Haley
Missy’s Moment
Breaking Travis
Roping Ryan
Wild Bride
Corey’s Catch
Tessa’s Turn
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The Grayton Series
Last Resort
Someday Beach
Rip Current
In Too Deep
Swept Away
High Tide
Sunset Dreams
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Lucky Series
Unlucky In Love
Sweet Resolve
Best of Luck
A Little Luck
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Silver Cove Series
Silver Lining
French Kiss
Happy Accident
Hidden Charm
A Silver Cove Christmas
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Entangled Series – Paranormal Romance
The Awakening
The Beckoning
The Ascension
The Presence
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Haven, Montana Series
Closer to You
Never Let Go
Holding On
Coming Home
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Pride Oregon Series
A Dash of Love
My Kind of Love
Season of Love
Tis the Season
Dare to Love
Where I Belong
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Wildflowers Series
Summer Nights
Summer Heat
Summer Secrets
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Stand Alone Books
Twisted Rock
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Distracted Series
Wake Me
Tame Me
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For a complete list of books:
http://JillSanders.com
About the Author
Jill Sanders is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of Sweet Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Western Romance, and Paranormal Romance novels. With over 55 books in eleven series, translations into several different languages, and audiobooks there’s plenty to choose from. Look for Jill’s bestselling stories wherever romance books are sold or visit her at jillsanders.com
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Jill comes from a large family with six siblings, including an identical twin. She was raised in the Pacific Northwest and later relocated to Colorado for college and a successful IT career before discovering her talent for writing sweet and sexy page-turners. After Colorado, she decided to move south, living in Texas and now making her home along the Emerald Coast of Florida. You will find that the settings of several of her series are inspired by her time spent living in these areas. She has two sons and off-set the testosterone in her house by adopting three furry little ladies that provide her company while she’s locked in her writing cave. She enjoys heading to the beach, hiking, swimming, wine-tasting, and pickleball with her husband, and of course writing. If you have read any of her books, you may also notice that there is a love of food, especially sweets! She has been blamed for a few added pounds by her assistant, editor, and fans… donuts or pie anyone?