Mommy By Surprise by Paula Detmer Riggs

Author:Paula Detmer Riggs [Riggs, Paula Detmer]
Language: por
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Case was a desperately sick man for the next forty-eight hours. The low-grade fever he'd been running since his surgery spiked to a dangerous high, making him acutely uncomfortable at first, and then spiraling him in and out of a restless sleep.

His wound had become infected, a not-unusual complication of gunshot trauma.

Eventually the antibiotics Boyd had prescribed would kill off the infection.

While the drugs were doing their job, however, Case was subjected to bouts of chills so severe his teeth chattered uncontrollably. When he wasn't shivering, he was burning up, his skin scorchingly hot, his body sweating so profusely Prudy was kept busy changing his bed linen.

She was just smoothing another fresh sheet over his chest when he opened his eyes and stared at her, his expression drowsy.

"Prue?" His voice was no more than a harsh whisper, tearing at her. Even flat on his back, unable to move more than a few inches without flaring pain, Case projected an aura of invincibility and power. Prudy knew better. At the moment, he wasn't strong enough to lift anything heavier than air.

"I'm here, Case," she said quietly, easing the sheet to his stubborn chin.

He'd always been an intensely private man. Finding himself totally vulnerable with damn near everything - including each breath he took - being monitored by strangers had him in a state of black fury. Only when Prudy was near did he submit to the poking and prodding of the other nurses and techs.

"Stay with me." His gaze was fever-bright, a flash of brilliant light in the blackest night.

"I'll stay." His hand groped for hers, his fingers lean and strong as they laced with hers. She waited until his lashes settled like stark black shadows on his cheeks before she dropped into the chair next to his bed.

The shift changed, and someone brought her a sandwich and a cup of soup, which she ate with her left hand because she couldn't bear to separate her right from his warm grasp.

Boyd was tireless in his determination to make sure Case was given the very best care PortGen could offer. Whenever he had a free moment, he dropped by to give Case a reassuring word.

Toward evening of the second day after the fever's grip had taken hold, Boyd appeared again to check his patient and consult with the nurses. Still in scrubs, dark blue this time, he looked tired and worried, yet somehow managed a reassuring grin when Prudy lifted her head from the mattress where she'd laid it for only a moment.

A quick glance at the readout on the freestanding monitoring device had him grinning. "One-oh-three," he said with a quiet note of satisfaction. "Down three quarters of a degree, and his BP's edging lower."

Prudy felt relief shimmer through her tired muscles. "He's been quieter this afternoon. I think he's past the worst of it."

"And how about Prudy? How's she doing?"

She shrugged, then winced as a muscle in her neck protested

"Sit forward a minute," Boyd ordered as he stepped behind her.

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