Only Hers by Francis Ray

Author:Francis Ray
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780312365110
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Published: 2011-07-21T07:42:48+00:00

Chapter 12

“Melanie, I think I’m in trouble,” Shannon said softly into the receiver.

Her best friend laughed. “That’s usually my line.”

Shannon leaned against the wooden chair in the kitchen and almost smiled. She could picture this woman who had been her best friend since college with one foot draped over the side of her hammock in her living room, her tortoiseshell glasses perched on her nose, a mischievous smile on her coffee-colored face.

But that smile could turn intimidating in seconds if she was thwarted. The staff and patients in the rehabilitation center where she headed the physical therapy department quickly learned to respect both.

“I’m serious. There’s a man—”

A loud screech came through the line. “Way to go, girl. I always knew James was too stiff for you. Now, tell me every delicious and dirty detail, and don’t leave anything juicy out.”

Shannon cast a glance at the oven where Cleve’s German sweet chocolate cake was baking, as if to make sure the loud noise hadn’t made the cake fall. He was the cause of all these doubts resurfacing. Matt wasn’t for her. She couldn’t heal his heart. But Lord, how did she stop herself from wanting to do that very thing?

“Shannon?” Melanie prompted.

“Well, there’s nothing much to tell ex—”

“What! After I’ve waited all these years for some guy to knock your socks off, you’re telling me you’re still at the looking stages?”

“If you’d stop cutting me off, I’d tell you.”

“So talk.”

Impatient. Melanie had always been impatient. She rushed headlong into everything. She wasn’t afraid to take chances. Shannon marveled at her best friend as much as she envied her free-wheeling spirit. Nothing intimidated Melanie, especially not a man.

Yet, she never thought less of Shannon because she weighed everything carefully before making a decision. Melanie had always said it was because of Shannon’s single-minded determination once she made up her mind. Melanie’s friendship and loyalty were unwavering. “Thanks for sending me the money.”

“You’re welcome. Now, tell me everything before I start thinking your parents might be right about you being in trouble. Has this brother got it going on or what?”

Shannon had no difficulty answering that question. “He’s the most compelling and the most irritating man I’ve ever met.”

“Oh, girl. I wish I could see the man who finally melted your butter.”

“You’ve seen him.”

“When?”

Shannon sighed. “Four years ago. He’s Matt Taggart, the Walking Hunk, the nephew of Wade Taggart.”

“You come home right now or, better yet, I’ll fly down and we can drive back together,” Melanie told her, all playfulness gone. “That man disrupted the entire department every time he came to therapy with his uncle. Work virtually came to a standstill. There were so many tongues hanging on the floor you had to be careful where you stepped.”

“I heard it was the same way on the unit,” Shannon admitted.

“Exactly. No woman was immune to him, and although he took several of the staff women out, once his uncle was discharged they never heard from Matt Taggart again. You worked the night shift

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