The Best Man Takes a Bride by Stacy Connelly

Author:Stacy Connelly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-12-07T16:44:32+00:00

Chapter Ten

Her heart still in her throat, Rory ducked into the first-aid tent. She barely took in the small space with its two empty cots and a rolling cart stacked with bandages, gauze and bottles of peroxide and iodine before her gaze locked on the third occupied bed.

“Miss Rory...” Hannah’s brown eyes filled and her lower lip trembled as she spotted her. “I got sick.”

“I know, sweetie. I heard, and I’m so sorry you don’t feel good.” Hazarding a glance at Jamison, standing like a sentinel near the foot of his daughter’s bed, Rory added, “Your daddy called me and said you wanted me to come see you.”

She’d heard the reluctance in his voice as he explained how the little girl had gotten sick and that he’d taken her to the first-aid area. How he hadn’t wanted to bother her...

But Rory had the feeling Jamison was the one who was bothered—by Hannah needing her. And maybe, just maybe, by how he needed her, too...

The little girl nodded, giving a watery sniff and wiping at a tear with the back of her hand. She was wearing one of the Rockin’ R souvenir T-shirts. The oversize sleeves hung down to her elbows, making her look even smaller and more vulnerable.

As soon as Rory sat down on the cot, Hannah climbed onto her lap...and right into her heart. Closing her eyes against the undeniable realization, she breathed in the sweet scent of baby shampoo combined with mint toothpaste. Little more than a week, and Rory had fallen hard, and she didn’t dare think about her feelings for the sad-eyed girl’s father...

“I’m feeling better now,” she mumbled into Rory’s shoulder.

“Don’t count on it.”

At Jamison’s dry comment, Rory couldn’t help but glance up at him. He too looked a little pale and green around the gills, and she finally noticed Hannah wasn’t the only one wearing a brand-new souvenir T-shirt.

She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing, but judging by the way he shook his head, she didn’t succeed in hiding her amusement. “So glad you—and everyone—find this so funny.”

“I don’t think it’s funny, Daddy.” Hannah wrinkled her nose in an exaggerated expression of disgust. “I think it was yucky.”

“And that,” a female voice chimed in, “is what we in the nursing field would call a spot-on diagnosis.”

Rory looked up as Theresa Deeks handed Jamison a plastic bag containing Hannah and Jamison’s damp shirt. She hadn’t realized the pretty nurse would be overseeing the first-aid station, though Theresa was certain to be on hand after all the work she and her husband, Jarrett, had put into making the rodeo such a success.

“I rinsed them out, but they’ll still need a good washing.”

“That wasn’t necessary.”

The dark-haired woman laughed. “It was if either of you hoped to wear them again.”

“That’s my favorite shirt,” Hannah chimed in, her voice forlorn.

Jamison looked slightly exasperated by his daughter’s “woe is me” sigh but merely said, “Then I thank you for saving my daughter’s favorite shirt.”

“You’re welcome, and as long as Hannah is feeling up to it, you can take her home.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.