When Hearts Collide - By James, Kendra Page 0,28

job here,” Rita told Molly. “We’re always looking for good nurses.”

Molly hadn’t known what to say. It was a nice offer. Better than working with Randy, her former boyfriend. It just made it too difficult when he became her temporary supervisor. He changed her shifts, her assignments, her time off, anything to make her life miserable. But when he’d called her into the office and told her she was suspended for missing medications, she couldn’t believe her ears. Did he have something to do with it? He couldn’t forgive her for breaking up with him, but did he hate her enough to ruin her career?

Too bad she couldn’t think about taking a position here. The hospital had a nice atmosphere. It was well run and better equipped than she might have thought for the size of the area it served. And the staff, they had all been so friendly and helpful, especially Rita.

She sighed so deeply her chest hurt. Would she ever be able to fulfill any of her dreams? The way her life was going, it looked like they would remain just that, dreams. Her biological clock was running on expired batteries. Its hands would soon be rotating so slowly she’d need a stick of dynamite to get them going.

Molly sighed. She’d never realized how tiring looking after a child twenty-four hours a day could be. At least Pierce would be home tomorrow, and that should make life easier. Between Rita and herself, they had organized the supplies he would need. Pearce wouldn’t be able to navigate the stairs for a bit, so had decided to sleep in his office. The adjoining bathroom made it perfect. A rented hospital bed, a wheelchair, and a walker were already at the house.

Maybe once Pearce was home, he’d be able to make arrangements for himself and Gracie and she could be back on her way. But she wasn’t going to think about that now. There would be time to deal with it tomorrow. One day at a time. How much of her life had she spent thinking that? One day at a time. It had got her through so far, and it would get her through this time, too.

Slipping under the bed sheets, Molly closed her eyes with a smile on her lips. She realized she was looking forward to Pearce coming home. Pretending to be his wife had been easier than she’d thought.

Chapter 7

Her stomach was as queasy as curdled milk. She’d been up with Gracie during the night when the child had had another nightmare. She hadn’t slept well after finally getting her settled. With lack of sleep, and Pearce coming home this morning, Molly was a jumble of nerves. Every time she visited him at the hospital, her stomach became a jumble of knots, and when he smiled at her, ripples of desire shook her body. She wasn’t sure if she could live in the same house twenty-four hours a day with her growing attraction to him. It was too late now. She had agreed and he was packed and ready to leave when she arrived.

Doctor Graham came into the room with Rita. Molly recognized the tall, fair-haired doctor from the emergency department the night of the accident. His smile was friendly as he gave discharge instructions. “I’ll be coming every few days to check the incisions are healing, that the pain medication is working, and how physiotherapy is going. This is the prescription for painkillers and a supply of intravenous antibiotics.”

Rita handed Molly a paper bag. “And this is the outpatient appointment for a month from now.”

Molly took the white piece of paper and shoved it in a side pocket of her tote bag. Rita helped Molly get Pearce into the wheelchair. She wished she could tell Rita she wouldn’t be seeing her in a month’s time. She’d developed a friendship with the nurse, and she hated lying to her.

Pearce was excited to be home, but the effort had not only exhausted him, but also caused a lot of pain. Molly gave him an analgesic, and now his eyes refused to stay open. His last waking thoughts were of his red-haired angel.

He had no idea why he was so fascinated by her. Who was she? Was it fate that she’d been there just at the right moment to help him and Gracie? What would have happened if she hadn’t been there? The police told him she’d pulled them out of the car. The gas tank was leaking,