Книга - Colton’s Deep Cover

Colton's Deep Cover
Elle Kennedy


‘He’s found me – I’m dead.’ Running from an abusive past, nurse Chloe Moreno creates a new identity and seeks an uncomplicated life in Eden Falls. But her security is crumbling fast. There’s a kidnapper on the loose and her worst nightmare has tracked her down.She needs someone to trust…and Dr Derek Colton fits the bill. A new relationship – especially with his beautiful new nurse – is a risk Derek shouldn’t take. Yet once desire puts her in his arms, he must destroy the threat that’s lingering far too close…The Coltons of Eden Falls: Love and justice know no boundaries












“You’re coming home with me.”


“Why?” she whispered, fixing those big hazel eyes on his face. “Why would you do this for me?”

“Because I don’t want to see you hurt. Because I want to help you. Because I took a damn oath to save lives. Take your pick.”

Their eyes locked, and despite the graveness of the situation, Derek experienced a flicker of heat. Amelia Phillips, Chloe Moreno, whatever name she called herself—it didn’t matter, and it didn’t change the way his body reacted to her nearness. She was so achingly beautiful that he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. He wanted to stroke her silky skin and cup those firm breasts and run his hands over every inch of her curvy body.

Inappropriate much?

Shoving away the unwelcome images, Derek cleared his throat. “Grab your things. It’s time to go.”


Dear Reader,

I’m so excited to be part of Mills & Boon


Intrigue’s latest miniseries, THE COLTONS OF EDEN FALLS. It’s always a little daunting participating in a continuity, not just because I’m often in awe of the other authors in the lineup, but because it’s hard for me, as a writer, to write a story that I personally didn’t come up with.

With a continuity, I’m given an overall story line, and then it’s my job to put the pieces together, fill the plot holes and make the story my own. I was a tad scared to find out exactly what kind of story I’d be required to write, but luckily I was happy with the premise and the tightly knit Colton family I would get to write about. More than that, I was eager to tell Derek and Chloe’s story.

I hope you enjoy their journey, as well as the other Coltons who will receive their own stories during the course of this miniseries.

Happy reading!

Elle

Don’t miss the other books in

THE COLTONS OF EDEN FALLS:

Colton Destiny by Justine Davis

Colton’s Ranch Refuge by Beth Cornelison

Colton Showdown by Marie Ferrarella




About the Author


A RITA


Award-nominated author, ELLE KENNEDY grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a BA in English from York University. From an early age she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting.

Elle loves to hear from her readers. Visit her website, www.ellekennedy.com, for the latest news or to send her a note.




Colton’s Deep Cover

Elle Kennedy











www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


To Justine Davis, Beth Cornelison

and Marie Ferrarella—

I’m honored to be in such amazingly talented company!




Chapter 1


“I need to see you in my office, Amelia.”

Chloe Moreno froze as her boss’s soft-spoken request sounded from behind. She’d been in the process of pulling a patient chart from the large steel cabinet in the file room, but now her fingers trembled, causing her to lose her grip on the Danford file. It fluttered to the shiny linoleum floor, and as papers spilled out of the blue folder, the heat of embarrassment blasted through her.

Cheeks scorching, Chloe dropped to her knees and quickly collected the strewn papers. “Sorry. I’m such a klutz sometimes,” she murmured, keeping her eyes downcast. “Let me just pick this up and I’ll meet you in your offi—”

A shadow fell over her. Clothing rustled as her boss knelt down, his big, gorgeous hands reaching out to help her collect the papers.

Swallowing, Chloe gathered up the courage to lift her head—and found a pair of deep brown eyes watching her in amusement.

“No need to look so terrified,” Derek Colton said in that smooth, baritone voice of his. “I’m not going to fire you for dropping a file, Amelia.”

Amelia. Lord, would she ever get used to that name? It was the reason she’d dropped the file in the first place; hearing Derek address her by a name that wasn’t her own made her so damn uneasy, so very jittery.

You’re Amelia Phillips now. Get used to it.

Chloe drew in a breath, heeding the commanding voice in her head. She couldn’t keep jumping at shadows and battling a sense of disorientation each time someone called her Amelia. She was Amelia. Chloe Moreno was dead. And according to the LA Times website, Felix had shelled out the big bucks for her memorial service. A funeral hadn’t been an option, seeing as her body was presumed to be at the bottom of the Pacific.

Shoving the unwelcome thoughts from her mind, Chloe rose to her feet and tucked the patient file under her arm. Derek stood up, too, his six-foot frame towering over her.

A shiver danced up her spine, a common occurrence in this man’s presence. Derek Colton was too attractive for his own good—tall, muscular, ruggedly handsome. And his chocolate-brown eyes were too damn perceptive. Each time he focused that intense gaze on her, she felt as if he was peering into her soul. Like he knew all her secrets.

But he didn’t. He couldn’t. Chloe herself had lost track of all the secrets and lies. Over the past six months she’d spun a web so thickly complex that she didn’t even know who she was anymore.

She knew who she wasn’t, though.

Chloe, the wife of celebrity plastic surgeon Felix Moreno, no longer existed. She’d been replaced with Amelia, the quiet, hardworking nurse who’d impressed the heck out of her new boss when she’d helped him save a patient from bleeding out three weeks ago.

And as long as she continued to impress Derek with her skills, she could stay in Eden Falls and live the life she’d always dreamed of.

The life she’d earned.

So, pasting on a professional smile, she glanced at Derek and said, “What did you need to talk about?”

“Let’s go to my office.” His expression revealed nothing, no hint of what he needed to discuss with her.

As Chloe trailed after him, she took a calming breath, silently praying that he wasn’t about to fire her. Unfortunately, inhaling was a bad idea because it only succeeded in drawing Derek’s appealing scent into her lungs. The man smelled so good, like soap and aftershave and something intoxicatingly masculine.

Her gaze homed in on his broad back, covered by the white coat that contrasted with his smooth, mocha skin. He kept his black hair in a buzz cut, which left the nape of his strong, corded neck exposed. Another shiver ran through her as she admired him, and she was grateful that he couldn’t see her face. She’d worked hard to hide her visceral reaction to this man, the flames that licked at her flesh each time he flashed one of those sexy, easygoing smiles in her direction.

Derek led her down the brightly lit hallway of the clinic. When they reached his office, he opened the door and gestured for her to enter first, just like the gentleman he was. Gosh, she’d never met anyone like him—the man oozed charm and sex appeal, yet at the same time, he exuded a quiet strength that was downright inspiring.

In the three weeks she’d worked as a nurse in Derek’s practice, she’d been so tempted to dig deeper and get to know this intriguing man, but the need to maintain a certain level of professionalism had reined in the impulse. This job meant everything to her. Getting chummy with the boss would be a bad idea, especially because she hadn’t exactly told him the truth about who she really was.

“Have a seat,” Derek said pleasantly, gesturing to one of the plush chairs in front of his commanding mahogany desk.

Chloe sat, nervously crossing her ankles.

Derek settled in his leather chair and clasped his hands. “I wanted to discuss your performance,” he began, those deep brown eyes seeking her out again.

She experienced a twinge of panic. “Oh. Did I do something wrong?”

He chuckled, and the husky sound teased her senses. “On the contrary. You’re doing everything right. I wanted to talk about making this arrangement permanent.”

Relief and pleasure washed over her. “Really?”

“Really,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes. “I know we didn’t have a chance to talk about the long term, what with you being thrust into this practice so abruptly. Have I told you how wonderfully you handled the Violet Chastain situation?”

Fighting a burst of pride, Chloe smiled. “Numerous times. How is Violet doing, by the way?”

“Nearly fully recovered and driving my brother crazy.” Derek grinned. “But he loves it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gunnar this happy.”

Yeah, love could do that to a person. Or so she’d heard. Chloe hadn’t lucked out in the relationship department, unlike Derek’s older brother Gunnar, who’d found happiness with Hollywood starlet Violet Chastain. Violet had been in town researching a movie role when she’d been attacked and left for dead on the side of the road. Fortunately, she’d survived the assault and near-kidnapping and found a loving partner in Gunnar Colton, who’d stepped in to help Violet with her twin boys while she recovered from the injury to her leg.

Although Violet had gotten her happy ending, managing to escape her assailants, the attackers had abducted the young woman who’d been accompanying the actress.

The memory brought an ache to Chloe’s heart. “Has there been any word on Mary and Hannah?”

Derek instantly sobered. “None. Emma and Tate are still working the case, but there are no new leads.”

She shook her head in dismay, unable to comprehend the events that had transpired. The town of Eden Falls bordered Paradise Ridge, which was home to a small Amish community looking to live quiet, peaceful lives. But there was nothing peaceful about recent events. Four Amish girls had disappeared over the past month. Two had been found dead in a remote cabin near the Colton ranch, and the other two—Mary Yoder and Hannah Troyer—were still missing.

Derek’s siblings, Emma and Tate, both worked in law enforcement, and while investigating the disappearances, they’d uncovered a horrific truth—the missing girls were being sold in a sex ring that catered to seedy buyers with even seedier intentions. Emma had gotten closer to Hannah’s brother Caleb over the course of the investigation.

It sounded unimaginable, yet it didn’t surprise Chloe to learn that sadistic people like that existed.

After all, she’d spent the past twelve years living with her very own personal sadist.

“I hate thinking about what those girls must be going through,” Derek said. His handsome face revealed the frustration he felt over the situation. “I wish I could do more to help, but I fear I’d only get in Emma and Tate’s way.”

“I wish I could do more, too,” she said softly, her heart breaking for those missing girls.

“Well, you’re doing your fair share around here,” Derek answered, steering the discussion back on track. “I’m going to be honest, Amelia. You’re a real asset to this clinic. Having you around these past few weeks has made me realize I can’t afford to lose you. That’s why I wanted to sit down with you and talk about your plans.”

“My plans?” Chloe echoed.

He nodded. “I wanted to make sure you still plan on making Eden Falls your home, that you’re not going to suddenly pack your bags and move to Philly or accept a job with some other big-city hospital.”

“Not at all,” she blurted out. “Eden Falls is where I want to be, Dr. Colton. And the only job I’m interested in is this one.”

“That’s good to hear.” Those brown eyes danced playfully. “And how many times must I remind you to call me Derek?”

“Right. Sorry. D-Derek.” Her voice wobbled, and she tried not to cringe. She was forty-one years old, for crying out loud. Why did she always stammer like a schoolgirl in the presence of this man?

Derek seemed to be fighting a grin, which told her he’d picked up on her bout of nervousness. “Well, if you’re serious about sticking around, then I want you to know I’m thrilled to have you. It still amazes me at times, the calming effect you have on anyone you come into contact with.” He looked vaguely embarrassed. “You’re really good with the patients, Amelia.”

“So are you.” The abrupt admission caused her cheeks to heat up again.

Uh, suck up much?

Fine, she had a total case of hero-worship when it came to Derek Colton. But how could she not? The man happened to be an incredible doctor. He had an easy rapport with his patients, and he carried himself with a self-assuredness that made her envious. She wished she had half the confidence that this talented doctor possessed in spades.

Also, it didn’t hurt that he was drop-dead gorgeous, which meant that taking orders from him could hardly be considered a chore. And even though she had about ten years on him, he carried himself with a sense of maturity and strength that tugged at something inside her. Derek was a first-class man, the kind of man she wouldn’t have believed existed if she hadn’t just spent three weeks by his side.

“Anyway, that was all I wanted,” Derek said, scraping back his chair. “Could you prepare the exam room for our three o’clock?”

“Of course.” Chloe stood and smoothed out the hem of her shirt. “I already pulled up the Danford file.”

A smile tugged on the corners of his mouth. “Efficient as always, aren’t you, Amelia?”

“Just trying to make an impression on the boss,” she answered lightly.

He chuckled again.

Her heart did a little flip.

Oh, brother. This had to stop. Her growing attraction to Derek was becoming a total nuisance. She hadn’t traveled clear across the country to get lovesick about a man.

She was still a married woman, after all.

As a lump of bitterness rose in her throat, Chloe quickly banished the reminder. “I’ll prep the exam room,” she said before ducking out of Derek’s office.

Her white sneakers squeaked against the floor as she hurried down the hall. She sucked in a few deep breaths, wishing she could erase the memory of Felix from her mind. But each time she thought she was close to forgetting her former life, those annoying reminders crept in like a cat burglar.

Why couldn’t she just put the past behind her? After too many years of living in fear and being tormented by the man she’d foolishly married, she was finally free of Felix Moreno. She’d spent the past two years painstakingly preparing for this, stashing money, renewing her nursing license, arranging her escape. Once she’d gotten free, she’d spent six months making her way east, never staying in one place for long while she waited for the dust to settle. Waited until she could be absolutely certain that Felix truly believed she was dead.

She’d wound up in Eden Falls, Pennsylvania, by pure chance—she’d run out of gas right outside of town. She’d intended on filling the tank and continuing on to Philadelphia, but the moment she’d laid eyes on the idyllic Eden Falls, she’d fallen in love. This small town had everything she’d always dreamed of and never had in California—warmth, joy, a tight-knit sense of family and community. There was nothing fake about the people of Eden Falls; they were kind, decent folks who looked out for each other, which was the complete opposite of the phony, materialistic people she’d been surrounded with her entire life.

When she’d sat in the little diner in the heart of downtown and flipped through the newspaper, the job ad she’d come across had been like a neon sign from a higher power. The clinic in town was in need of a nurse—and what do you know, Chloe had a nursing degree just waiting to be put to use again.

This past month had been so utterly wonderful. She loved her job, adored her cozy one-bedroom apartment, respected the heck out of her boss.

So why was she still battling the impulse to continually look over her shoulder?

As Chloe entered the exam room, something cold touched her cheek. She jumped, then relaxed when she realized it was her own hand. She’d involuntarily begun to stroke the left side of her face, a nervous gesture she’d been trying to wean herself out of. She didn’t want to draw any undue attention to her face, and besides, the thin ridge of scar tissue marring her skin beneath the makeup simply served as another reminder of the life she’d left behind.

Letting her hand drop, she crossed the room and quickly rolled a fresh sheet of exam paper over the table. Then she strode toward the cabinet against the far wall and removed a blue hospital johnny.

As she placed the gown on the table, she squared her shoulders, forcing her brain into work mode. She couldn’t agonize over Felix anymore. She was free now. Safe.

And happy. Damn it, for the first time in her life she was honest-to-God happy, and she refused to let Felix Moreno take that away. He’d already taken too much from her. He’d terrorized her, scarred her, humiliated her.

But he hadn’t broken her.

As a rush of pride welled up in her belly, Chloe left the exam room and headed for the waiting area, banishing all thoughts of Felix and her past from her mind. The only thing she needed to focus on right now was calling in the next patient and proving to Derek Colton that hiring her had been the best decision he’d ever made.

Had he made the wrong decision in hiring Amelia?

Derek puckered his brows as he watched his new nurse slip her arm through Rachel Danford’s. He couldn’t hear what Amelia was saying, but he made out the encouraging note in her soft voice.

Rachel and her husband, Jacob, looked stricken as they listened to Amelia. Jacob was strong and stoic in his dark trousers, brown suspenders and white shirt, his work-hewn hands clutching a wide-brimmed straw hat. Rachel wore a modest black dress and lace-up boots, and beneath the white head covering indicating her married status, her light brown hair was pulled back in a tight bun. She was a pretty girl with a spattering of freckles on the bridge of her nose and the kindest brown eyes Derek had ever seen.

Several of Derek’s patients hailed from the Amish village that bordered Eden Falls. As a physician, he appreciated the hardworking and serious nature of the Amish, and he offered his medical services to all the Amish folk of Paradise Ridge free of charge. Derek had never been one to play favorites, but he had to admit, he held a real soft spot for Rachel and Jacob, a newly married couple only a few years older than his sixteen-year-old sister.

His heart had sunk to the pit of his stomach during Rachel’s examination. Informing a patient that he’d discovered a lump in her breast was pure agony, especially when the patient happened to be a sweet young woman only starting out in life. Rachel and Jacob had been shaken up by the news, but they’d put on brave faces as Derek wrote up the referral to an oncologist at Philly General.

Now, discreetly loitering by his receptionist’s desk, Derek watched the exchange happening across the room, wondering why he couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling churning in his gut.

Amelia had been unusually jumpy today. Scratch that—she was always jumpy, which was probably why he constantly found himself second-guessing his decision to hire her.

He couldn’t deny her skill, though. The woman was damn good at her job, possessing a gentle bedside manner and the kind of swift efficiency he couldn’t help but admire. She’d displayed courage and grace under pressure when she’d helped him treat Violet Chastain, despite having been thrust into the task right in the middle of her job interview. She’d impressed the hell out of him then, and she continued to impress him now.

But … something about the woman didn’t sit right with him. He got the feeling there was a lot more to Amelia Phillips than met the eye, but he’d yet to figure out if she was secretive by nature or just keeping secrets.

“Derek?”

Amelia’s soft voice jolted him from his thoughts. He looked up to find her standing directly in front of him. A glance at the door showed that the Danfords had taken their leave.

“Sorry. I spaced out.” He cleared his throat. “What were you talking with Rachel and Jacob about?”

She flushed. “I offered to be at the hospital with them when Rachel goes in for the biopsy.” She quickly hurried on. “I know that striking up a friendship with a patient might be construed as unprofessional, but I feel so badly for the girl. And she and Jacob are terrified of hospitals, so I thought seeing a familiar face when she gets the procedure done might be comforting.”

Her words brought a pang of guilt to Derek’s stomach. Damn, and a second ago he’d actually been rethinking his decision to hire this woman. That Amelia would go out of her way to ease Rachel Danford’s anxiety told him far more about her than her tendency to get skittish. He’d never met a woman with a bigger heart, and as she fidgeted awkwardly, awaiting his response, Derek had to smile.

“That’s a really nice thought,” he said gruffly.

Her blush deepened, drawing his attention to those smooth, ivory cheeks of hers.

It was probably inappropriate as hell, checking out his nurse, but could anyone really blame him? Amelia Phillips was one fine-looking woman. Heartbreakingly beautiful, in fact. She had the kind of ethereal beauty that took your breath away—wide-set hazel eyes and shoulder-length blond hair that looked so soft to the touch his fingers tingled with the need to stroke it. She was average height, but next to his six-foot frame she seemed utterly petite, and she had a curvy, hourglass body that made his mouth go dry. He’d never understood why some men lusted over super-skinny women with their rib cages poking out. In Derek’s opinion, there was nothing sexier than a soft, womanly form you could fill your palms with, and Amelia had that in spades.

He knew from her job application that she was forty-one, but she certainly didn’t look it. She could easily pass for twenty-five, and he could only imagine the looks she got when she walked down the street. That smoking-hot body of hers probably stopped traffic.

That smoking-hot body belongs to your nurse, buddy.

Derek quickly snapped his brain out of the gutter. Yeah, he definitely needed to quit focusing on Amelia Phillips’s centerfold assets and concentrate on other things—like the fact that she worked for him.

“Oh, and both Stu Robertson and Maggie Carpenter canceled their appointments,” Amelia went on, oblivious to his wickedly improper thoughts, “so the rest of your afternoon is officially clear. Nancy left a note about it before she left for the day.”

“Sawyer will be disappointed,” Derek said wryly. “He was hoping to practice his doctoring today.”

“I’m here!”

Speak of the devil.

Derek’s mouth lifted in a smile as his little brother burst through the door and skidded across the small lobby area. The eleven-year-old’s head shot in the direction of the waiting room off to the left. When he found it empty, his expression collapsed.

“Am I too late?” Sawyer demanded. “I had detention, but it only lasted fifteen minutes. I ran all the way over here.” Which explained why his cheeks held a ruddy glow and his sandy-colored hair was sticking up in every direction.

Derek felt a rush of warmth when he glimpsed the disappointment in his brother’s eyes. Sawyer had been making a habit of coming to the clinic after school, shadowing his big brother and soaking up medical knowledge like a sponge. The kid kept going back and forth about what he wanted to be when he grew up—a doctor like Derek or a cop like their brother Tate—but lately medicine had been winning out, and Derek had to admit that he enjoyed having Sawyer around.

“Sorry, Squirt, our last two patients canceled,” he said, ruffling Sawyer’s hair. “But you could always keep me company while I do some paperwork.”

“Bo-ring.” Mr. Unobservant that he was, Sawyer suddenly noticed Amelia standing there. “Amelia, hi!”

The kid launched himself at her, wrapping his gangly arms around her waist.

Derek didn’t miss the way Amelia flinched when Sawyer hugged her or the way she didn’t return the embrace.

Again, that flicker of wariness tugged on his gut. Amelia seemed completely ill at ease around his little brother. Around all children, in fact. She handled the younger patients the same way she did the older ones—with extreme warmth and professionalism—but Derek had noticed on numerous occasions that she didn’t seem entirely comfortable with kids.

Sawyer, however, was more than comfortable with Amelia. For some reason, the kid had taken a real shining to the beautiful blonde. Adored her, actually.

Trying to ease her evident discomfort, Derek tugged on the collar of Sawyer’s striped T-shirt and pinned the kid with a deadly stare. “What was that I heard about detention?”

Sawyer raised his hands in a defensive gesture. “Don’t look at me. Danny Harris talked back to Ms. Bentley and we all got punished for it. Totally unfair if you ask me.”

Derek’s lips twitched. “I guess that was Ms. Bentley’s way of sending the rest of you a message. A warning of what happens when you sass her.”

“Doesn’t make it any less unfair,” Sawyer grumbled, before turning to Amelia in interest. “So what are you gonna do while Derek does his paperwork?”

She cast Derek a quizzical look. “Well, boss, what am I going to do?”

“You get to go home,” he answered. When she looked ready to protest, he held up his hand. “You deserve some time off. Now that you’re a permanent fixture in this practice, I plan on working you to the bone, so enjoy the break while it lasts.”

She laughed softly. “I guess I can use the time to assemble some furniture. I ordered a bunch of things online after I moved into my place but I haven’t gotten around to any of it yet.”

“Bo-ring,” Sawyer chimed again. He suddenly clapped a hand on his leg. “You should come to dinner tonight. We are making brownies for dessert.”

Amelia started to edge away, her hip bumping the desk. “Oh. That’s a nice offer, but I don’t know if I can.”

“You just said you don’t have anything to do,” Sawyer said in an accusatory tone. “So you can totally come.”

Derek sighed. “Sawyer—”

“Please?” his brother pleaded. “I want you to see the ranch and my horse, and did I tell you we’re making brownies?”

Amelia smiled indulgently. “Yes, I think you mentioned that.”

“So … please?”

She shifted awkwardly. “I guess I could.” She glanced at Derek. “If it’s okay with your brother, that is.”

“You’re welcome to join us,” he said gruffly.

After a beat, she nodded. “All right. What time?”

“Seven o’clock,” Sawyer piped up.

“Okay. Well. I guess I’ll be there.” She took a few steps toward the corridor behind them. “I should change out of these scrubs.”

As Amelia dashed off, Derek released a heavy breath and turned to his brother with a frown. “What did I tell you about putting people on the spot, Squirt?”

Sawyer had the decency to blush. “I know. I’m sorry. But I really want Amelia to come to dinner. You want her to come, too, right?”

“Sure,” he said noncommittally.

The kid tilted his head. “So I did good, right? It could be like a date.”

Derek faltered. “No, not like a date. Amelia and I work together, Squirt. That’s all there is to it.”

“Is it because of Aunt Tess?”

Now he froze. “What do you mean?”

“Piper says that you’re still mourning Aunt Tess,” Sawyer said frankly. “I told her that’s silly because Aunt Tess died a long time ago.”

Two years wasn’t a long time, he wanted to point out, but he supposed that for an eleven-year-old, two years was an eternity.

He couldn’t believe they were even having this conversation. Nobody in the family dared bring up Tess’s name to him, and truth be told, he preferred it that way. Just thinking about his wife sent a hot rush of agony to his chest. It was funny, how he’d nagged his brother Gunnar to see a counselor in order to deal with his tragic experience in Afghanistan, yet if Derek were being honest with himself, he hadn’t fully dealt with his own tragedy.

Tess’s death still ate at him. It gnawed at his insides like a hungry scavenger, making it impossible to move on—yes, even two long years later.

“Because if it is about Aunt Tess,” Sawyer went on, oblivious to Derek’s silence, “I think that’s dumb.”

His throat clogged. “Why is that dumb?”

“Because Aunt Tess wasn’t a very good wife.”

Out of the mouths of babes.

“Why do you say that?” His voice was so hoarse it felt as if someone had shoved sand into his mouth.

“Because she made you sad,” Sawyer said simply.

An arrow of pain pierced Derek’s heart. He knew he shouldn’t be surprised by his little brother’s observation. He and Tess had been having trouble long before her death—and clearly, the rest of his family had noticed.

Swallowing a lump of regret, Derek clapped a hand on Sawyer’s scrawny shoulder. “Let’s stop all this serious talk. What do you say I forget about my pesky paperwork and take you out for some hot chocolate instead?”

The kid’s eyes lit up. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. Go sit in the waiting room while I gather up my things, okay?”

“Cool beans.”

Sawyer bounded off just as Amelia reemerged from the corridor. She’d changed out of her green scrubs and now wore a pair of snug blue jeans that hugged her shapely legs, a tight-fitting brown sweater that brought out the amber flecks in her hazel eyes and high-heeled black boots. With her silky blond hair tied back in a ponytail, she looked young and fresh-faced and utterly gorgeous.

“I’m heading out,” she told him as she shrugged into her black wool coat, then put on a pair of brown leather gloves. “Should I bring anything?”

He wrinkled his brow.

“For dinner,” she clarified. “Wine? Dessert?”

“Nope. Just bring yourself.”

He realized at the last second how flirty that sounded, and the blush that rose on her cheeks confirmed it.

Derek gulped, wondering why he was so damn drawn to this woman. For the past two years he hadn’t felt a single inkling to get involved with anyone. Actually, he’d vowed to steadfastly avoid relationships altogether.

Yet from the moment Amelia Phillips walked into his clinic, he hadn’t been able to fight the spark of desire she evoked inside him.

“Okay. Well.” Her delicate throat worked as she visibly swallowed. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Derek bid her goodbye, then watched as she gracefully strode toward the door and exited the clinic. Everything about that woman intrigued him, from her soft, melodic voice to the shadowy secrets lurking in her hazel eyes.

Maybe having her over for dinner tonight wasn’t such a bad idea, after all. Amelia Phillips continued to remain a mystery, and his inquisitive nature didn’t mesh well with riddles. It drove him absolutely crazy that he still couldn’t get a real handle on his beautiful new nurse. That he had no idea why her face took on that haunted expression when she thought nobody was looking. He hadn’t felt comfortable grilling her here, while they worked side by side, but perhaps she’d be more willing to open up outside the professional confines of the clinic.

Perhaps tonight he would finally get some answers from the elusive Amelia.




Chapter 2


Chloe had never been more nervous in her entire life as she drove through the double gates of the Colton ranch. The main house was visible in the distance, a large homestead that managed to combine the stately elegance of a manor with the rustic charm of a ranch spread. It wasn’t the size or beauty of the home that made her anxious—she was no stranger to expensive accommodations—but the homey, inviting feel of it. The yellow glow seeping from the windows, the tire swing hanging from one of the trees in the front yard. It was the kind of place she’d always envisioned raising a family in, and the thought brought a sharp pain to her heart.

Her hands trembled on the steering wheel of the used Toyota hatchback she’d purchased last week. Why on Earth had she agreed to have dinner with the Coltons tonight? When Derek had invited her to his family’s Thanksgiving dinner last week, she’d had no problem politely declining. So why had it been so hard to say no to Sawyer’s request? Why had she allowed a tow-headed kid to break down her defenses?

The thought of Sawyer Colton deepened the ache in her chest. Lord, that kid was a real charmer, not to mention precocious, sweet and wise beyond his years. But every time he came around, which was often, she experienced a wave of longing so powerful that tears stung her eyes. She liked to imagine that her own boys would have grown up to be exactly like Sawyer.

Focus, Chloe.

Choking down a lump of sorrow, she continued up the driveway, but halfway to the main house another fit of anxiety rippled through her and her foot came down on the brakes. A minute. She just needed a minute to collect her composure.

Flipping down the sun visor, she studied her reflection, inspecting her left cheek. Makeup looked good. No hint of the four-inch scar beneath it.

Still, simply knowing the imperfection existed made her feel self-conscious as hell.

“You think you’re so beautiful, don’t you, Chloe? Pretty, pretty Chloe.”

A tornado of pain, fury and bitterness spiraled through her as Felix’s cruel voice echoed in her head.

“All those men flirting with my beautiful wife. You liked it, didn’t you, pretty Chloe? You like feeling beautiful?”

Hot tears pricked her eyelids. She tried desperately to block the memories, but they barreled into her mind like a freight train. Felix had been so enraged that night, yet again blaming her for something beyond her control.

“Let’s see if men still find you attractive now, shall we?”

A phantom burst of agony exploded in her face, mimicking everything she’d felt when the blade of that scalpel sliced into her cheek.

Sucking in a ragged breath, Chloe forcibly shoved the horrific memory from her mind. She couldn’t fall apart right now. Not in her boss’s driveway, for Pete’s sake.

Exhaling slowly, she moved the gearshift to Drive and steered toward the main house. After she’d parked the car, she grabbed her purse and the apple pie she’d picked up at the bakery in town, then climbed the large porch and rang the bell.

Footsteps thudded. A second later the front door swung open and an attractive redhead appeared before her. Chloe instantly recognized Emma Colton, Derek’s younger sister and a field agent with the FBI. They’d met when Emma had interviewed Violet Chastain at the clinic after the actress’s attack.

“Amelia,” Emma said, sounding genuinely happy to see her. “We’re thrilled to have you.” She opened the door wider. “Come in.”

Chloe stepped into the spacious front hall and shrugged out of her coat. Emma took it from her, hanging it in the closet by the door.

“I brought dessert,” Chloe said, holding out the pie dish. “Sawyer mentioned something about brownies, but I figured I’d bring something, anyway.”

“Thanks. That was really sweet of you,” Emma answered with a smile.

Chloe glanced around, admiring the wood-paneled walls and pretty oil-painted landscapes hanging in the space. “You have a lovely home.”

Emma grinned. “Technically you should be saying that to Derek. He owns the ranch now.”

“Really? I had no idea.”

“He doesn’t advertise it. My brother is a doctor first and a rancher second, but Mom and Dad left him the homestead in their will because Derek’s always been the most responsible Colton in the bunch.” Emma anticipated Chloe’s question before she could voice it. “Don’t worry, there’s no hidden resentment or anything—I think Gunnar and Tate were as relieved as I was that we didn’t have to take on the responsibility of this place.”

Emma led her into the great room, which featured endless ceilings, comfortable brown leather couches and a stone fireplace. Derek’s teenage sister, Piper, sat on one of the sofas, holding a blond-haired toddler in her arms. On the floor, Derek’s brother Tate was sprawled on the thick rug next to a second toddler. Although the two little boys were identical, they clearly had their own distinct personalities—the one on the couch was content to sit calmly in Piper’s arms, while the terror on the floor busied himself with a set of colorful blocks, shrieking in delight each time Tate leaned over to tickle him.

“Violet Chastain’s twins,” Emma said, noticing Chloe staring. “We’re babysitting Mason and Hudson tonight so Violet and Gunnar can have some alone time at the cabin.”

Chloe tore her gaze from the adorable little boys, ignoring the rush of longing that filled her belly. She focused on Tate, who greeted her with a warm smile. “Hey, Amelia. Where’s Mr. Perfect?”

She shot him a blank look.

“Derek,” Tate clarified with a crooked grin. “You know, the perfect doctor, perfect brother, perfect everything.”

The amusement dancing in Tate’s aqua eyes told her it was all in good fun, but it didn’t surprise her that Derek’s siblings called him Mr. Perfect. The man epitomized perfection—handsome, talented, kind, sexy. Derek Colton was the real deal, no doubt about it.

“He’s not here?” she said, frowning.

“Derek doesn’t live in the big house,” Piper spoke up as she intercepted the toddler’s chubby hand before he could grab a hunk of her wispy blond hair. “His house is next door.” The teenager glanced at Tate. “He texted me just now saying he’s on his way.”

“Have a seat,” Emma said to Chloe. “Can I grab you a drink? Wine, beer, iced tea?”

“An iced tea would be great.”

Chloe felt a tad awkward as she settled on the couch opposite Piper and folded her hands in her lap. This was her first official social visit since she’d moved to Eden Falls, and though she’d met all of Derek’s siblings before, being surrounded by so many people at once was daunting. As an only child, she’d always wished for a brother or sister, someone to laugh with and spill her secrets to, someone other than herself who she could rely on.

Her discomfort grew the longer she sat there, watching the scene before her. Tate teasing Piper, the happy squeals of Violet’s twins and Emma’s throaty laughter as she returned to the room with Sawyer hot on her heels.

Sawyer grinned when he spotted Chloe, making a beeline for her. “You came,” he said happily. He fixed a stern look in his sister’s direction, then glanced back at Chloe. “I hope Piper wasn’t annoying you.”

Chloe stifled a laugh. “Don’t worry—Piper has been a perfect lady.”

The boy snorted. “Right. The perfect giant lady, maybe. Piper is freakishly tall.”

“Hello? I’m sitting right here, twerp,” Piper said, waving her hand in the air. “At least have the decency to insult me behind my back.”

“But it’s more fun to do it to your face.”

Chloe and Tate exchanged an amused look as the duo continued to bicker. Despite the insults being traded back and forth, it was clear that Piper and Sawyer adored each other.

The Coltons were an unusual bunch, Chloe thought as she listened to the group chatter amongst themselves. Different ages, sizes, races, hair color, eye color. Charlotte and Donovan Colton had run a nonprofit organization for inner-city children, and Derek had laughingly told her that they liked to bring their work home with them—case in point, the six children they’d adopted.

As she sipped the iced tea Emma brought her, the photographs displayed on the fireplace mantel caught her attention. Setting the drinking glass on the pine coffee table, Chloe stood and headed for the hearth, smiling as she focused on a photo featuring a happy, distinguished-looking couple.

“That’s my mom and dad,” Sawyer said, coming up beside her. “I didn’t know them all that well. I was just a baby when they died.” His somber expression brightened as he pointed to the framed photo next to the first one. “And that’s me and Piper.”

Chloe grinned. “Yeah, I can see that.”

Sawyer then proceeded to point out each and every person in each and every picture, even the ones featuring only himself. Eventually, Chloe quit paying attention, until her gaze snagged on a photo of Derek with a pretty, raven-haired woman. The woman’s features hinted at both American and Asian descent, and she was utterly petite, the top of her head barely coming up to Derek’s shoulders. Both were beaming at the camera, but Chloe noticed that the smile didn’t quite reach the woman’s eyes. There was something so very sad about the woman in the picture.

“That’s Aunt Tess,” Sawyer said in a low voice, leaning closer to Chloe as if he didn’t want anyone to overhear.

“Aunt Tess?” she whispered.

“Derek’s wife. She died.”

Shock blasted through her, but Chloe did her best to hide her reaction. Derek didn’t wear a wedding ring—she’d definitely looked—but in the month she’d been working for him, he hadn’t once mentioned a deceased wife. Judging by Sawyer’s hushed tone, she got the feeling “Aunt Tess” wasn’t a common topic of conversation in the Colton household.

“Finally,” Tate said dryly.

Chloe turned around in time to see Derek stride into the room. Her heart did an involuntary somersault and she berated herself for the silly response.

Still, it was so hard not to drool over the man. Without the white coat and scrub bottoms he wore at the clinic, he looked far more approachable. Much more … well, sexy. His khakis were loose but couldn’t hide the long, muscular legs beneath them, and his black sweater molded to his broad, rippled chest. Lord, the man definitely worked out—no way had he acquired that rock-hard physique by handling a stethoscope and taking someone’s blood pressure.

She tore her eyes off his chest, moved them to his face and offered a timid smile. “Hey, Doct—Derek,” she quickly amended.

His easy smile warmed her insides. “Hey, Amelia. Glad you could make it.”

“I appreciate the invitation.”

Their eyes locked from across the room, and Chloe could have sworn she heard the air crackle. Or maybe it was the sound of her heart hammering against her breasts. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so drawn to a man. Even her husband hadn’t intrigued her the way Derek Colton did.

She gulped.

You don’t have a husband. You’re Amelia Phillips.

“Come on, little dudes, go to Julia.”

Piper’s voice jolted Chloe from her thoughts. A dark-haired woman—Julia, Chloe assumed—scooped up the toddlers, propped one on each of her hips and headed for the door.

“That’s our nanny,” Sawyer explained, tugging on Chloe’s hand.

“She’s going to watch the little terrors while we eat,” Derek added. “Violet’s nanny also has a much-deserved night off.” He shook his head in amazement. “I don’t know how Violet does it. Those two never seem to run out of energy.”

“I don’t know how Gunnar will do it,” Tate corrected with a laugh.

“Dinner’s ready, guys!” Emma called, poking her head into the living room.

As the group trudged toward the kitchen, Chloe felt a hand on her arm. She jumped in surprise, then relaxed when she realized it was Derek.

“Always so jumpy,” he murmured.

“You startled me.”

“You’re easily startled, aren’t you, Amelia?”

The contemplative note in his deep voice heightened her unease. She met his gaze and saw that his brown eyes were studying her, searching, probing, as if he were trying to bore right into her head.

She managed a faint smile. “I need to stop being so skittish, huh? I think it’s the move—new town, new job, new friends. It always takes me a while to adjust to new situations.”

After a beat, he nodded and gently squeezed her arm. “It’ll take some time, but I have a feeling you’ll fit right in. Come on, let’s have some dinner.”

Family dinners topped Derek’s list of favorite events, probably because they’d been so important to the couple who’d adopted him when he was three years old.

Charlotte and Donovan Colton had been the strongest, most loving people he’d ever met. They’d taken not just one child into their home, but six, and Derek and his siblings had grown up surrounded by so much love that his heart now boasted a big hole thanks to the loss of his parents.

Derek had insisted on keeping the tradition of weekly family dinners that had meant so much to his parents. Surrounded by his brothers and sisters, he felt a sense of peace that had been lacking in his life the past couple of years. Ever since Tess’s accident, he’d been having a tough time finding his footing again.

Professionally, he was as confident and composed as ever, but when he walked into his empty house at night, that cool and collected air he’d mastered dissolved, leaving him with a deep ache in his gut and a rush of loneliness. Despite everything they’d gone through, everything she’d put him through, he missed Tess. Or maybe he missed the woman she’d once been, the sweet girl he’d fallen in love with during college. Either way, he couldn’t deny the emptiness he felt, the sorrow that consumed him whenever he found himself alone with his thoughts.

“So your family lives in Missouri, then?” Emma asked. Derek raised his head, realizing his mind had wandered.

Emma’s question had been directed at Amelia, whose expression creased with pain.

“My mother passed away about fifteen years ago,” Amelia admitted. “But yes, my father’s in Missouri.”

Derek sensed there was more to the story, but the flicker of sorrow in Amelia’s big hazel eyes told him not to go there. His little brother, however, had yet to perfect the art of tact.

“Your dad lives alone?” Sawyer asked between mouthfuls of his meat loaf. “He didn’t get married again after your mom died?”

“Sawyer,” Tate chided. “Enough with the Twenty Questions.”

“It’s okay,” Amelia said softly. “I don’t mind.” Her fork toyed with the mashed potatoes on her plate, but she seemed to have lost her appetite. “My father didn’t remarry. He’s actually living in an assisted care facility just outside of St. Louis.”

Derek’s heart clenched as he met her eyes.

“Early-onset Alzheimer’s,” she revealed, as if she’d heard his silent question.

Derek nodded. “When was he diagnosed?”

“When he was fifty-five. That was ten years ago.”

“I’m sorry, Amelia,” Emma spoke up. “That must be so difficult, seeing someone you love go through something like that.”

Amelia cast her eyes downward. “It’s been very difficult.”

A lull fell over the table, until Tate cleared his throat and changed the subject. As Tate and Emma began discussing the investigation into the missing Amish girls, Derek discreetly studied Amelia from across the table. The revelation about her father was the first nugget of information he’d gleaned from her since he’d hired her three weeks ago, but it still wasn’t enough.

Amelia Phillips fascinated him like no other woman ever had. On the surface she seemed so fragile, but after working with her, he knew she had a core of steel. She was incredible with patients, met any challenge head-on and, when she let her guard down, displayed a witty sense of humor that never failed to make him smile.

But what else did he really know about her? She’d gone to college in California and worked there as a nurse for eight years, then moved back to Missouri and spent the next ten years doing God knows what before resuming her nursing career. Why such a long hiatus? Why had she moved to Pennsylvania? And why on Earth was she still single? Considering her youthful beauty and sweet demeanor, he couldn’t fathom that.

By the time dessert was served, Derek wasn’t any closer to getting the answers to those questions. And because he doubted she’d divulge any information while surrounded by his siblings, when Sawyer and Piper began to clear the table, he turned to Amelia and said, “How about a tour of the ranch?”

There it was again—that startled look in her eyes. “Oh. Sure,” she agreed awkwardly.

“Can I come?” Sawyer asked as he juggled the dishes in his hands.

“No, you can help your sisters clean up,” Tate answered for Derek.

When he met his brother’s eyes and saw the knowing gleam in them, Derek realized Tate knew he’d been hoping to get Amelia alone.

Battling a pang of discomfort, Derek averted his eyes and scraped back his chair. “You can come along next time,” he told Sawyer when he noticed the disappointment on the boy’s face.

Sawyer frowned but didn’t protest, which Derek was incredibly grateful for at the moment.

As he led Amelia out of the kitchen, he told himself that this inexplicable urge to get to know her was simply a result of his innate curiosity. Even as a kid he’d hungered for knowledge, needing to make sense of the world and the people around him. He’d never known his birth parents, and the foster families he’d lived with for the first three years of his life were nothing but a shadowy blur to him. As a result, he’d developed a need to make connections, to truly know the people in his life.

“We’ll take my car,” he said after he and Amelia put on their coats in the front hall.

She raised one dark-blond brow. “This isn’t a walking tour?”

“Trust me, you’ll thank me later. The ranch is too big to wander around on foot.”

Ten minutes later, as they drove through the sprawling compound, Amelia turned to him with a laugh. “Wow. You’re right. This place is huge.”

As he pointed out the various outbuildings and landmarks, Derek discovered that he enjoyed seeing the Double C through Amelia’s eyes. He suddenly realized he’d stopped paying attention to the scenery of the ranch he’d lived on all his life. His practice kept him so busy that he rarely ventured out of his comfortable brick home, which neighbored the big house, and he had no need to oversee the ranching operation, since their foreman, Hank, was more than capable of handling the day-to-day activities.

But as Amelia oohed and ahhed at her surroundings, Derek experienced a burst of pride. The Double C truly was spectacular, the landscape marked by rolling wooded hills, large paddocks and rustic outbuildings. Eden Falls had yet to see a heavy snow, but the layer of silver frost dusting the land hinted that winter would finally be making an appearance soon.

Pointing to the left, he turned to Amelia and said, “There’s a little stream about half a mile that way. It’s probably too cold to walk along the bank right now, but I’ll take you out there in the spring. It’s a really beautiful little spot.”

“That sounds nice,” she said in a noncommittal tone.

A fresh wave of unease swelled in his gut, prompting him to pull to the side of the dirt trail and put the car in Park. As determination hardened his jaw, he shifted in the driver’s seat and faced Amelia.

“Who are you?” he asked.

Shock flooded her eyes. “Wh-what?”

“Who are you, Amelia? We’ve been working together for three weeks, yet I still don’t know a thing about you. Why did you move to Eden Falls? What do you do for fun? Tell me something that nobody else knows about you.”

Her shoulders, which had been stiff a second ago, relaxed slightly. With a tiny shrug, she offered him a gentle smile. “There’s not much to know. If I’m being honest, I’m not a very interesting person.”

“I don’t believe that.” Not one bit. Because whatever she claimed, she did interest him. Far too much for his liking, in fact.

Realizing he wouldn’t drop the subject, Amelia released a sigh. “Well, you know why I moved to Eden Falls—for this job.”

“You ran out of gas, stopped in town for lunch and saw my ad in the paper,” he filled in, repeating the story she’d told him during her job interview.

“Yep.” She shrugged again. “Like I said, I was heading for Philly, hoping to find work at one of the hospitals there, but the moment I stepped into Eden Falls, I knew this was where I belonged. This town is … it’s … home. Know what I mean?”

“Yeah, actually I do,” he admitted.

“As for what I do for fun? Not much,” she said wryly. She pursed those lush lips, tilting her head in thought. “I used to volunteer a lot, mostly with hospital and children’s charities.”

“And what else?” he prompted. “What else do you like to do, Amelia?”

She hesitated and frustration bubbled in his stomach. Drawing details out of this woman was even harder than getting that terror Billy Hanson to sit still for his annual vaccinations.

“I love to bake,” she finally confessed. “I’m a whiz at crossword puzzles. I’m scared of bugs. I like to draw, but I’m not very good at it. I hate television—I only watch the news or DVDs. I’m not very outdoorsy, but I do like to ski.”

Well, that was a start.

Sensing that she was warming up to this sharing thing, Derek decided to do some more digging. “Why did you quit nursing after you left California? You’re a natural at it.”

He noticed the pulse point in her throat jump, as if he’d broached a subject she wasn’t entirely comfortable with. “I had no choice,” she said after a beat. “My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and someone had to take care of him. My mother was gone and I don’t have any siblings, so my dad had nobody else.”

“So you gave up your career to take care of your father?” When she nodded, he whistled softly. “You must be very close to him, then.”

She slowly shook her head. “We weren’t close, at least not while I was growing up. My mother was … let’s just say controlling. And appearances were the only thing that mattered to her. She expected me to marry a wealthy man and spend my time sitting on committees and hosting dinner parties. When I told her I wanted to be a nurse, she pretty much disowned me. We weren’t even speaking when she died.”

Amelia swallowed. “I rarely saw my dad during those years. My mother made it clear that I wasn’t welcome, at least not until I stopped being so stubborn and lived the kind of life she wanted me to.”

Derek frowned. “And your father just sat by and let all this happen?”

“He let her call the shots,” she said sadly. “He knew I wanted more from my life, but he took my mother’s lead.” She gulped again. “I’d hoped Dad and I would get closer after she died, and we did—for a brief time. But the closeness only lasted a year or so. Then he was diagnosed, and now …” She let out a shaky breath. “Now he doesn’t even know who I am.”

As his heart constricted, Derek reached across the armrest and took her hand. She jerked in surprise, her gaze flying to his, but she didn’t pull her hand away.

Her skin was hot to the touch and so very smooth. Derek’s pulse quickened, a rush of desire flooding his body as Amelia gently rubbed her thumb over the center of his palm. Christ. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d held a woman’s hand. Consoling overwrought patients didn’t count; he frequently offered comfort to the folks he treated. But this was different. This was … terrifying.

Struggling to steady the erratic thudding of his heart, he slowly brought his hand back to the steering wheel, avoiding Amelia’s eyes. “Shall we continue the tour?” he asked thickly.

“Actually, um, maybe we should head back.” From the corner of his eye, he saw her edging closer to the door, as if trying to put distance between them. “I really do need to get started fixing up my apartment.”

He ignored the disappointment that clenched his insides, knowing it was for the best if she left now. This strange attraction to Amelia Phillips unsettled him. He wasn’t looking to get involved with anyone—not now and not in the future. Besides, Amelia was his nurse. He signed her paychecks, for chrissake.

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea,” he said as he executed a U-turn and steered the car back in the direction of the main house. “Now that you’re sticking around in Eden Falls, you’ll need a cozy place to go home to.”

By the time they reached the ranch house, Amelia looked as relieved as Derek felt. She practically launched herself out of the passenger seat, then shot him a nervous smile. “I had a nice time, Derek. Please thank your family for a lovely dinner.”

“Will do,” he said gruffly. “Have a good night, Amelia. Drive safe.”

“Night, Derek.”

As he watched her hurry toward her car, he reached up to rub the five-o’clock shadow dotting his jaw and wondered why the hell this woman affected him so damn much.

Chloe’s heart raced as she drove away from the Double C. Rolling farmland and rustic houses flashed by the car window, but she couldn’t pay attention to the scenery, not when Derek’s baritone voice continued to run through her mind.

Who are you?

In that moment, she’d feared he’d figured out her secret—that she wasn’t Amelia Phillips, but Chloe Moreno, the woman who’d faked a suicide and fled to the other end of the country to escape her husband.

Funny enough, when she’d realized that Derek wasn’t interrogating her, but just trying to get to know her better, her panic only intensified. The more time she spent with Derek Colton, the more she liked him, but she knew she couldn’t let herself open up to him, no matter how badly she wanted to. Felix might believe she was dead, but it would take a long time for Chloe to feel safe again.

The clip-clop of horse hooves caught her attention and she slowed the car, stopping to let a horse and buggy cross. The bearded Amish man at the reins wore a dark-colored suit and a black hat with a wide brim. He nodded in thanks as their eyes met through the windshield, and Chloe managed a weak smile. Sometimes she envied the Amish citizens residing in the area. Their lives were so simple, revolving around hard work, humility and family. She’d give her right arm for that simplicity, for just one day without this deep ache in her bones.

Simple doesn’t mean safe.

The ominous reminder had her spirits sinking even lower. God, nothing and nobody were immune to danger and heartache. The missing Paradise Ridge girls were proof of that.

As the buggy disappeared down the darkness-bathed road, Chloe continued straight, driving into the heart of town. The downtown shops had closed for the night, but the glow of the lampposts lining the streets illuminated the windows and drew her gaze to the holiday decorations gracing the storefronts.

This would be her first Christmas in twelve years without Felix. The realization made her think back to the very start of their marriage, when she’d been young and foolish and completely in love with the older, distinguished doctor.

All her life she’d been nagged by her high-society mother to marry a successful man. She was taught to hold her tongue and look pretty, to aspire for nothing more than the security a husband could offer. Ironically, she’d thought she was defying her mother when she’d married Felix. She’d met him while working in the trauma unit at the hospital in L.A.; back then he’d been an up-and-coming plastic surgeon, immediately sucking her in with his dark good-looks and undeniable charm. He’d actually valued her opinion, encouraging her to speak her mind, challenging her with thought-provoking discussions, treating her like a worthy partner rather than the daughter of Martin and Lynn Hathaway, a pair of wealthy Midwest transplants to Beverly Hills.

She should’ve recognized Felix’s controlling nature when he convinced her to quit nursing and demanded she stay at home, but he’d seemed so eager to start a family with her. And she’d wanted the same thing—to be a mother to Felix’s children. She wanted it so badly she’d agreed to concentrate on their marriage and soon-to-be family rather than her career.

But now she was on the other side of the country, choking down the bitter taste in her mouth and parking her Toyota in the tiny parking lot at the rear of her two-story apartment building. She had to stop thinking about Felix and focus on the fresh start she’d been presented with.

Fishing her keys out of her purse, she locked the car and headed for the back entrance of the building. Her apartment was on the second floor, but the building didn’t have an elevator so she had to climb the rickety wooden stairs, which squeaked beneath her boots.

When she reached her apartment, the door swung open before she could even turn the key.

She winced. The latch on the door had been loose since she’d moved in, but she hadn’t gotten around to fixing it yet. Besides, after three weeks in Eden Falls, she’d discovered that hardly anyone locked their doors around here. The crime rate in town was zero—or at least it had been until those Amish girls had begun disappearing.

Entering her apartment, Chloe made a mental note to get the doorknob fixed tomorrow. After the attempted kidnapping of Violet Chastain, she really needed to take better precautions.

Right, because a scarred, middle-aged woman is a mighty draw for a sex ring.

Fine, so the sick perverts snatching up those innocent girls probably wouldn’t take a second look at Chloe Moreno aka Amelia Phillips. But that didn’t mean she shouldn’t be more careful.

After she removed her outerwear and tossed her purse on the plaid-upholstered couch she’d purchased from the sole furniture store in town, she ducked into her small kitchen and brewed herself a cup of tea. She still had that bookshelf to assemble, but at the moment she wanted nothing more than to sit on the sofa, watch the ten o’clock news and clear her head.

Heading back to the living room, she set her tea on the square glass coffee table, then settled on the couch. She drew a flannel blanket around her legs and flicked the remote control.

The second the screen came to life, sound blared from the television speakers.

“I, Chloe, take you, Felix, to be my lawfully wedded husband.”

Horror slammed into Chloe’s chest with the force of a sledgehammer.

Her eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets as she stared at her younger self on the television screen. Clad in an elaborate lace gown with a scoop neckline and full skirt, twenty-nine-year-old Chloe gazed up at her dark-haired husband-to-be with pure adoration. A white-robed priest stood before the happy couple with a leather prayer book in his hands. In the background, the soft strains of violins could be heard.

Her wedding. Dear God, this was her wedding video.

The video she’d left behind when she fled Malibu.

“I, Felix Moreno, take you, Chloe, to be my …”

Chloe leaped off the couch as if she’d discovered a cockroach in her lap. But no, this was worse than a cockroach. Far more terrifying than her irrational fear of insects.

He was here.

Felix was here.

Panic torpedoed through her. Acid burned her throat, making it impossible to breathe. She sucked in shallow breaths, her body trembling so violently she keeled over, sagging against the arm of the couch for balance. Her wild gaze landed on the DVD player, which was whirring away, the seconds ticking off on the display.

She stood there frozen for several long seconds, then she burst into action, grabbing the first object she saw—a heavy glass paperweight sitting on the coffee table.

Swallowing her fear, Chloe crept toward the narrow hallway leading to her bedroom. As she approached the closed door, her heart thudded against her ribs and her lungs ached, prompting her to take a deep breath.

Call the cops, a little voice ordered.

She faltered in front of the bedroom. If her husband truly was behind that door, she had no chance of fighting him off. Felix was bigger than her, and his anger had always given him an inhuman amount of strength.

She had to call the police, then run out of the apartment and wait until the cops showed up to apprehend Felix.

But what if Felix wasn’t here? What if she called for help and then had to explain to the responding officer why a simple DVD posed such a monumental threat to her? She’d have to confess to the police who she really was, and the news would then find its way to Felix. She’d pretty much be announcing to her husband that she was still alive.

When her palms started tingling and black dots danced in front of her eyes, she realized she’d forgotten to breathe again. Sucking oxygen into her lungs, she straightened her shoulders and tightened her grip on the paperweight. She couldn’t risk calling the cops. Technically, no crime had even been committed—her door had been unlatched and nothing had been stolen as far as she knew.

Gathering her courage, she reached for the doorknob and turned it ever so slowly. Then she braced herself, half expecting Felix to burst out and grab her.

But nothing happened.

She pushed the door open, lifted the arm holding the paperweight and burst into the bedroom.

Empty.

The room was empty. And the closet door was wide-open, revealing more empty space because she still hadn’t gotten around to hanging any of her clothes.

Relief skyrocketed through her. Taking another breath, she ducked out of the room and repeated the same process with the little bathroom across the hall.

Empty.

Chloe’s shoulders relaxed, but tension continued to seize her muscles. Soft voices wafted through the apartment, followed by a burst of applause as the guests who’d attended her wedding cheered for the happy couple.

Feeling as if she’d just had the wind knocked out of her, Chloe trudged back to the living room and sank onto the couch. Her gaze fixed on the screen, on the broad smile gracing young Chloe’s eyes as she walked down the aisle arm-in-arm with her new husband.

Only two copies of that wedding video existed. One sat on the shelf of her father’s room at the nursing home in St. Louis, and she doubted Martin Hathaway even knew it was there and doubted even more that he’d suddenly regained his mental capacity, tracked her down to Eden Falls and left the video in her DVD player.

The other copy? Sitting in the entertainment system in the grand living room of her and Felix’s beachfront mansion.

“He found me,” she whispered, the agony-laced words echoing in the suddenly cold air of her apartment.




Chapter 3


“Amelia, I still need that file.” A pause. “Amelia?” Another pause. “Amelia.”

Chloe’s hand snapped up at the sharp command. She turned to see Derek in the doorway of the filing room, his brown eyes flickering with annoyance. “What?” she asked absently.

“Stu Robertson’s file,” Derek repeated, sounding aggravated. “He’ll be here any minute. He rescheduled his appointment, remember?”

“Oh, right, right. Sorry.”

She darted toward the cabinet that housed the N-R files and flipped through the tabs until she found Stu Robertson’s name. Her cheeks scorched with the heat of embarrassment as she handed Derek the folder.

Rather than leave the room, Derek tucked the file under one arm and eyed her warily. “Are you all right? You’ve been acting strange all morning.”

No, I’m not all right! My psychotic husband left our wedding video in my apartment last night and I’m freaking out!

She bit back the words, deciding she didn’t particularly feel like getting fired today. But she also didn’t blame Derek for looking irritated. She’d been distracted from the moment she opened her eyes this morning. Well, that was not entirely true, considering she’d never gone to sleep in the first place. She’d spent the night tossing and turning in bed, clutching the paperweight and trying to convince her panic-ridden brain that if Felix planned on murdering her, he would’ve done it when she walked through the door hours before.

But no amount of convincing could make her believe that anyone other than Felix had left that horrific surprise for her.

Her husband knew she was alive. There was no other explanation for what happened last night, and although she didn’t know why Felix hadn’t just confronted her outright, the sick souvenir didn’t really surprise her. Toying with people was Felix’s favorite pastime. The man was a psychopath hiding behind a white coat and a prestigious reputation, and she knew better than anyone just how much he liked playing games.

“Amelia?”

Damn it. She’d spaced out. Again.

“I’m so sorry, Derek,” she blurted, a streak of guilt soaring through her. “I’ve been a real pain in the ass today, haven’t I?”

“I wouldn’t put it quite that way, but … yeah.” He offered a sheepish grin. “What’s going on?”

“I didn’t sleep well last night,” she admitted. “I didn’t sleep at all, actually.”

He frowned, switching into doctor mode. “Are you prone to insomnia?”

“Not usually. It was just a fluke, I guess.” She smiled. “Maybe it was the excitement of being offered a permanent position here.”

He smiled back, and for the first time all morning she relaxed. Derek Colton’s bone-melting smiles always had that effect on her. “I don’t see how working for a small-town doctor could be very exciting, but thanks for the ego boost.”

“Dr. Colton?” came Nancy’s voice. “Stu Robertson is here.”

Derek glanced over his shoulder at his receptionist. “Put him in exam room two, Nancy.”

Chloe frowned. “Hey, that’s my job, remember?”

“No,” he corrected. “Right now, your job is to grab a cup of coffee and unwind for an hour or so. Maybe the caffeine will wake you up.”

Guilt prickled her skin. Wonderful. Her first day as a permanent fixture in the clinic, and she was being ordered to wake up.

Derek must have glimpsed the objection in her eyes because he chuckled. “I can handle Stu. He’s only here to get a prescription for his arthritis medication. Go, Amelia. Drink some coffee, breathe some fresh air and come back when you’re ready.”

He strolled off before she could argue.

Chloe stared after him in dismay, feeling even guiltier when she heard Derek greet Stu Robertson in that deep, congenial voice of his. The clinic’s appointment calendar was booked solid today, and instead of doing her job, she’d been so distracted that Derek had sent her away.

But she knew he’d made a good call. She’d be of no use to Derek or their patients if her brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders.

Ducking into the small office where she stored her things, Chloe grabbed her coat and purse, then exited the clinic through the back door. Derek was right—the second she breathed in the crisp December air, she felt more alert. In a brisk pace, she walked to the café at the end of the block and ordered a large coffee, then sat on one of the tall-backed stools in front of the window that overlooked the quaint street.

Clasping her hands over the cardboard sleeve of her coffee cup, Chloe attempted to formulate a plan. She’d already replaced her loose door handle this morning; she’d been out the door at eight o’clock and waiting outside the hardware store when the owner opened up shop for the day. She hadn’t been scheduled to work until nine, so she’d hurried home and installed the new handle, along with two shiny new dead bolts and a chain lock.

With that out of the way, she now had to—

Have to what? an incredulous voice demanded. Now you leave town, Chloe!

Her coffee cup froze before reaching her lips. Hands trembling, she set the foam cup on the counter and stared miserably out at the street.

Of course she had to leave town. What the hell other solution was there?

Felix clearly knew where she was—the little gift he’d left her last night proved it. And although Felix might be toying with her now, he wouldn’t play the game forever. Eventually he would confront her.

He’ll kill you.

Or worse, she thought with growing terror. She’d never imagined there could be anything worse than death, but Felix Moreno had shown her otherwise. She lifted her hand to her cheek, but even the scar was small potatoes compared to what Felix was capable of doing.

She couldn’t risk staying in Eden Falls. If she stayed, she wouldn’t just be placing her own life in jeopardy, but the lives of those around her.

Derek.

Her heart lurched at the thought. Felix wouldn’t hesitate to hurt Derek, especially if he knew she’d gone to the Coltons’ ranch for dinner yesterday evening. Her husband’s jealous streak was vicious, and she already knew he didn’t toss out empty threats.

“Something wrong with the coffee?”

Chloe shifted her head to see the barista behind the counter eyeing her warily. “No, it’s fine.”

“Oh. Because you’ve been sitting there for ten minutes and still haven’t taken a single sip.”

Ten minutes?

She hadn’t realized she’d zoned out for that long. Sure enough, when she lifted her cup to her lips, the coffee she swallowed had grown lukewarm. But the caffeine managed to do its thing, kick-starting her brain and making her see that her best option—her only option—was to leave Eden Falls as soon as possible.

With a heavy heart, she slid off the stool and left the café, tossing her half-full cup into the trash can on the sidewalk. Her gaze landed on the quaint brick building at the end of the block, the clinic where she’d finally found a sense of purpose and belonging. The thought of giving up her job was pure torture.

So was the notion of never seeing Derek again.

She hadn’t realized how much she’d come to like and respect him these past three weeks. How much she looked forward to seeing that gorgeous face of his every day, watching those capable hands tending to the patients who adored him.

Swallowing a lump of sorrow, Chloe returned to the clinic just as Stu Robertson was leaving. She smiled at the elderly man, then turned to Derek, who was bent over the reception desk murmuring something to Nancy. His white coat stretched over his broad back and shoulders, and she caught a glimpse of his handsome profile, those firm lips, that strong jaw, his proud forehead.

She fought a jolt of desire and a twinge of regret, wishing things could be different. That she could be the kind of woman that a man like Derek could fall in love with.

As if sensing her eyes on him, Derek turned, a half-smile lifting his lips. “Feeling better?” he asked.

At least stay for the rest of the day. You can’t leave him in the lurch.

Chloe ignored the inner plea, knowing that if she was going to quit, leaving Derek in the lurch was exactly the way to do it. If she left in the most unprofessional, distasteful manner, then the chances of him tracking her down and begging her to stay would be nonexistent.

So rather than smiling back, she slowly shook her head in response to Derek’s question.

His expression instantly sobered. “What’s going on?”

She crossed the room on shaky legs, cast Nancy a discreet look, then met Derek’s brown eyes. “Can we talk in your office for a moment?”

Amelia had quit.

She’d quit.

Derek still couldn’t wrap his head around it.

After his nurse had pretty much sprinted out the door as if a psycho killer was chasing her, he’d desperately wanted to run after her, but he couldn’t just walk away when he had a waiting room full of patients expecting to see him. For the first time in his life, he found himself cursing his success. A booming practice was every doctor’s dream, but today, the endless string of appointments had become Derek’s worst nightmare. All he wanted to do was find Amelia and try to make sense of what had happened. Instead, he’d forced himself to go about his day—seeing patients and updating charts—all the while fighting the urge to kick something.

Only yesterday she’d been thrilled to accept a permanent position. What the hell had changed?

I made a mistake.

Small-town life isn’t for me, after all.

Her feeble excuses continued to flash through his head, burning a hole in his gut, which roiled with anger and frustration.

“Will you excuse me for a second?” Derek said, cutting Rita Vernon off midsentence.

The elderly patient wrinkled her nose. “Is something wrong?” She paled. “Do my symptoms sound serious?”

“No, no,” he said quickly.

“High cholesterol? Anemia? Oh, God—please don’t say cancer!”

Derek inwardly cursed Amelia for leaving him in the lurch like this. Mrs. Vernon was a bona fide hypochondriac who showed up at the clinic nearly every other day, but Amelia had had a soothing effect on the woman the last time she’d come in, which had made Derek’s job a helluva lot easier. Now he was on his own, and as he fielded Mrs. Vernon’s panicked questions, his frustration levels skyrocketed.

“Mrs. Vernon, I’m fairly certain that you are of absolute perfect health. I just need to excuse myself so I can grab your file, okay?”

Because he’d forgotten to bring it into the exam room with him. Because that was Amelia’s damn job.

Mrs. Vernon relaxed. “Oh. All right.”

As Derek slid out the door and headed for the file room, he pulled his cell phone from the breast pocket of his coat and dialed his brother’s number.

Tate picked up on the second ring. “Hey, Doc, what’s up?”

“I need a favor.”

“Hit me.”

Balancing the phone on his shoulder, Derek yanked open the file cabinet. “Amelia just quit,” he muttered. “Can you—”

“She quit?” Tate interrupted. “Why the hell did she do that?”

“Apparently St. Joseph’s in Philly made her a better offer.” Bitterness lodged in his throat like a wad of gum. “And she also gave me some bull about not being suited for small-town life.”

There was a beat of silence. “Did you really just curse? Wow. You must be pissed beyond belief.”

Derek grabbed the Vernon file and stalked to the door. “Look, I need you to find out more about this St. Joseph’s job. See if you can figure out how much they offered her—if it’s a money thing, I might be able to match it.”

Tate’s whistle echoed in his ear. “You really want her, huh?”

Derek stiffened.

“As a nurse,” Tate added, amusement ringing in his voice. “You must really want her as your nurse.”

Derek neared the exam room. “I’m about to see a patient. Can you help or not, Tate?”

“I’m on it. I’ll get back to you.”

Derek disconnected the call and returned to Mrs. Vernon, spending the next twenty minutes reassuring her that she wasn’t dying of any sort of conceivable disease. By the time he ushered her out of the room, he was ready to tear his hair out. Despite the packed waiting room, he told Nancy to give him a few minutes before sending in the next patient.

He stalked into his office, shut the door and let out a string of curses that no doubt would’ve stunned everyone in his family speechless.

Pacing the office, he thought of Amelia’s agitated hazel eyes, the way she’d wrung her hands together and avoided his gaze. Then he remembered the way her entire face had lit up yesterday when he’d offered her a permanent position. How did a person go from happy to distressed in less than twenty-four hours?

Ask Tess.

Derek halted midstep. A jolt of pain shot through him as the memory of his wife surfaced, followed by a lump of bitterness that rose in his throat. Yeah, he knew all about irrational behavior, didn’t he? The mood swings, the tears, the desperation. Tess’s illness had destroyed their marriage—no matter how badly he’d wanted to be there for her, he hadn’t been able to help the woman he loved.

Ignoring the painful throbbing in his chest, Derek took a deep breath and tried to clear his head. Christ. He couldn’t hide out in his office thinking about Tess and Amelia. He had a responsibility to his patients and at the moment, that was all he could afford to concentrate on.

Several hours later, Derek bid goodbye to his last patient of the day, sent Nancy home and marched back to his office. He kept a change of clothes in a small cabinet by the door, and he shrugged out of his jacket as he headed for it. He ditched his scrubs and put on trousers and a cable-knit sweater, then shoved his feet into a pair of leather wing tips.

His cell phone rang just as he finished dressing. A glance at the caller ID revealed Tate’s number. Finally.

“What’d you find out?” Derek asked in lieu of a greeting.

“Come outside and I’ll tell you myself.”

He wrinkled his forehead. “Why are you outside?”

“Because we’ve got Sawyer’s parent-teacher thing in twenty minutes.” Tate chuckled. “You forgot, didn’t you?”

Busted.

Derek couldn’t believe the conference had slipped his mind—he was normally on top of stuff like that. But Amelia’s sudden departure had sent his mind reeling.

Damn. He’d been planning on heading straight to her apartment once he’d cleared his schedule, but Tate had thrown a wrench in that plan.

“I’ll be out in a sec,” he said as he grabbed the wool coat draped over the back of his desk chair.

Tate was waiting on the sidewalk in front of the clinic when Derek strode outside. After locking up and setting the alarm, Derek turned to his brother with an expectant look. “So? Did you get the information?”

Tate scrubbed a hand through his light brown hair. “Yeah, I did.”

“What did St. Joseph’s offer her?”

“Nothing.”

Derek frowned. “What do you mean, nothing?”

“I mean, the human resources department at the hospital has never heard of Amelia Phillips. She never submitted a résumé, and she certainly didn’t receive any job offers from them in the past twenty-four hours.”

“You’re certain of this?”

Tate nodded.

A fresh wave of frustration crashed into him. What the hell? Amelia had lied to him.

But why?

And if there was no offer from St. Joseph’s, then what had spurred her to up and quit?

He shook his head. “I need to see her. Do you mind going to the school on your own?”

“No way, Doc.” Tate’s voice was firm. “We might all be Sawyer and Piper’s guardians, but you’re the one they look to as a father figure. And you’re the one who stays on top of the school stuff. I need you there, bro.”

Derek suppressed his annoyance. As much as he loved Tate, Gunnar and Emma, he sometimes felt as if they’d left him holding the bag after their parents died. Gunnar had enlisted in the military and disappeared for more than a decade, and although Tate and Emma had stuck around, they’d been more focused on their careers than their little siblings. And sure, their jobs in law enforcement were demanding, but so was Derek’s practice. Why was he expected to juggle his work with the responsibility of raising two kids?

He’d never voice the complaint, though. He’d come to accept the reality of his situation—he was Derek, the responsible rock of the Colton family, the healer and protector, the man who always did the right thing, who always put others first. But sometimes he wished his siblings would step up and shoulder some of the burden. A man could bear only so much weight before he broke.

Sighing, he fished his car keys from his coat pocket. “We’ll take separate cars. I want to head over to Amelia’s the second the meeting ends.”

Ten minutes later, he and Tate reconvened in the parking lot of Eden Falls Middle School. They entered the school through the back doors, their shoes squeaking against the linoleum floor as they made their way toward Sawyer’s homeroom.

“So you’re really riled up about Amelia,” Tate remarked.

“She’s a good nurse,” he replied in a terse voice.

His brother’s answering silence lasted far too long for his liking. “What?” Derek said defensively. “Say what’s on your mind, Tate.”

Tate lifted his shoulders in a nonchalant pose. “Seems to me you’re into more than her nursing abilities. You invited her to dinner—”

“Sawyer invited her,” he cut in.

“And the private ranch tour? That was all you, Doc. You wanted to be alone with her.”

He found himself unusually flustered. “That woman is damn secretive. I just wanted to get some answers.”

As they approached Sawyer’s classroom, Tate grabbed Derek’s arm and forced him to stop. “It’s okay to admit you like her,” Tate said in quiet voice. “Tess has been gone for two years. It’s about time you started to show interest in a woman.”

Discomfort wrapped around his spine like strands of ivy. Tate was wrong. He didn’t like Amelia, not in a romantic way, at least. He respected her. Appreciated her skills. Enjoyed her company.

Lusted over her gorgeous face and curvy body….

Shock spiraled through him. Holy crap. He did like her.

He shifted his gaze and noticed the barely restrained grin on his brother’s face. “Just figuring it out now, huh?”

Derek promptly averted his eyes and took off in a brisk walk again. They reached Sawyer’s classroom, but when he poked his head into the room, he saw that Sharon Bentley, Sawyer’s teacher, hadn’t wrapped up her current conference. She held up one hand to signal she’d be another five minutes.

Derek nodded in response, then stepped back into the hall and gestured to the wooden bench lining the wall. He and Tate sat, their big bodies awkwardly positioned on the kid-size bench. Both stood at six feet, and the bench was so low to the ground it was as if they were sitting on the floor.

“Anyway, about this Amelia thing,” Tate continued.

“I can’t talk about that right now. I … I can’t.” He let out a breath. “Tell me what’s happening with the investigation.”

Tate’s expression hardened. “The sting operation is going down next week.”

“So your informant came through?”

“Yeah, Miller’s giving us the locations where the girls are being held. My supervisor has me posing as a buyer—I’m a rich New York businessman looking to buy myself a sex slave.” A combination of revulsion and rage dripped from Tate’s tone.

Derek felt pretty sick himself, and he was totally feeling his brother’s rage, too. It horrified him to think that innocent girls were being sold off in a sex ring as if they were cattle. Both Tate and Emma were working overtime to crack this online ring wide open, and the coordinated efforts of the FBI and the Pennsylvania and Ohio PDs were finally paying off, especially now that Solomon Miller, a minor player in the ring, was working as an informant to help law enforcement nab the ringleaders.





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