To keep her family safe...
He’ll risk everything, even his heart…
After losing his family, Dr. Stavros Makris could never imagine trusting again. So when Desiree Colton rushes her toddler, Danny, to the ER, Stavros must keep things professional with mother and son. But then a kidnapper targets Danny, and Stavros lets down his guard, forging an unbreakable bond with Desiree. As sparks fly between them, they work against the clock to protect the little boy from a criminal closing in…
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Stavros tapped his knuckles lightly on the door in
announcement and entered the room. He was greeted by the sight of a woman sitting
on the gurney, rocking back and forth as she held a boy in her arms. She
looked up as he entered the room, and when their eyes met, Stavros felt a
little shock jolt through his body.
He knew this woman. But how?
Feeling flustered, he frowned slightly as he studied her
face, wishing he’d taken a look at the chart first. “Hi, I’m Dr. Makris. What’s
going on tonight?” Even though the nurse had given him a report of the pertinent
information, he always liked to have his patients, or their parents, tell their
story again, so he could hear the tone of their voice and see their
expressions. Sometimes, the way someone moved or what they didn’t say was just
as important as their symptoms.
“Danny woke up about an hour ago with a high fever,” the
mother said. “I tried to get him to drink water, but he refused. The night
nurse at his doctor’s office said to bring him straight here.”
Stavros heard the fear in the woman’s voice; it was clear
she was scared for her baby. Empathy swelled in his chest. He remembered all
too well what it had felt like to hold a feverish child, to fret and worry over
every little cough or sniffle. He’d thought his medical training would give him
some much-needed perspective when it came to his daughter’s health, but if
anything, the opposite had happened. He’d been so aware of the worst-case
scenario, of all the things that could go wrong. He’d been the one to call the
pediatrician for every little thing, his wife standing in the background trying
to calm him down.
“Tell me about Danny,” Stavros said. He kept his voice
level and calm, and walked Danny’s mother through the questions that would help
him make his diagnosis.
She didn’t hesitate to answer him, and based on her
detailed responses, Stavros could tell she was an attentive mother.
“All right,” he said. “Let’s see if your little guy will
let me examine him.” Stavros already had a presumptive diagnosis in mind, but
he always performed a physical exam to confirm his suspicions.
The toddler’s mother gently turned her son, and Stavros
got his first good look at the boy’s face. “I know you!” The words flew from
his mouth before he realized he was speaking.
Her expression turned guarded. “Oh?”
Stavros realized he’d put his foot in it, but there was
nothing to be done for that now. He nodded. “I…uh…I helped look for your son a
few months ago, after he was taken from the hotel.”
“You did?” Stavros heard the relief in her voice, noticed
the way her body relaxed now that he’d explained his reaction.
“Yeah. I joined a search party after my shift that
night.”
“Oh, wow,” she replied. “That was very kind of you.
I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. I didn’t get a chance
to thank all the people who helped look for Danny.”
Stavros waved away her gratitude. He didn’t want to tell
her that he’d had to do it—he’d been driven by the memories of his own
daughter’s kidnapping. As soon as he’d heard another child was in the same kind
of jeopardy, he hadn’t hesitated. He’d jumped in his car at the end of his
shift and headed to the hotel, needing to help in some way. Logically, he knew
he’d been trying to save this boy the way he hadn’t been able to save his
daughter. But at the time, he’d been ruled by emotions and the desperate desire
to make a difference. Finding Danny wouldn’t bring Sammy back—he’d known that.
But he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if he hadn’t at least
tried.
About the Author
Lara Lacombe is a recovering research
scientist turned college professor who now spends her days writing and
wrangling a toddler. She lives in Texas
with her family and two entitled cats, and loves chocolate and her Crock
Pot. She uses Facebook to
procrastinate--stop by Lara Lacombe Books if you'd like to chat!
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Author
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