Devon’s eyelids fluttered once more and opened. Bloodshot or not, Rachel couldn’t help admire the deep sapphire color that stared back at her. “Hey,” she said softly. “Can you tell me your name?”
He blinked, moaned again, and tried to sit up.
“Easy now,” Rachel said, assisting him to a sitting position where he leaned his back on the side of the couch for support. “Do you know where you are?”
His gaze shifted to her and his eyes widened. “Shannon?” he croaked in a slightly slurred tone, grabbing her upper arm in a firm grip she hadn’t thought him capable of in his current condition.
“No, I’m not—” she began but he leaned forward, staring at her with an intensity of love and adoration that silenced her. His rough palm cupped her cheek and his thumb skimmed her lower lip. Her breath caught.
“Shannon,” he rasped. “I’ve missed you so damn much.”
Again, his words were a bit garbled, but she was able to make them out. She shook her head in denial. “No,” she repeated, wondering who this Shannon was.
He gripped both of her upper arms and yanked her against his chest roughly. She collided with a solid mass of muscle with a soft, “Oompf.”
“See, Evie,” Rachel heard Seamus saying above her with a chuckle. “The boy’s taken with her already.”
A soft, “Hmmfph,” was Evie’s reply.
What was Seamus playing at here? Distracted by the conversation between the two apparitions above her, she didn’t see Devon’s drunken intent. Cool, dry lips covered hers. She gasped and he slipped his tongue inside sloppily. He tasted of stale cigarettes and whiskey.
Ewww… Palms splayed against his chest, she shoved hard. His head slammed into the carpet with a dull thud. “Look, buddy,” she said sternly. “I’m not Shannon. You’re concussed and need to sober up.”
With ease, she extricated herself from his fumbling grasp. Rachel swiped the back of her hand against her mouth, lips tingling from the memory of the urgent pressure of his. The experience might have been pleasurable if it weren’t for the alcohol. She stared at the confusion that spread across his rugged features. Those eyes… So damn blue. She closed her own lids briefly before opening them again and studying him. She’d always thought him handsome. Well, she amended, when he was sober and cleaned up, of course.
Why had he let himself go and get into this state? Was it because of this Shannon? Rachel searched her memory. Hadn’t Seamus mentioned a daughter-in-law? Her gaze went to Devon’s left hand and zoomed in on a solid platinum wedding band. Married. He was married. Inexplicable disappointment washed over her. She dispelled it with a hard shake of her head. He must be having marital problems and came over here to drink his woes away. Not her business.
“Look, pal, let’s get you on the couch where you can sober up.”
Careful of the broken glass, she tossed his arm over her shoulder and placed another around his waist, helping him unsteadily to his feet. He was a big man. Six-foot-two at least, and about 220 pounds of solid muscle leaning heavily on her as she helped him onto the soft leather couch where he promptly fell asleep with loud snoring respirations. It had been no easy feat considering her five-foot-five stature in compared to his considerable bulk.
“He and his wife having marital problems?” she asked Seamus, placing a pillow under Devon’s head. She smoothed a lock of dark hair back from his forehead, examining the laceration once more.
When no answer came, she glanced to where Seamus had stood. Hovered, she corrected, remembering how his ghostly feet had been several inches off the floor. He wasn’t there. She looked around the room. Empty.
“Seamus, you coward. Get back here and help me. He’s your son!” she yelled.
*****
Well, there you have it! Please stop by and check out the rest of the fantastic #MidWeek Teases. Comments are always welcome and appreciated, so drop me a line. I'd love to hear what you think!
BLURB
When death steps in...
Committed and compassionate intensive care nurse, Rachel O'Dea will do anything to save her patients. But when she loses a kind and loving man whom she forged a fatherly relationship with, Rachel unravels.
...or so everyone thinks.
The calm and soothing voices Rachel hears and the apparitions she sees are of the deceased man and his late wife as they navigate and persuade her to make important choices in her life, leading her right where she's supposed to be.
Free clinic doctor, Devon Jameson, needs more hands on deck. He can't possibly handle all the medical cases alone. When Rachel walks in, volunteering her services, he knows he has no choice other than to take her on board as she proves her worth when a pediatric trauma is left on his doorstep and there’s no one else to assist. As the two begin working together, their lives intertwine and the attraction intensifies. Scarred deeply by their past and their pain, Rachel and Devon begin a future only angels could predict.
When death steps in...
Committed and compassionate intensive care nurse, Rachel O'Dea will do anything to save her patients. But when she loses a kind and loving man whom she forged a fatherly relationship with, Rachel unravels.
...or so everyone thinks.
The calm and soothing voices Rachel hears and the apparitions she sees are of the deceased man and his late wife as they navigate and persuade her to make important choices in her life, leading her right where she's supposed to be.
Free clinic doctor, Devon Jameson, needs more hands on deck. He can't possibly handle all the medical cases alone. When Rachel walks in, volunteering her services, he knows he has no choice other than to take her on board as she proves her worth when a pediatric trauma is left on his doorstep and there’s no one else to assist. As the two begin working together, their lives intertwine and the attraction intensifies. Scarred deeply by their past and their pain, Rachel and Devon begin a future only angels could predict.
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11 comments:
Hahaha. I love that last line. Well if you have meddlesome ghosts you'll need a sense of humour, right. LOL
I'm also curious about what's going on with Devon and the elusive Shannon.
Congratulations on your upcoming box set release!
Kai xx
Curious. I look forward to getting to read the whole thing when it comes out!
Great post. Well done.
Fab snippet, Kathleen, well done!
Love that last line, lol. Great tease, Kathleen.
Now I'm intrigued... I think Seamus is hiding something... is he? :) Great snippet!
Thanks Angelica. These characters cracked me up!
Thank you Susanna!
Ha ha! Thanks Doris!
Thanks Lucy!
Need to read and find out!!
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