Read an Excerpt
As her vision narrowed down to a dim tunnel, and her body swayed like a willow sapling in a gentle breeze, Ellen bit the inside of her cheek. She hoped the sharp pain would clear her head and keep her from falling flat on her face. It didn't. When her head spun and her vision grayed even more, she reached out, groped for something to hold on to--a convenient table, a well-located chair--then squealed when her handsome, sexy boss gathered her into his strong arms and held her against his rock-hard chest.
Oh, well, hmm, that worked, but sheesh. Talk about embarrassing. Still, she might have enjoyed it if the room hadn't chosen that moment to whirl in a vicious circle. And if Nathan hadn't been cursing a blue streak as he held her.
"God damn it, Ellen. This shit has got to stop."
Raising a hand to her brow, she shook her head to clear it then pushed out of his embrace. He held on to her shoulders, but allowed her to put some space between them.
"Sorry, I'm so sorry, Nathan." When her head cleared a bit, she took a tentative step back, locked her knees to offset the weakness in them and looked up at him. Jeez, he's pretty. The phrase, "tall, dark, and handsome" came to mind every time she saw him, as if the term had been coined especially for him. She'd fantasized about how it would feel to be held in his arms, but collapsing against him in a swoon that would have made her great-aunt proud wasn't supposed to be the reason for her being there. Great-aunt Lula had often said a woman had to use every weapon at her disposal in the battle of the sexes. Tears and a graceful swoon were two of her favorites. Ellen had never...
"Damn it, Ellen, listen to me!"Nathan slipped an arm around her waist and led her over to the couch in his office. She sank down into the soft cushions with a grateful sigh then leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
"Jesus, Ellen." Nathan dropped down beside her. "This has got to stop right now. You're letting that sorry bastard ruin your health and if you're not careful, the despicable lowlife's going to kill you."
She didn't say anything. What could she say to say in defense of herself when he spoke the truth? Letting Charles and his malicious behavior affect her this way made her feel like a fool. She didn't have a clue how to stop it, but if she didn't do something soon, she just might end up dead, as Nathan said. And Charles would never see a day in jail for it because all he'd really done was divorce her. Well, that wasn't all he'd done, but as far as she knew, mental and emotional torment weren't against the law.
Nathan took her hand as she opened her eyes. "Ellen, I'm sending you away..."
Oh, Lord, fired from the job she loved! She couldn't afford to lose her job. More important than that, she didn't think she could stand it if she did. Her job was the only thing in her life she looked forward to, the only thing in her life that made sense any more.
"Nathan, I..."
"Shhh. This is for your own good. I want you to go to Eternity Mountain for the next couple of weeks." He stood up and walked to his desk.
"Nathan, I promise I'll do better. I know I've been making a lot of mistakes lately, but I'll..."
He whirled around and she blinked. Normally laid-back and slow-moving, he could move as fast and fluid as a flash of lightning at times. It always surprised her--and fascinated her. Anger, on Nathan, intensified the beautiful silver-gray of his eyes to hard, polished steel and flushed those to-die-for cheekbones he'd inherited from his Cherokee ancestors. Amazing, and okay, a tad bit frightening, to be honest.
"I don't have a single complaint about how you're doing your job, so get that out of your mind right now." He snapped the words out as he lifted the lid from the emerald green candy dish sitting on one corner of his desk and pulled out a key. "I'm worried about my friend Ellen, not my employee Ellen. I'm not speaking as your boss, but as your friend. Charles has been screwing around with your mind long enough and it's time to put a stop to it." He came back and sat down beside her. "I told myself to stay out of it, and I tried. I thought it might be best to let you handle it on your own, and that you would come to me for help if you needed it. But you didn't." He picked up her hand, frowned. "You didn't ask, but you do need help." Turning her hand over, he dropped the key into her palm then closed her fingers around it. "So, I'm through waiting. You're going to Eternity Mountain if I have to drag you up there by your hair. And don't think I won't do it, because I will. Understand?"
Eyes wide, she nodded. "Good, I'll print you off directions to my cabin and I want you up there by this time tomorrow. I don't want to see you. I don't want to hear from you until January second. Got it?"
Fighting an urge to jump up and salute, she sighed. Cockiness wouldn't be appreciated right now and besides, if she tried it, she'd probably end up flat on her face.
Nathan stood, still holding her hand. "Stretch out, this is a good couch for napping and that's exactly what you're going to do."
"Nathan..."
He ignored her. "When you wake up, I'm taking you out for a hot dinner then tomorrow you can head up to Eternity."
She had to put a stop to this, had to tell him she--his low, compelling voice flowed over her like sun-warmed honey. Looking into his eyes, she watched them change, darkening to a deep mesmerizing gray. His hand stroked over her hair, his touch light, gentle, and soothing. "Close your eyes, Ellen. Close your eyes and sleep. Everything will be all right, I promise. Sleep now."
She slept.
loading...