All-American Girl Read Online Free PDF Page A

lining it up with a stapler and tape dispenser. “I don’t understand.”
    “Your grandmother’s primary care physician diagnosed her with dementia. Her memory was failing, and she forgot to take her medication. That’s why she had the stroke.”
    “I see.”
    “But she doesn’t have dementia. We discovered a vitamin B12 deficiency, the symptoms of which mimic dementia. If she’d been on supplements, she wouldn’t have had a stroke. Once we get her new medications regulated, your grandmother will be good as new.”
    “Are you saying she’ll be able to go home soon?”
    “Yes. She needs therapy for the damage to her motor skills, but in time she’ll be fine. Her memory and fine motor skills are improving every day. Dorothy is very lucky.”
    Samantha was the lucky one. She had a second chance with her grandmother, a chance she didn’t deserve. She wouldn’t screw it up this time around. If there ever was reason to pull herself together, Samantha knew that this was it. She stood and held out her hand. “Thank you, doctor. This news means the world to me. I appreciate everything you and your staff have done, and I’m sorry again for yelling at you when I came in.”
    He handed her a card. “Here’s the information for the rehabilitation center Dorothy will go to when she’s discharged. Due to her ongoing physical limitations, they might give you information regarding certain modifications that will need to be made to her home. Give them a call.”
    “I will.”
    She walked back down the corridor to her grandmother’s room, thankful Gram hadn’t been taken from her. A tiny weight lifted from her chest.
    When she turned back into the room, she collided with a warm body. Knocked off balance, she rocked back on her heels, trying to stay upright. Strong hands caught her elbows. Once her feet were firmly on the ground, she wrestled her arms away.
    She stared at Lance’s too-close chest. His tight T-shirt stretched over its breadth, and she watched as it expanded, stretching the fabric even further, as he breathed.
    She bit down on her bottom lip in frustration, raising her eyes to meet his. Why had butterflies taken root in her stomach and started a damn colony?
    “Aren’t you going to say ‘excuse me’?” she asked.
    An arrogant eyebrow shot up as he lazily tucked his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans. “Me?”
    “No, the invisible man behind you.”
    Lance shifted his weight, and Samantha, as much as she tried, couldn’t help but stare at him.
    “Do you always think you have the right-of-way?” he asked.
    She snorted. “I’m not the one who needs a license to walk. There must be a lot of people in Burlington who need one.” She pointed a finger at his chest. “Or maybe it’s just you.”
    “Or maybe you just need glasses.”
    She tried to push past him, but he grabbed her wrist and spun her around to face him. Less than a foot separated them and she tried to move away, but his solid grasp kept her closer than she liked. Her insides tightened like a cat getting ready to spring. She needed three feet of personal space—period. If he didn’t back off, she was going to explode.
    His nostrils flared as he stared down at her, a glimmer of satisfaction in his darkened eyes. “Did you forget to take your medication or something?”
    She kicked him, bringing her knee right up and landing a good solid blow to the inside of his thigh. He let out a muffled groan as he released his hold and stepped back. Too bad her aim was a little off.
    Then remorse hit her full on; Dr. Wade would be so disappointed in her. Among other things, Samantha was supposed to be working on her people skills. Sure, she needed to control her rage, her overbearing attitude, and her general dislike of the world, but she just couldn’t do it with Lance. With anyone else she could try, but not him. She forced herself to look at Lance. “What are you doing here, anyway?”
    He backed her against the wall, her stomach jumping in