Bound to the Past (Starville Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

just about hit the floor then. “Turner…changed your flat tire?”
    “I was in trouble, Jack helped. I donʼt see what the problem is. In fact, he was a perfect gentleman.” Sara smiled. “A little gruff, maybe, but nice.”
    “I donʼt believe this!”
    “What the heck?” Nicky shook her head, still gaping. “Sara, Turnerʼs a suspected murderer! Last night could have been a disaster!”
    “Yeah, well, it wasnʼt.” Sara closed her eyes. Counted to five. Reminded herself that her friends were only trying to protect her. Reopened her eyes. “Look, guys, I appreciate your concern, but Iʼm fine. Poor Jack is the one in the hospital right now, so thereʼs no need to worry about what could have happened to me last night.” She blew out a breath when neither of them commented. “Donʼt you need to go back to work before the sheriff comes here looking for you, anyway?”
    “Crap!” Brent took a big gulp from his bottle and jumped to his feet so fast that one of the cats sleeping on the couch meowed in protest. “Sara, please call if you need anything.”
    “I will, thanks―although Iʼm so exhausted Iʼm sure Iʼll be sleeping the entire day.”
    Nicky set her soda on the coffee table. “But youʼre going back to the hospital later, arenʼt you?”
    “Yes.” She raised her chin defiantly. “I know you guys donʼt like it, but I canʼt leave Jack alone right now. Heʼs disoriented, doesnʼt remember anything about his past, and certainly doesnʼt need the hostility everybodyʼs already showing him. In fact, Iʼm starting to think that mine is the only friendly face heʼll ever see around here. But trust me, Iʼll keep my eyes open.”
    Her friends exchanged an unconvinced look. Finally, Brent leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Just promise youʼll be careful.”
    All Sara could do was give him an uncertain smile. “Iʼll do my best.”
     

Chapter 5
    Later that afternoon, Sara managed to go back to the hospital and headed straight to Jackʼs room, but hesitated outside as she noticed that the door was cracked open.
    Unsure of what to do, she gave a light knock, waited, then slowly pushed it open. To her surprise, she saw Jack propped up lazily against the pillows, looking in much better condition. A young nurse was bustling about the small room and, judging by the dirty looks she kept slanting him, she obviously knew about his past. Jack―bless his heart―appeared completely absorbed by the remote control in his hands and didnʼt seem at all affected by her open hostility.
    “Tampering with hospital equipment already?” Sara said cheerfully, entering the room.
    His head snapped up at her voice. The slow, lazy smile that quirked one corner of his mouth made her pulse kick up a notch. “Sara. Youʼre back.”
    She nodded, slightly embarrassed, and sidled to his bedside. “Sorry, I didnʼt mean to walk in like that. I knocked, but nobody answered.” Pretending not to notice the nurse staring at her as if she were a three-headed alien, Sara waited patiently for her to finish what she was doing. Once the woman turned around and walked out of the room, she stuck her tongue out at her back.
    As she turned to Jack, the amused grin on his face made her inexplicably happy. “Lovely gal, isnʼt she?”
    “Sweetness personified.”
    “Anyhow, yes, Iʼm back, and I brought you something to read. I figured this hospital might be boring―and apparently I was right, considering the attention you were paying to that remote,” she joked, pulling out a few magazines from her bag. Sheʼd actually meant to bring him the local newspaper, too, as she figured he might like reading about the current happenings since he didnʼt remember anything; however, sheʼd noticed that Jackʼs picture was on the front page that morning, along with the whole story of what had happened ten years ago, and she certainly wasnʼt going to let him learn about his past that way.
    Jack gave a disgusted look at the remote before tossing it to