Once More (Mercy Heart #1) Read Online Free PDF

that it was happening, she was kicking herself for avoiding it for so long. But would this moment with Clem seem so momentous if this wasn’t her first kiss?   As the kiss continued, she felt sure it would.
    Her soft moans were making it very hard for him to be gentle with her.  He finally broke away and looked down at her, her swollen, rosy pink lips leading his mind in many hot directions, all of which resulted in the same intense hardening in his jeans.  Her eyes fluttered open and when she met his gaze, he was not surprised to find alarm in her eyes, as she waited to see what his next move would be. 
    He kissed her forehead, took her hand in his, and led her to the couch.  As he sat, he drew her down as well, wrapping his arm around her in an effort to provide some comfort and hopefully allow her to see that she could trust him. 
    Before she could relax completely, she turned suddenly to him and said, “I can explain.” He gestured with his hand as a silent signal for her to continue.  She paused for one more moment, took a deep breath, and began quickly.  “I don’t think I’ve told you this yet, but I already have a job lined up for after graduation.  At Mercy Heart, I’ve had to do nursing training in all areas, but I knew a long time ago that my main focus would be oncology.”  As she looked down and wrapped her arms around herself, a fleeting smile spread across her lips, and then just as quickly disappeared before she continued.  “My mother always had a tan.  During the summer, she would lie in the sun for hours, and in the winter she kept it up at a local tanning booth.  She said looking in the mirror and having a little color on her skin made her feel alive.  Ironically, it was the one thing that caused her death.  I was 15 when she was diagnosed with skin cancer, and it had already metastasized to her bones.  It was incurable, but she fought anyway.  The treatments allowed her to live for a few more years, but during that time, I was her main caregiver.  I kept up with my school work, but my social life was non-existent.  She died two days before my high school graduation.”  Once she paused, she finally looked up and found nothing but compassion and sympathy in his face.  “I started college that summer and haven’t stopped.  From the moment she started cancer treatment, I knew I had found my calling.  I have a unique perspective to offer those suffering with cancer, because I have been on the patient and family side of the care-giving.  I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life.”
    “Don’t you think it will be hard to be with dying people every single day, Kate?” he asked as he gently caressed her back.  She closed her eyes for a moment and enjoyed the warmth of his hand.  The expression on her face was one of solemn pleasure.  A frown crossed his face as he wondered if this was the only affection anyone had shown her in over three years.  Finally, she opened her eyes and looked at him, a tiny glint of tears threatening to fall down her cheek.
    “I’m sure it won’t be easy.  But I know what it’s like to be in their shoes.  How can I not dedicate my life to helping others who are suffering the same way I did?” 
    “Do you have any other family?  What about your dad?” 
    “My mother’s parents passed away in a car accident when I was a child and I don’t really remember them.  I never met my father or any of his family.  My mom grew up in Lawton, Oklahoma, and my father was in the Army, stationed at Fort Sill when they met.  They weren’t together very long, just long enough for her to get pregnant with me.  He was shipped out before she found out she was expecting.  I don’t know if she ever got a chance to tell him about me.  As far as I know, she never tried to contact him.  I don’t even know if he’s alive.  Her parents left her a decent inheritance, and she worked as a dental hygienist because it allowed her a flexible