Orchard Valley Brides Read Online Free PDF Page A

supposed to know?” Karen snapped. “It isn’t my place to question. My job is to obey.”
    Norah couldn’t keep from laughing. “Karen, he’s only a man. You’ve dealt with others just like him a hundred times.”
    Karen shook her head. “I’ve never met anyone like Rowdy Cassidy. Are you coming or not?”
    â€œNot.”
    Her friend ran a hand through her disheveled hair. “I was afraid you were going to say that. Would you consider doing it as a personal favor to me?”
    â€œKaren!”
    â€œI mean it.”
    Still Norah hesitated. She wasn’t a servant to be summoned at Mr. High-and-Mighty’s command. Even if he’d whipped the other members of the hospital staff into shape—the shape of his choice—she had no intention of following suit.
    â€œI’ll stop in later,” she said reluctantly.
    â€œHow much later?”
    â€œI’ll wait until I’m on break.”
    Karen’s smile revealed her appreciation. “Thanks, Norah. I owe you one.”
    Norah wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t seen it herself. A few days earlier, Karen would’ve given up her retirement to have Rowdy Cassidy removed from her floor. A mere twenty-four hours later, she was running errands for him like an eager cabin boy wanting to keep his pirate captain content.
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    â€œYou can leave my lunch tray there,” Rowdy instructed the young volunteer, pointing to his bedside table.
    Norah watched the teenager hang back as though terrified of crossing the threshold into Rowdy’s room. Considering the earlier incident with a meal tray, Norah didn’t blame her.
    â€œCome on, now,” Rowdy returned impatiently. “I’m not going to bite you.”
    â€œI wouldn’t believe him, if I were you,” Norah said, taking the tray out of the girl’s hands.
    Rowdy scowled. “It’s about time you got here.”
    â€œYou’re lucky I came at all.” She didn’t like what was happening. Rowdy had manipulated the staff, bullied them into getting his own way, but such methods wouldn’t work with her.
    â€œIt’s been three days. Where have you been?” he demanded, frowning fiercely.
    â€œI didn’t know I was obligated to visit you.”
    â€œObligated, no, but you must feel a certain moral responsibility.”
    She set down the tray, and crossed her arms. “I can’t say I do.”
    He scowled again. “Where was it you said Valerie and her…husband were honeymooning?”
    â€œI didn’t.”
    â€œHawaii? Carlton probably hasn’t got an imaginative bone in his body. Which hotel?”
    â€œCarlton?”
    â€œWhoever Valerie married. I’m right, aren’t I? They’re in Hawaii. Now tell me the name of the hotel.”
    â€œYou must be joking, Mr. Cassidy. You don’t think I’d be so foolish as to give you the name of the hotel so you could pester my sister on her honeymoon, do you?”
    â€œAha! So it is Hawaii.”
    Norah winced.
    â€œI just wanted to send a flower arrangement,” he went on, his voice a model of sincerity. “And I thought a bottle of champagne would be in order. I’d like to congratulate them, since I missed their wedding.”
    â€œA flower arrangement? Champagne? I’ll just bet,” Norah muttered under her breath.
    Rowdy went still for a moment. “You don’t know mevery well, do you, Ms. Bloomfield? Or you’d appreciate that I’m not the kind of man who’d begrudge others their happiness. Now that Valerie’s married Carlton, I—”
    â€œColby,” she interrupted.
    â€œColby,” he repeated, bowing his head slightly. “Well, I’d like to offer them both my most heartfelt congratulations.”
    Norah shrugged. “Sorry, I don’t have the name of their hotel.”
    Rowdy’s gaze hardened briefly. “Then I have