anyway . Instead , she padded to the bathroom and stared at her reflection in the mirror , wincing at the fresh bruise . A final rebuke from her loving husband .
Kelsee ended the call and mentally prepared herself to play the part of the grieving widow . Make-up would camouflage the bruise . Dark shades would hide any other remnants of what had become of their marriage . Or maybe she ’ d display what he ’ d done . This was one secret he wouldn ’ t take to the grave .
They met in the emergency room where she worked . The cop , with the chiseled features and sexy smile , had a habit of trying to coax a reaction from her . She never obliged . Kelsee had convinced herself that she didn ’ t need the distraction .
What happened next was a blur . Kelsee remembered tending to a gunshot wound patient . She remembered a loud banging sound coming from the admitting area . She remembered the doctor turning toward the hall and screaming . All she could recall was the shape of the gun a teenager pointed at her .
***
Kelsee came to on a cot . For a blissful two seconds , she didn ’ t know where she was . Her memory returned in waves . The controlled chaos of the emergency room . The smell of sulfur from the gunpowder .
And then a baritone voice said . “ I knew I would get you in bed , but I didn ’ t envision it happening this way .”
Her eyes snapped open . Officer Williams ’ dark hooded eyes lasered into her own . Up close , she noticed a scar under his clean-shaven chin and his scent , a heady blend of musk cologne .
“ What happened ?” Kelsee croaked and swallowed hard . She tried to sit up but couldn ’ t navigate the mechanics of her body .
He extended his hand . “ Some punk tried to finish off your patient . My partner had to put him down .” Kelsee turned to leave and winced from a jab in her side . “ You may feel that for a while ,” he said , “ I had to tackle you .” “ I didn ’ t even get dinner first .” Kelsee blinked in horror . Was she really flirting with the man right now ? “ I mean , I owe you a thank you .”
“ I ’ m Alex , by the way .” He cleared his throat . “ How about we get a coffee or something ?” He tucked a stray curl behind her ear . “ As you can see I ’ m a nice guy . You have to say yes this time .”
His touch fought for space in the jumble of thoughts clouding her mind . Kelsee sighed . Maybe she should give Mr . Nice Guy a chance .
Michelle D . Rayford won a literacy contest in the fifth grade and the writing seed was planted . It only took a couple of decades for that seed to bear fruit . Even pursuing a degree in Business Administration , working a government job , getting married and having two daughters , didn ’ t stop the stories from churning in her head and finally making it into print . She ecently released her first novel , Moment of Truth . www . michelledrayford . com