Эль Кеннеди – Colton's Deep Cover (страница 2)
The memory brought an ache to Chloe’s heart. “Has there been any word on Mary and Hannah?”
Derek instantly sobered. “None. Emma and Tate are still working the case, but there are no new leads.”
She shook her head in dismay, unable to comprehend the events that had transpired. The town of Eden Falls bordered Paradise Ridge, which was home to a small Amish community looking to live quiet, peaceful lives. But there was nothing peaceful about recent events. Four Amish girls had disappeared over the past month. Two had been found dead in a remote cabin near the Colton ranch, and the other two—Mary Yoder and Hannah Troyer—were still missing.
Derek’s siblings, Emma and Tate, both worked in law enforcement, and while investigating the disappearances, they’d uncovered a horrific truth—the missing girls were being sold in a sex ring that catered to seedy buyers with even seedier intentions. Emma had gotten closer to Hannah’s brother Caleb over the course of the investigation.
It sounded unimaginable, yet it didn’t surprise Chloe to learn that sadistic people like that existed.
After all, she’d spent the past twelve years living with her very own personal sadist.
“I hate thinking about what those girls must be going through,” Derek said. His handsome face revealed the frustration he felt over the situation. “I wish I could do more to help, but I fear I’d only get in Emma and Tate’s way.”
“I wish I could do more, too,” she said softly, her heart breaking for those missing girls.
“Well, you’re doing your fair share around here,” Derek answered, steering the discussion back on track. “I’m going to be honest, Amelia. You’re a real asset to this clinic. Having you around these past few weeks has made me realize I can’t afford to lose you. That’s why I wanted to sit down with you and talk about your plans.”
“My plans?” Chloe echoed.
He nodded. “I wanted to make sure you still plan on making Eden Falls your home, that you’re not going to suddenly pack your bags and move to Philly or accept a job with some other big-city hospital.”
“Not at all,” she blurted out. “Eden Falls is where I want to be, Dr. Colton. And the only job I’m interested in is this one.”
“That’s good to hear.” Those brown eyes danced playfully. “And how many times must I remind you to call me Derek?”
“Right. Sorry. D-Derek.” Her voice wobbled, and she tried not to cringe. She was forty-one years old, for crying out loud. Why did she always stammer like a schoolgirl in the presence of this man?
Derek seemed to be fighting a grin, which told her he’d picked up on her bout of nervousness. “Well, if you’re serious about sticking around, then I want you to know I’m thrilled to have you. It still amazes me at times, the calming effect you have on anyone you come into contact with.” He looked vaguely embarrassed. “You’re really good with the patients, Amelia.”
“So are you.” The abrupt admission caused her cheeks to heat up again.
Fine, she had a total case of hero-worship when it came to Derek Colton. But how could she not? The man happened to be an incredible doctor. He had an easy rapport with his patients, and he carried himself with a self-assuredness that made her envious. She wished she had half the confidence that this talented doctor possessed in spades.
Also, it didn’t hurt that he was drop-dead gorgeous, which meant that taking orders from him could hardly be considered a chore. And even though she had about ten years on him, he carried himself with a sense of maturity and strength that tugged at something inside her. Derek was a first-class man, the kind of man she wouldn’t have believed existed if she hadn’t just spent three weeks by his side.
“Anyway, that was all I wanted,” Derek said, scraping back his chair. “Could you prepare the exam room for our three o’clock?”
“Of course.” Chloe stood and smoothed out the hem of her shirt. “I already pulled up the Danford file.”
A smile tugged on the corners of his mouth. “Efficient as always, aren’t you, Amelia?”
“Just trying to make an impression on the boss,” she answered lightly.
He chuckled again.
Her heart did a little flip.
Oh, brother. This had to stop. Her growing attraction to Derek was becoming a total nuisance. She hadn’t traveled clear across the country to get lovesick about a man.
She was still a married woman, after all.
As a lump of bitterness rose in her throat, Chloe quickly banished the reminder. “I’ll prep the exam room,” she said before ducking out of Derek’s office.
Her white sneakers squeaked against the floor as she hurried down the hall. She sucked in a few deep breaths, wishing she could erase the memory of Felix from her mind. But each time she thought she was close to forgetting her former life, those annoying reminders crept in like a cat burglar.
Why couldn’t she just put the past behind her? After too many years of living in fear and being tormented by the man she’d foolishly married, she was finally free of Felix Moreno. She’d spent the past two years painstakingly preparing for this, stashing money, renewing her nursing license, arranging her escape. Once she’d gotten free, she’d spent six months making her way east, never staying in one place for long while she waited for the dust to settle. Waited until she could be absolutely certain that Felix truly believed she was dead.
She’d wound up in Eden Falls, Pennsylvania, by pure chance—she’d run out of gas right outside of town. She’d intended on filling the tank and continuing on to Philadelphia, but the moment she’d laid eyes on the idyllic Eden Falls, she’d fallen in love. This small town had everything she’d always dreamed of and never had in California—warmth, joy, a tight-knit sense of family and community. There was nothing fake about the people of Eden Falls; they were kind, decent folks who looked out for each other, which was the complete opposite of the phony, materialistic people she’d been surrounded with her entire life.
When she’d sat in the little diner in the heart of downtown and flipped through the newspaper, the job ad she’d come across had been like a neon sign from a higher power. The clinic in town was in need of a nurse—and what do you know, Chloe had a nursing degree just waiting to be put to use again.
This past month had been so utterly wonderful. She loved her job, adored her cozy one-bedroom apartment, respected the heck out of her boss.
So why was she still battling the impulse to continually look over her shoulder?
As Chloe entered the exam room, something cold touched her cheek. She jumped, then relaxed when she realized it was her own hand. She’d involuntarily begun to stroke the left side of her face, a nervous gesture she’d been trying to wean herself out of. She didn’t want to draw any undue attention to her face, and besides, the thin ridge of scar tissue marring her skin beneath the makeup simply served as another reminder of the life she’d left behind.
Letting her hand drop, she crossed the room and quickly rolled a fresh sheet of exam paper over the table. Then she strode toward the cabinet against the far wall and removed a blue hospital johnny.
As she placed the gown on the table, she squared her shoulders, forcing her brain into work mode. She couldn’t agonize over Felix anymore. She was free now. Safe.
And happy. Damn it, for the first time in her life she was honest-to-God happy, and she refused to let Felix Moreno take that away. He’d already taken too much from her. He’d terrorized her, scarred her, humiliated her.
But he hadn’t broken her.
As a rush of pride welled up in her belly, Chloe left the exam room and headed for the waiting area, banishing all thoughts of Felix and her past from her mind. The only thing she needed to focus on right now was calling in the next patient and proving to Derek Colton that hiring her had been the best decision he’d ever made.
Had he made the wrong decision in hiring Amelia?
Derek puckered his brows as he watched his new nurse slip her arm through Rachel Danford’s. He couldn’t hear what Amelia was saying, but he made out the encouraging note in her soft voice.
Rachel and her husband, Jacob, looked stricken as they listened to Amelia. Jacob was strong and stoic in his dark trousers, brown suspenders and white shirt, his work-hewn hands clutching a wide-brimmed straw hat. Rachel wore a modest black dress and lace-up boots, and beneath the white head covering indicating her married status, her light brown hair was pulled back in a tight bun. She was a pretty girl with a spattering of freckles on the bridge of her nose and the kindest brown eyes Derek had ever seen.
Several of Derek’s patients hailed from the Amish village that bordered Eden Falls. As a physician, he appreciated the hardworking and serious nature of the Amish, and he offered his medical services to all the Amish folk of Paradise Ridge free of charge. Derek had never been one to play favorites, but he had to admit, he held a real soft spot for Rachel and Jacob, a newly married couple only a few years older than his sixteen-year-old sister.