“The patient has a punctured lung, three broken ribs, a leg cast due to the severity of his break, and what else?” I asked, wanting to make sure I remembered everything.

  I had read over his chart that Uncle Neil had given me, but I wanted to make sure I’d missed nothing. The full leg cast was temporary and would be cut down below his knee in two weeks. That had been written at the bottom in red.

  “Bruised ego and an anger issue,” he replied with a frown. “That is the most important thing for you to remember.”

  I gave him a firm nod. “He’s mean and angry. Got it.”

  Uncle Neil gave me another stern look. “I’ll do the talking. You speak when required. I’ve been working for this family for over twenty years. I have a good relationship with them, and for the most part, I do trust them.” He paused, then sighed. “Let’s go meet the patient.”

  Uncle Neil had already done the surgery. This had all happened in the middle of the night, and I’d been woken up at five this morning with a phone call from him, telling me he had a patient and needed my assistance.

  “He is sedated for now. That will give us enough time to introduce you to the others here and go over what you need to handle,” he told me as we walked up the front steps to the house.

  One of the large double doors opened when we reached the top step. A Viking-sized man filled the door with a scowl on his face. I paused because he was intimidating and slightly terrifying. That was one thing Uncle Neil hadn’t mentioned.

  “He’s awake and bitching,” the massive man said. “Can you shut him the fuck up?”

  Uncle Neil chuckled and nodded his head. “I should have figured he’d be hard to sedate for long. Huck, this is my niece, Shiloh. She is my replacement for Lynn and understands the importance of your privacy.”

  Huck’s gaze swung to me, and his scowl deepened. The way he was looking at me would make me believe he disliked me on sight. “Shiloh.” He said my name as if he knew me and again wasn’t a fan.

  That caused me some concern because I knew that perhaps he did know me—or the me before. The me I didn’t know myself. This had happened a few times since my return to Ocala, but not once had someone acted as if they didn’t like me. I did, however, have a few reservations about the former Shiloh.

  Uncle Neil cleared his throat. “Uh, yes.” He glanced at me with a worried frown. It wasn’t like I could answer this. “She’s responsible and excellent at bedside care. Gage’s personality will require someone who isn’t easily upset. Shiloh works well in that department.”

  Huck continued to study me, as if waiting for me to say something. I smiled in return. If these people did their research, they’d find my picture and name on my uncle’s website. He could have known who I was for that reason because if he knew the former me, he wasn’t saying it. Finally, he stepped back to allow us to enter.

  “I’ll let Gage make this call,” he said, still watching me with unease.

  Uncle Neil went inside first, and I followed him. Curious as to why Huck didn’t seem pleased with my being the nurse. I did hope Uncle Neil had noticed and would perhaps broach the subject.

  “I’ll take her upstairs and deal with the patient,” Uncle Neil told him.

  Huck was still scowling, but he simply gave a nod, then walked away.

  Uncle Neil turned to me. “Ready?”

  “Yep,” I replied.

  The tension in his shoulders and tight line of his mouth made it clear he had noticed Huck’s odd behavior toward me. Why hadn’t he said something? My uncle tried to shelter me from the life I used to have. It didn’t bother me normally because I preferred to not have to ask questions. But if I was going to be in this house regularly, then I thought it needed to be addressed.

  If they had known me before two years ago, then they needed to know that Shiloh Ellis no longer existed. I’d forgotten her life the moment I hit the black ice and crashed into the side of a mountain.

  Acknowledgments

  Those who I couldn’t have done this without:

  Britt is always the first I mention because he makes it possible for me to close myself away and write for endless hours a day. Without him, I wouldn’t get any sleep, and I doubt I could finish a book.

  Emerson, for dealing with the fact that I must write some days and she can’t have my full attention. I’ll admit, there were several times she did not understand, and I might have told my six-year-old, “You’re not making it in my acknowledgments this time!” to which she did not care.

  My older children, who live in other states, were great about me not being able to answer their calls most of the time and waiting until I could get back to them. They still love me and understand this part of Mom’s world.

  My editor, Jovana Shirley at Unforeseen Editing, for always working with my crazy schedules and making my stories the best they can be.

  My formatter, Melissa Stevens at The Illustrated Author. She makes my books beautiful inside. It’s hands down the best formatting I’ve ever had in my books.

  Beta readers, who come through every time: Annabelle Glines, Jerilyn Martinez, and Vicci Kaighan. I love y’all!

  Damonza, for my book cover. This cover could not be hotter if it tried.

  Abbi’s Army, for being my support and cheering me on. I love y’all!

  My readers, for allowing me to write books. Without you, this wouldn’t be possible.

 

 

  Abbi Glines, Smoke Bomb

 

 

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