Read Online Course of Action: Crossfire by Lindsay McKenna;Merline Lovelace - Free Book Online Page A

when he awoke, he would find himself decently dressed once more. She smiled secretly, taking her fingers and gently moving them up and down his nape, knowing how much he’d enjoyed the massage in that area particularly. It was as if he had become putty in her hands, his thick muscles willing to be molded fully by her fingers. He trusted her.
    She couldn’t help herself. Cait placed her hand on Dan’s shoulder, her lips taking his softly. Then she whispered, “I love you, Dan Taylor. Just know I love you...”
    * * *
    One more week and he could get out of this prison of a bed. Dan looked darkly around the emptied ward, damn jealous of his five ward mates. His stomach grumbled with hunger. As he looked around, he tried to manage his frustration at feeling caged. He was anxious to see Cait once more. She tried to see him every day, taking her lunch with him. It was early January now, and today, she’d promised him, she had a surprise that would rock his world.
    Dan tried to resist his need to move. According to his ortho surgeon, Dr. Barker, his leg was healing spectacularly well. She was very pleased with his progress. He just wanted to get the hell out of his bed. He was dying for fresh air and sunlight. Anything to feel sun on his flesh again. Or to stand barefoot on the white sands of the beach and inhale the salty air into his lungs. With Cait at his side.
    Dan slid his fingers through his recently trimmed hair in an aggravated motion. It felt odd not to have shoulder-length hair anymore. He missed his beard, too, since he hated to shave every day. The only good thing was that Cait seemed to think he was even more handsome than before and that pleased Dan.
    The door opened.
    â€œHi,” Cait said breathlessly as she pushed a wheelchair into the room. Grinning widely, she said, “Guess what, Dan Taylor?”
    He couldn’t help but smile at her radiant enthusiasm, her red hair down and glinting copper and burgundy highlights across her shoulders. “I give. What?”
    She gave him a prim look. “How would you like to have lunch with me? Outside?”
    His mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”
    â€œSure am, Texas guy.” She pointed to the wheelchair. “I have orders right here—” she patted her upper blue scrub pocket “—to take you outside for at least an hour so you can feel the world around you. How’s that for a healing prescription?”
    Dan shook his head. “You’re serious?”
    â€œOh, am I ever.” Cait laughed. She turned just as three orderlies entered the room. “These guys are going to officially untruss you.”
    A nurse came in with a huge, odd-looking leg brace for his thigh in her hands.
    â€œAnd Abby is carrying your leg stabilizer. Once she and I get it into place, the guys are going to slowly move you and your legs off to the side of the bed. Sound good?”
    Dan could hardly believe it. Cait’s cheeks were flushed, her green eyes dancing with giddy happiness. “But,” he stumbled, “I’ve only been on bed rest for five weeks.”
    â€œDr. Barker said you’re a week ahead of your bone-knitting schedule. She’s the one who cut these new orders for you, Dan.” Cait handed them to him to read.
    God, it was true! His heart bounded wildly in his chest. “Lunch with you outdoors? Somewhere in the sun?”
    â€œI’ve got the perfect spot for us,” she promised, her eyes glistening with happiness.
    â€œThen, let’s get on with it,” Dan told all of them. “I want out of this prison.”
    Cait stood back and grinned. Abby was waiting at her side, smiling. The three orderlies dismantled the tent of covers over the lower half of Dan’s body. He had finally gotten rid of the catheter last week, which pleased him no end. His right leg was red and purple and there were stitches up and down it from his knee halfway up to his