Lightning Strikes Part Three

By Mary Lynn Baxter

36 Hours Serial

As a devastating summer storm hits Grand Springs, Colorado, the next thirty–six hours will change the town and its residents forever….

Lightning Strikes Part 3

Amanda isn't ready to forgive Noah just yet…and Noah isn't ready to confess why he walked out on her. But their problems aren't the only ones. Karen's daughter remains trapped in a cave. Noah's sister Randi called but he still has no idea if she's in danger or just a runaway bride. The storm has forced the citizens of Grand Springs to hold on tight to what matters most.

Don't miss the next book in this ongoing story, Strange Bedfellows by Kasey Michaels.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Feb 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781743649411

Book preview

Chapter Nineteen

Noah Howell’s irritability was high.

The doctor rubbed his hand across his rough cheek and chin, uncomfortable with the itch caused by a long overdue shave. Maybe he ought to take this spare minute allotted him by fate and take care of that problem.

However, first things first: his mother. He needed to talk to Melissa, to let her know he had heard his sister Randi’s voice and that after running away from her own wedding, she was at least alive. He also needed to check on Melissa herself, the feeling of misplaced loyalty beginning to rear its ugly head.

Dammit, he was concerned for his family’s welfare, though he had to admit actions spoke louder than words. Hopefully, Melissa had remained at the inn and not tried to return home in this weather. Grand Springs was having torrential rains, with nonstop thunder and lighting. The power was still out across most of the city and the hospital ER has been crazy. Knowing his mother, she could jump either way. She was one stubborn woman, especially when she thought it would give her leverage over him.

Noah punched out the numbers to Squaw Creek Lodge, where Randi’s wedding was to take place, but the static was so severe that even if he got through, he wouldn’t hear a damn thing.

He slammed his smart phone down, feeling his irritation climb even higher. He had to get a grip on himself or he was bound to make a mistake in surgery, something he couldn’t afford, not at any cost.

Peering down at his hands and seeing that they were shaking did little to improve his disposition. If someone else saw him, doctor or nurse, they would think he was hitting the booze. He was drunk, all right, only not from booze.

Fatigue and anger provided him with a high that booze couldn’t touch. He was walking an emotional tightrope. Any moment, he expected to topple off and crash.

He had managed to let his personal life sneak into his professional one. However, he forced his work to take precedence.

The Collier youngster was first on his rounds.

Laura. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl. And she might not live through the day. Frankly, he was surprised she’d made it this far after such a horrific car accident.

Noah lifted his head, struggling against the rising tide of emotion in his throat. Physical pain and death surrounded him on a daily basis. That he could handle—what he’d been trained to handle. But this emotional tug-of-war going on inside his gut was another matter.

He had thought he’d been strong enough to deal with it. He’d been wrong. Dead wrong. Still, he had no choice but to go forward with his life, with his career. While that all sounded well and good, he didn’t want to go forward, dammit! He wanted to go back to Amanda and take up where they had left off.

And people in hell want ice water, too, Howell, he muttered. Only they weren’t going to get it, and neither was he. Amanda had found someone else. His gut twisted at the thought. But he had to face that fact and deal with it.

How? Now that he could put a name with a face actually made it worse. Disgusted with himself, he strode into the bathroom where he began to shave, still surprised he hadn’t been called to surgery, even with Malcom Riley on duty.

Typically, Saturdays weren’t noted for emergencies either in surgery or in the ER. But this Saturday was an exception as the town remained in a blackout crisis. Though at the moment, the rain had slowed, somewhat.

Noah stared at his face in the mirror and would’ve laughed if it hadn’t been so tragic. He looked awful, like he and the bottle were having an affair.

Spitting a wad of cream out of his mouth, he began shaving. Shortly, he ran his fingers over his face and felt better. His hair, however, was a lost cause. It was too long and too unruly, but until this siege ended, he’d have to let that go, something he’d bet Amanda’s new squeeze wouldn’t do.

Why, pretty-boy Gordon looked like he’d just stepped out of GQ. Noah made a noise that bordered on a grunt. Nothing had been out of place, not one stitch of clothing, certainly not one hair on old Gordon’s head. God forbid.

He’d bet Gordon even ironed his underwear.

Another sharp pang hit him. The thought of Amanda doing the things to and with another man that they had shared was threatening to drive him nuts, not to mention the blood-letting in his gut.

Was she going to marry Gordon? Most likely, so Noah had best get used to the idea. Or better yet, he could stop fighting Riley for chief of surgery and go to another hospital. There were plenty who would take him on staff.

No. He’d come back to Grand Springs, to Vanderbilt, and he intended to stay. Somehow, he’d get over Amanda, and if he didn’t—well, he’d have to live with that.

After all, he was the one who had screwed up, the one who had ruined the best thing that had ever happened to him. Some sins you never get over paying for, he reminded himself with brutal honesty.

Still, she wasn’t married yet. Noah brightened at that fact. And he knew Amanda still cared about him, at least sexually. That was a start. He definitely knew which buttons to push to unleash the passion she kept hidden behind that cool, controlled facade.

He hated playing games, though. He had no patience for such foolishness. But after seeing her with another man, he knew he would do most anything to have her. So much for all that bull about his work being his only mistress.

He wanted Amanda so badly he could taste it—taste her.

Noah muttered another curse, then stomped back into the office just in time to see an incoming text on his phone, calling him to ICU, which meant the summons was serious.

He raced out the door, instinct telling him the Collier girl was in big trouble.

* * *

Suction, please.

Nurse Beth Randall did as she was told, then looked at the monitor, then back at Noah. Her blood pressure’s dropping, Noah.

Noah shouted another order, then went back to work, looking for the bleeding artery. He’d been right. When he’d reached the special care unit, Laura Collier had been at death’s door. She had started to bleed internally.

Get her upstairs ASAP! he’d shouted, then trotted alongside the gurney himself.

Now, as he worked fast and furiously to