“You want to offer me a job?” Kate asked, staring at Marsh in disbelief at his words. Letter to Reader Title Page About the Author Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Copyright

“You want to offer me a job?” Kate asked, staring at Marsh in disbelief at his words.

“It’s only for a day or two at the most. I’d very much appreciate it if you could see your way to helping me out.” Marsh’s tone was warm and persuasive. “I’m not asking for myself. I’m asking for my daughter.”

Kate heard his underlying cry for help, and she could see his anxiety. She knew she should tell Marsh she couldn’t work for him for any price, but the words stuck in her throat. She didn’t belong in his world—never had and never would. Still, his home had always touched a chord somewhere deep inside her. It was the only place that had ever made Kate feel like she was coming home.

“So will you be coming home with us, Kate?”

“Yes, I’m coming,” Kate said, unable to find it in her heart to say no.

Dear Reader,

The end of the century is near, and we’re all eagerly anticipating the wonders to come. But no matter what happens, I believe that everyone will continue to need and to seek the unquenchable spirit of love...of romance. And here at Silhouette Romance, we’re delighted to present another month’s worth of terrific, emotional stories.

This month, RITA Award-winning author Marie Ferrarella offers a tender BUNDLES OF JOY tale, in which The Baby Beneath the Mistletoe brings together a man who’s lost his faith and a woman who challenges him to take a chance at love...and family. In Charlotte Maclay’s charming new novel, a millionaire playboy isn’t sure what he was Expecting at Christmas, but what he gets is a very pregnant butler! Elizabeth Harbison launches her wonderful new theme-based miniseries, CINDERELLA BRIDES, with the fairy-tale romance—complete with mistaken identity!—between Emma and the Earl.

In A Diamond for Kate by Moyra Tarling, discover whether a doctor makes his devoted nurse his devoted wife after learning about her past... Patricia Thayer’s cross-line miniseries WITH THESE RINGS returns to Romance and poses the question:

Can The Man, the Ring, the Wedding end a fifty-year-old curse? You’ll have to read this dramatic story to find out! And though The Millionaire’s Proposition involves making a baby in

Natalie Patrick’s upbeat Romance, can a down-on-her-luck waitress also convince him to make beautiful memories...as man and wife? Enjoy this month’s offerings, and look forward to a new century of timeless, traditional tales guaranteed to touch your heart!

Mary-Theresa Hussey

Senior Editor, Silhouette Romance

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

A Diamond for Kate
Moyra Tarling

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MOYRA TARLING

was born and raised in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was there that she was first introduced to and became hooked on romance novels. In 1968, she immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, where she met and married her husband. They have two grown children. Empty-nesters now, they enjoy taking trips in their getaway van and browsing in antique shops for corkscrews and button-hooks. But Moyra’s favorite pastime is curling up with a great book—a romance, of course! Moyra loves to hear from readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 161, Blaine, WA 98231-D161.

Chapter One

“It’s Dr. Diamond!” Nurse Kate Turner exclaimed, instantly recognizing the unconscious man the ambulance crew had just wheeled in. Even though she hadn’t seen him in ten years, she’d have known Marsh anywhere. His indelibly handsome image was etched in her memory.

“Who?” asked the first attendant, as he maneuvered the stretcher into the first trauma room.

“Dr. Marshall Diamond,” Kate repeated. “Mercy Hospital’s new chief of staff.”

Ever since Kate had heard the news several weeks ago that Marshall Diamond had been hired as the new chief of staff for Mercy Hospital, she’d wondered if she was the only one in town who wasn’t cheering his return or rolling out the red carpet.

“What have we here?” Dr. Tom Franklin, head of the Emergency Department, asked as he joined them.

“Car accident victim,” the attendant replied. “A teenage driver ran the red light at Cutter’s Junction and rammed into the driver’s side of this guy’s car. He’s got a head injury, possible fracture of the left arm and various cuts and bruises. Nurse here says the victim is one of yours, a Dr. Diamond.”

“My God! She’s right,” Dr. Franklin said in a shocked voice. “Okay, team. On the count of three let’s move him over.”

Kate and the other staff members in the room lifted Marsh from the stretcher to the hospital bed.

An array of emotions swept through Kate as her gaze once more came to rest on Marsh’s bloodied face. She focused her scattered thoughts and proceeded to clean the facial injuries, wiping away the blood seeping from a deep cut just below his hairline.

“That looks nasty,” Dr. Franklin commented. “And there’s a swelling above his right eye. He must have hit the steering wheel,” he added as he studied the wound. “That cut will definitely need stitching. Has he regained consciousness at all?”

“Yes, but only for a few seconds,” the attendant replied. “He was disoriented and mumbling something about his daughter. She was belted into the passenger seat and appeared to be all right. He took the brunt of the collision.”

“Thanks. We’ll take it from here,” Dr. Franklin said. “Kate, once you’re finished cleaning that wound, I’ll put in a few sutures to close it. When I’m done, Jackie can take him upstairs to X-ray his left wrist We’re probably looking at a possible concussion. Kate, alert X ray, and tell them to give this top priority. I want to see those films, stat.”

“Yes, doctor,” Kate replied.

While Dr. Franklin continued his examination, Kate finished up in the room and then went to the phone at the nurses’ desk.

“I’m taking Dr. Diamond up now,” said Jackie Gibson, another Emergency nurse, as she wheeled the gurney into the hallway. “I’ll be right back.”

“Fine,” Kate replied. “Oh, Jackie, one of the ambulance guys said the doctor’s daughter was in the car with him. Has she been brought in yet?”

“I think she just arrived.”

Kate spun around to see a policeman, carrying a child of about five years old, wearing red shorts and a yellow T-shirt, and hugging a teddy bear. She had shoulder-length hair the color of corn silk, and it was obvious from her blotchy face and tearstained cheeks she’d been crying.

“Is this the little girl from the accident?” Kate asked, glimpsing fear in the child’s eyes.

“Yes,” the policeman confirmed. “How’s her father doing?”

“He’s on his way up to X ray. Is she hurt?”

“I don’t think so. But you’d better check her over just to make sure.”

“Here, let me take her.” Kate lifted the child into her arms and crossed to one of the curtained beds.

“Lucky for her she was wearing her seat belt,” the policeman said, following beside them. “Uh...listen, nurse. While you take care of her, I’ll give my sergeant at the station a call.”

“Sure, go ahead,” Kate said as she gently lowered the girl onto the bed.

“Who have we here?” asked Dr. Davis, one of the E.R. residents.

“Can you tell us your name?” Kate asked.

“Sa...Sabrina Diamond,” came the ragged reply.

“Sabrina. That’s a lovely name,” Kate responded warmly. “I’m Kate.

Dr. Davis approached the bed and flashed the child a kindly smile.

“Sabrina and her father were in a car accident,” Kate went on. “She appears to be all right.”

“Let’s take a quick look shall we?” Dr. Davis said.

Kate stood by while the doctor examined the child.

“You’re a very lucky girl, Sabrina,” Dr. Davis finally said, but the child made no response, simply hugging her teddy bear tighter. He turned to Kate and lowered his voice. “Find out how her father is doing and then contact any family.”

After the doctor departed, Kate studied her patient more closely, noting that her eyes were the same startling blue as her father’s. She even had the same serious look about her, but there was also a deep sadness in Sabrina’s eyes that tugged at her heart. She knew the child’s mother had died in a boating accident several months ago. At the time Kate had felt an affinity with the five-year-old, having lost her own mother when she’d been the same age.

“I know it must have been scary for you being in an accident. But Dr. Davis says you’re just fine.” Reaching for a box of tissues beside the bed, she wiped a stray tear from the girl’s face.

While there was no visible evidence of any physical injury, Kate knew that being in the accident, seeing a loved one bleeding and unconscious beside her had to have been a highly traumatic experience for the child.

“Is my daddy dead?” The question was asked in a voice that quavered with emotion.

“No. But he was hurt in the accident.” She kept her tone even, then watched helplessly as Sabrina’s eyes filled with fresh tears.

“Can I see him?”

“He’s been taken upstairs for X rays.”

“What’s an X ray?”

“Your daddy might have broken his arm in the accident. An X ray is a machine that can take pictures of his bones to see if any are broken,” she explained, fighting the urge to reach out and pull the child into her arms.

“Does it hurt?”

Kate smiled. “No, X rays don’t hurt.”

“When can I see him?”

“I don’t know if...” Kate began, and immediately regretted her words, as the tears hovering on Sabrina’s lashes spilled over to cascade down her pale cheeks.

“Aw...sweetheart, don’t cry.” Kate grabbed more tissues from the box and wiped away the tears. “Your father’s being well looked after, I promise you.”

The child’s lower lip continued to tremble. “I want to see my daddy,” she stated emphatically before burying her face against her teddy bear.

Kate put her arm around Sabrina’s shoulder, easily understanding the child’s need to see her father. No doubt, with the loss of her mother still fresh in her mind, she simply wanted confirmation that her father was indeed alive.

“Hey! I know,” Kate said cheerily. “X rays don’t take very long. The nurse has probably brought him back downstairs by now. Let’s go and see, shall we?”

Sabrina sniffed and raised her head to look at Kate. “Okay,” she said.

Lifting the child from the bed, Kate lowered her to the floor. When Sabrina’s tiny hand slid into hers, Kate gave it a gentle squeeze. She led the way to the nurses’ desk where Jackie stood talking on the phone.

As they approached, Jackie replaced the receiver. “Hi Kate. Who have we here?” she asked with a friendly smile.

“This is Sabrina. She’s Dr. Diamond’s daughter. Dr. Davis just checked her over, and she’s fine. But she’s worried about her father. Is he back from X ray?”

“Yes. I brought him down myself five minutes ago.”

“Where is he? I thought he might like to see for himself that his daughter is all right.”

“Uh...” Jackie began and darted a quick glance at the child who stood quietly at Kate’s side. She leaned toward Kate. “He still hasn’t regained consciousness,” she whispered.

Kate felt Sabrina tug at her hand, and she bent to scoop the child into her arms.

“Can I see my daddy now?” Sabrina asked, anxiety threading her voice.

“I’m sorry, sweetie,” Jackie quickly jumped in. “But it’s against the rules.”

Sabrina’s eyes instantly filled with tears.

“I’ll tell you what,” Kate suggested, throwing Jackie a pleading glance. “If you stay here with Jackie, I’ll go take a peek at your father and see how he is. Okay?”

Sabrina sniffed and nodded.

Moving around the desk, Kate settled Sabrina into the swivel chair.

“Dr. Franklin told me to put Dr. Diamond in the old plaster room down the hall. It’s quieter and a little more private there,” Jackie told Kate. “Heather’s with him.”

“Thanks.” Kate turned to Sabrina. “I’ll be right back.”

Threading her way to the rear of Emerg, Kate paused at the door to the plaster room. Had Marsh regained consciousness? And if so, would he remember her?

Kate could still recall with vivid clarity the way he’d looked at her the night of the accident, an accident that nearly cost his sister, Piper, her life.

Piper Diamond, the popular, fun-loving and sometimes reckless sixteen-year-old, had been the only teenager at Kincade High who had made an effort to make Kate feel welcome, when Kate had transferred into the school in early March. Piper had taken her under her wing, instantly seeing through Kate’s facade of careless indifference to the vulnerable, lonely girl beneath.

Once the high school had let out for the holidays, Kate had spent a lot of time with Piper and her brother, the handsome med student who’d come home to study for his exams. Marsh had even taught her how to ride, after first helping her overcome her childhood fear of horses.

Kate had enjoyed the fact that Piper and her brother had treated her like a member of the family, but as the hot summer days passed, her thoughts and feelings for Marsh had intensified and had been anything but sisterly, because she’d developed a giant-size crush on him. Only later had she seen that his friendship was nothing more than polite tolerance.

A bitter smile curled at the corners of her mouth at the memory, a memory that still had the power to hurt. Annoyed at herself and the route her thoughts had taken, she drew a deep steadying breath and opened the door.

Heather Jones, also working part-time for the summer, glanced up from reading the patient’s chart. “Kate, what brings you here?”

Kate darted a quick glance to the supine figure on the bed, noting his left arm wasn’t in a cast but bandaged and in a sling, and proceeded to tell Heather about Sabrina’s concern.

“He’s rather restless,” Heather said. “Dr. Franklin is confident it’s only a matter of time before he’ll regain consciousness. He was thrashing and moaning a few minutes ago, but he’s settled down again.”

Kate cast another nervous glance at the patient. “His arm isn’t broken?”

“Apparently not. It’s just a light sprain. He’s a lucky man. The teenager who hit him wasn’t wearing his seat belt, and his injuries are much worse. He had to have his spleen removed, not to mention that he’s got a broken leg and multiple lacerations.”

“That’s too bad.”

“Uh...Kate, I hate to ask, but while you’re here, would you do me a favor?” Heather hurried on.

“A favor?”

“I’m under orders to stay with Dr. Diamond until he regains consciousness. But Dr. Franklin needs the lab results from a test he had done on another patient earlier tonight. Could you stick around while I run upstairs to the lab?”

Kate hesitated. “Sure,” she finally said, certain Heather would do the same for her if the situation was reversed.

“Thanks. I’ll be as quick as I can.”

Kate stood for several seconds after Heather left, listening to the sound of Marsh’s steady breathing. Slowly she inched her way toward him, her curiosity overriding her reluctance to be anywhere near the man who’d treated her with such disdain the last time they’d met. Her stomach muscles tightened with tension as her pulse kicked into high gear.

Slowly she studied his ashen face. He hadn’t changed much. He looked older, more mature, but even after all this time he was still the most attractive man she’d ever known.

A clean dressing now covered the cut she’d treated earlier. His thick black hair, normally brushed back, was in careless disarray, falling across his forehead to soften his features. He looked totally vulnerable, completely defenseless, and Kate had to stop herself from reaching out to touch him. She felt her heart pound against her breastbone, then quickly right itself when she noticed that the bruise over his right eye had begun to change color, darkening from red to purple and spreading over his eyelids.

Continuing her perusal, Kate noted the sweeping curve of ebony lashes that were just like his daughter’s, before her gaze settled on the fullness of his lips, lingering there for several long seconds.

Her pulse tripped in double time and a shiver chased through her as she recalled how she’d once tried to imagine what it would be like to have Marsh kiss her.

Suddenly his lips began to move, his mouth opening to emit a low, pain-filled moan.

Kate couldn’t move. Her feet seemed to be glued to the floor as she watched his eyelids flicker before his lashes lifted to reveal incredible ice-blue eyes.

Marsh moaned again, louder this time, a sound that tore at Kate’s heart. His arms started flailing, but the sling restricted his movements. He grew more frantic by the second, tugging at the bedclothes in an attempt to break free.

Fearful he might hurt himself, Kate placed her hands gently but firmly across his chest to restrain him.

Marsh’s struggles intensified.

“Dr. Diamond. Please, take it easy.” Kate spoke softly, hoping to calm him. “You were in a car accident, and you’ve been brought to Mercy Hospital.”

At her words he immediately stopped struggling. “An accident?” he repeated, his voice little more than a hoarse whisper. “My daughter? Where’s my daughter? Is Sabrina all right?”

“Your daughter’s fine,” Kate assured him, wishing Heather would return, sure at any moment Marsh would turn and recognize her.

He clutched her arm, and she felt his fingers dig painfully into her flesh. “Why is it dark in here?” he asked, panic vibrating through his voice. “Why can’t I see?”

Chapter Two

“This isn’t happening!” Marsh said in a low growl of anger, frustration and pain.

Kate watched his handsome features contort. In an attempt to allay his fears, she covered his hand with hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze, ignoring the ripple of awareness that danced up her arm at the contact.

“Dr. Diamond, you’re all right. Try to stay calm. You have several injuries, including a sprained left wrist. It’s in a sling and restricting your movements.”

“Where’s Sabrina? I must find her,” Marsh said, distress evident in his tone. Jerking his good hand free, he began to fumble with the bedcovers trying to push them aside.

“Dr. Diamond! Your daughter wasn’t hurt in the accident. Trust me. She’s quite safe,” she added, but he was much too agitated to listen, shoving her unceremoniously aside, before sitting up and swinging his legs off the bed. But as soon as he stood a dizziness seemed to assail him, and his legs buckled beneath him.

Kate braced herself to take Marsh’s weight. She managed to steady him, but the feel of his lean, muscular, near-naked body pressed hard against hers sent her pulse jumping around like a blip on a radar screen.

With every breath she drew, his earthy male scent swarmed her senses, transporting her back to the summer afternoon she’d slid off the back of a horse and right into his arms. Kate could still vividly recall those heart-stopping moments when he’d held her tight. They’d stared at each other for several long seconds, the air between them charged with tension.

“Marsh! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Dr. Franklin asked as he rushed in.

“Tom? Is that you?” Marsh asked tentatively. He broke free of Kate’s grasp, turning his head in the direction of the new arrival.

“Yes, it’s me. What are you doing out of bed? I take it you don’t like your new role as patient?” he commented as he and Heather approached the bed.

“You got that right.”

“Why the frown? Are you having trouble with your eyesight?”

“It’s nothing. I’ll be fine in a minute. Someone forgot to turn on the lights, that’s all,” Marsh assured, but his voice sounded concerned.

“Nice try, Marsh. But the lights are on. I’d advise you to let the nurses help you back into bed so I can examine your eyes. And don’t even think about arguing. You might be the hospital’s new chief of staff, but your job doesn’t start for another month. Besides, here in Emerg, I give the orders.”

Kate glanced at Marsh and caught the look of frustration and resignation that flitted across his handsome features.

“Fine! Have it your way,” Marsh said, sighing. “I’ll extract my revenge on the racketball court,” he added, in an obvious attempt to maintain some measure of control.

“It’s a deal,” Tom replied easily before nodding to Kate and Heather, who quickly moved to assist Marsh back into bed.

“Thanks, Kate,” Heather whispered as they both left Dr. Franklin alone with his patient.

Outside in the hall Kate took a deep breath, willing her pulse, still racing, to slow down. Surely it wasn’t possible after ten years, and especially after his unfair treatment of her then, that she was still attracted to Marshall Diamond?

Kate shook her head at the notion and then headed back to the nurses’ desk, where Jackie stood comforting a woman who was weeping.

Behind them, exactly where Kate had left her, Sabrina sat, still hugging her stuffed teddy bear. When she caught sight of Kate, a look of relief came into her blue eyes.

“I’m sorry you had to wait so long.” Kate crouched in front of the chair.

“Did you see my daddy?” Sabrina asked in an anxious voice.

“Yes, but only for a few minutes. I had to leave when the doctor came in.”

“Is he all right?”

“Yes. But he has a cut on his forehead and a few nasty bruises,” Kate answered truthfully. “He’s probably going to have to stay in hospital overnight, just so the doctor can keep an eye on him,” she went on, wanting to prepare Sabrina for that eventuality.

Kate chose not to mention Marsh’s blindness, at least for now. Having seen similar injuries on other patients, she knew it was entirely probable his blindness was only temporary and would resolve itself in a few hours or by morning.

“Do I have to stay here, too?”

Kate smiled and shook her head. “By now the policeman who brought you in will have called your grandparents and told them about the accident. I bet they’re on their way right now to pick you up and take you home.”

“I don’t want to go with them,” Sabrina announced in a defiant voice, a scowl darkening her small features, a scowl Kate had seen before, one Sabrina had inherited from her father.

“Let’s take a look in the waiting room and see if they’ve arrived, shall we?” Kate offered the child her hand.

Sabrina stared at Kate’s outstretched hand for a long moment before reluctantly sliding off the chair. Tucking her teddy bear under one arm, she put her hand in Kate’s.

As Kate led Sabrina out of the E.R., she silently acknowledged that she would be relieved to give Sabrina to her grandparents. It wasn’t that she disliked the little girl, in fact the opposite was true. But this brief-but-unforgettable contact with the Diamond family had proven why she would need to keep her distance in the coming months.

Entering the busy waiting area, Kate immediately spotted the police officer. “I’m glad you’re still here,” she said as they approached him.

“Did the little one check out all right?”

“Yes. She’s fine. Do you happen to know if her grandparents have arrived to take her home? They have been contacted about the accident, haven’t they?”

“Well, not exactly, ma’am. I just talked to my sergeant, and he told me there’s no one at the ranch. No one, that is, except the stable manager and the stable hands. Apparently the family flew to Ireland yesterday to attend a sale of Thoroughbred horses.”

“Oh...I see,” Kate replied. She knew the Blue Diamond Ranch was known around racing circles for its stable of winning Thoroughbreds.

Kate felt a gentle tug on her hand. She quickly crouched down to Sabrina’s level.

“They’re not coming, are they?” the child asked.

“No. But that’s because—”

“I knew they wouldn’t come.” Sabrina continued in a voice that sounded cool and distant and much too grown-up for a five-year-old. “My mommy told me they didn’t like me,” she added.

“Oh, Sabrina! Surely not!” Kate reacted out of shock at the comment.

“Mommy said Daddy didn’t like me, either,” Sabrina blithely went on. “That’s why he went away. But my mommy’s dead, and I have to live with my daddy now.”

“Oh, Sabrina! I’m sure your mother wouldn’t have said such a thing about your father or your grandparents,” Kate chided gently, astonished and dismayed by the child’s comments.

“Yes, she did.”

Kate didn’t know how to respond. The little girl who’d been so anxious and concerned about her father earlier seemed to have vanished, and she couldn’t understand why the change had occurred.

“My daddy’s going to die, just like my mommy. Then I’ll be all alone!” Burying her face in the bear’s soft fur, she burst into tears.

Kate gently embraced Sabrina. “Oh, sweetie, don’t cry,” she crooned softly. “Your father isn’t going to die. He’s going to be fine. I promise,” she added, lifting the weeping child into her arms.

“Should I contact Child Services?” the officer suggested.

Kate knew this was standard procedure when no family members were available to care for a child. But she was sure this would exact too high an emotional toll on the motherless child. Especially given the remarks Sabrina had made about her father and her grandparents.

During that summer ten years ago, when she and Piper had been friends, one of the things Kate had admired and envied about the Diamonds had been their strong family ties. She’d never forgotten the genuine warmth and love they’d had for one another. As Piper’s friend, she’d had a taste of what this felt like. She’d even thought they’d accepted her. But Marsh had quickly set her straight.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll handle it,” Kate quickly asserted, as Sabrina’s grip on her tightened.

Kate readily acknowledged she was being overprotective and that Sabrina’s welfare was really none of her business. But she remembered how frightening it had been once when she’d been placed in a foster home for a few days with strangers, well-meaning people who’d tried to be kind, tried to understand.

She’d been so terrified she wouldn’t see her father again, she’d learned to accept his drinking without complaint. He was all she had left of family, and she’d been determined to stay with him whatever the cost.

“Marsh, be reasonable. How can I release you tonight? Not only are you suffering from a concussion, a mild one I grant you, but you can’t see—” Tom Franklin broke off and let out a sigh. Closing his patient’s chart, he moved to stand next to the bed.

“You’re a damned good doctor, Marsh, one of the best, and I agree with your diagnosis, that your blindness is more than likely only temporary—”

“Then let me out of here. Let me go home,” Marsh quickly cut in, though he suspected from the tone of Tom’s voice the argument was already lost.

“You always were a stubborn son of a gun,” Tom remarked. “But I can’t, in good conscience, allow you to leave,” he went on. “Believe me, if the situations were reversed, you’d be reading me the riot act for even suggesting it.

“You know as well as I do, even if the swelling behind your eyes goes down and the pressure on the optic nerves is removed, your vision won’t necessarily return right away. You’re going to have to bite the bullet and spend the night. We’ll reassess your condition in the morning.”

“All right!” Marsh grunted. Much as he liked and respected his colleague, Tom’s voice was beginning to grate on him, compounding the headache still throbbing at his temples, the same headache he’d only minutes ago denied even existed.

“You concede? Well, this is a first,” Tom responded with a soft chuckle.

“I don’t have much choice, do I?” Marsh countered, suddenly drained. “But what about my daughter? Are you sure she’s all right?”

“I was in Emerg when you and the other driver were brought in, but I didn’t see your daughter. No doubt by now the police will have contacted your folks, and they’ll be on their way to the hospital. But, if it will stop you worrying, I’ll see what I can find out about your little girl.”

“Thanks. I just hope my folks are home,” he added on a sigh. “They didn’t know we were coming today. I wanted to surprise them.”

“I know they’ve been looking forward to your return. What about Piper? Is she home, or is she still in Europe working for that magazine?”

“She’s still in Europe,” Marsh responded, thinking it had been five years since he’d last seen his baby sister.

“Well, I’m sure we can figure out something. I’ll see what I can find out,” Tom said. “In the meantime I’ve arranged to move you upstairs to a private room.”

Marsh felt Tom’s hand on his shoulder. “Relax and try not to worry.”

“Easy for you to say,” Marsh mumbled under his breath. He listened to the sound of his colleague’s footsteps cross the floor, followed moments later by the hiss of the door as it closed.

A heavy silence descended, and instantly a feeling of panic started to build inside him like a summer squall. The darkness seemed to press down, entombing him, bringing home the stark and inescapable reality that he was blind.

Where there once had been light and colors, depth and delineation, people and movement, now there was only an all-encompassing blackness that seemed to devour him, thrusting him unwillingly into the role of prisoner.

His breath hitched and locked in his throat, causing his heart to beat against his ribs at an alarming rate. Pain pounded inside his head, and the sour taste of bile rose in his throat. Swallowing repeatedly, he fought down the nausea making him gag.

Angry at his body’s show of weakness, a weakness he couldn’t seem to overcome, he gripped the bedsheet with his right hand. He braced himself as another wave of panic slammed into him, sending his heart rate accelerating once more.

Muttering a litany of curses, Marsh concentrated on slowly and deliberately filling his lungs with oxygen, before releasing it in one long, cleansing breath. He repeated the action, only this time, mingled in with the hospital smell of antiseptic, Marsh caught the delicate and exotic scent of jasmine.

Momentarily distracted, he frowned. The scent was vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t for the life of him think why. A memory danced on the edges of his mind, just out of reach. He inhaled again, hoping to recapture the perfume and perhaps jog the memory free, but the scent was no longer detectable.

It had to have come from one of the nurses, he silently reasoned, probably the one who’d tried to stop him getting out of bed, the one who’d prevented him from falling.

He remembered leaning hard against her for support, feeling her strength as well as her softness, recalled how there had indeed been the scent of jasmine in the air.

He shook his head. Undoubtedly his sense of smell was heightened by his blindness.

Marsh gradually loosened his grip on the bed-covers and, wanting to keep the panic at bay, turned his thoughts to the accident

The last thing he remembered was seeing the flashing amber lights, warning them they were approaching Cutter’s Junction, a busy intersection to the south of Kincade. He’d been talking to Sabrina, telling her how much they were going to enjoy living at the Blue Diamond Ranch with her grandparents and her uncle Spencer.

But the happy homecoming he’d envisaged had taken a bad turn, and now he found himself trapped in a world of darkness. Nothing in his thirty-seven years had prepared him for this new and alien world, a world without vision, a world that left him feeling totally powerless and utterly defenseless. Was this his punishment for turning his back on his daughter?

Chapter Three

“Kate, why don’t you take Sabrina upstairs to see her father?”

Kate opened her mouth to object, then shut it again, knowing she should have anticipated Dr. Franklin’s request. After she’d found him and explained the situation, Sabrina had begged to see her daddy.

“Is there a problem? I have a few charts to write up before I finish here.”

“No,” Kate replied, darting a quick glance at Sabrina. “It’s just...well, I mean...” She floundered. “Is he able to—?” She ground to a halt, hoping Dr. Franklin would be astute enough to fill in the blank himself.

“Oh—right.” Dr. Franklin nodded in understanding. He turned to the child. “There is something you should know. When the accident happened your father got a rather nasty cut on his forehead as well as a few bruises and a black eye.”

“A black eye?” Sabrina repeated. “I’ve never seen a black eye before.”

“Oh...and that’s not all,” the doctor continued in the same light vein. “Because of the bump to his head and the bruising around his eyes, your father isn’t able to see.”

Sabrina threw Kate a worried look before turning back to the doctor.

“I know that sounds scary,” Dr. Franklin continued evenly. “And believe me, your father isn’t happy about it, either,” he added in an attempt to make Sabrina smile. “But once the swelling goes down, he’ll be just fine.”

“He’ll see again?”

“He’ll see again,” the doctor acknowledged.

The news of her father’s condition didn’t appear to have upset the little girl unduly, and silently Kate credited the calm, matter-of-fact way Dr. Franklin had explained the situation.

“Can I see him now?”

“Yes. He’s upstairs in Room 516,” he told Kate. “I’ll catch up with you in a few minutes.”

Kate carried Sabrina to the elevators and lowered her to the floor after pressing the call button. “Dr. Franklin’s nice, isn’t he?”

“Can I press the number?” Sabrina asked as she scampered inside the elevator that had just arrived.

“Sure,” Kate replied, pleased that the prospect of seeing her father had cheered Sabrina. She herself had mixed feelings on the matter.

When they got out on the fifth floor, Kate felt Sabrina’s hand slip into hers and glancing down at the child, she flashed her a smile. “Everything’s going to be just fine.” But she saw that Sabrina’s steps had already slowed, and a look of apprehension clouded her small features. Kate gave Sabrina’s hand a squeeze. After tapping the door lightly, she pushed it open.

“Who’s there?” Marsh asked, annoyed to hear a slight tremor in his voice. Since the nurse named Heather had left, he’d become restless and agitated, hating the continuous darkness.

“Dr. Diamond. I’m the nurse who tended you earlier. I’ve brought your daughter to see you.” She tugged gently at Sabrina, who was standing behind Kate clutching her teddy.

“Sabrina? Sweetheart, are you all right?” Relief and excitement echoed in Marsh’s voice. He’d been fighting the urge to get up and go in search of Sabrina, foolish as he’d known it would be. But he’d needed to hear her voice, to know she was indeed all right.

Sabrina made no reply.

“Say hello to your father, Sabrina.” The nurse gently coaxed the child.

“Hello, Daddy.”

“Are you all right? Are they taking care of you?” he asked, trying with difficulty to keep his tone even, so as not to frighten her.

Silence followed his questions, and he had to bite back his frustration at her nonresponse. During the past four months, ever since he’d brought her home, she’d driven him to distraction at times by her unwillingness to communicate. He wished he could see her, see for himself that she was unhurt.

“She’s fine. Not so much as a scratch,” the nurse told him.

Behind them the door opened, and Dr. Franklin entered.

“The doctor man said you can’t see,” Sabrina suddenly announced, her natural curiosity winning the battle with her reserve.

Marsh’s mouth curved into a semblance of a smile. “If you mean Dr. Franklin, then he’s right.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Dr. Franklin said.

“Tom? Where did you come from? I didn’t know you were there.” But there was relief in Marsh’s tone at the presence of his friend. “I was telling Sabrina you were right about me not being able to see,” Marsh went on, attempting to make light of the situation.

“It’s only a temporary setback,” Tom said easily.

“Sabrina, why don’t you climb up here beside me?” Marsh suggested, patting the covers with his uninjured hand. Hearing his daughter’s voice had reassured him somewhat, but he had a longing to touch her.

“Kate can lift you onto the bed,” said Dr. Franklin.

“Kate?” Marsh repeated the name, and at the sound of it Kate felt her pulse wobble.

“Kate’s nice. She’s the nurse who’s been looking after me.”

“And me, too, I believe. Thank you, Kate, for all you’ve done.”

“You’re welcome,” she murmured, lifting Sabrina onto the bed.

Marsh felt the movement beside him, and instinctively he reached out to her. His hand made contact with warm, bare skin, and for a split second he felt a tiny jolt of electricity zip up his arm.

The air suddenly seemed rife with tension, a tension he didn’t understand. Puzzled, he curled his fingers around what he guessed was a forearm, but he knew by its size it didn’t belong to Sabrina.

Marsh heard a sharp intake of breath at the same time as the scent of jasmine assailed him. He instantly recognized it as being the fragrance he’d found strangely disturbing earlier. Once again a memory danced elusively at the edges of his mind, only to drift out of reach.

“Daddy that’s Kate’s arm.” Sabrina’s childish giggle effectively distracted Marsh, and he released his hold on Kate.

“Sorry.”

“That’s all right,” Kate responded, her voice a throaty whisper. She backed away, ignoring the tingle of pleasure his touch evoked, telling her all too clearly that even now he still affected her as no other man ever had.

“By the way, Marsh. I don’t know if Kate has had time to mention it, but your parents aren’t at the ranch. They’re out of the country.”

“What about Spencer? Surely he’s around?” Marsh had talked to his mother a few weeks ago, confirming their arrival at the end of August. He’d managed to wind things up two weeks early and so had decided to surprise them.

“Afraid not. Apparently they’ve all gone to Ireland. ”

“Ireland! Oh! Right. Spencer did mention something about the annual Thoroughbred sales. I didn’t realize my folks planned to go with him.”

“Unfortunately that’s going to complicate matters.”

“What do you mean?”

“Arrangements need to be made for Sabrina’s care, at least until your eyesight returns.”

“Hold on a minute.” Marsh tried to stay calm. “What kind of arrangements?” He reached out rather awkwardly in search of Sabrina and felt his fingers brush her hair.

“I’d offer to take Sabrina home with me,” Tom said, “but Amy, my four-year-old, has the chicken pox. I’m afraid we’re running out of options.”

“What about Mrs. B., the housekeeper?” Kate jumped in, recalling the older woman who’d worked for the Diamond family for a number of years.

Marsh slowly shook his head. “Mrs. B. retired earlier this year and moved to Arizona to live with her brother,” he explained.

“She wasn’t replaced?” Tom asked.

“No. My father’s taken over the kitchen. He likes to cook,” Marsh explained. “I was planning on putting an ad in the paper next week for a part-time sitter.”

“I’m afraid that leaves us with no choice,” Tom said.

“Wait,” Marsh said, knowing what Tom was referring to, but unwilling to let anyone hand his daughter over to Child Services. The upheavals she’d faced lately were quite enough for any five-year-old to be coping with. What Sabrina needed was stability.

“Tom—” Marsh began, as his mind scrambled to come up with another solution. “We both agree that my, uh, injuries, that is my, uh, eyesight will probably be restored by morning, and I’ll be able to go home,” he said in a positive manner. “Perhaps Sabrina could spend the night at the hospital? What do you think, Sabrina? You wouldn’t mind staying here would you?”

“Where would I sleep?”

“I’m sure Dr. Franklin could scrounge up a spare bed for you and let you sleep in here with me,” Marsh replied, pleased Sabrina hadn’t immediately rejected the prospect of spending the night at the hospital.

“Hold on a second,” Tom cautioned.

“Aw...come on, Tom! It isn’t too much to ask, is it?” Marsh cajoled softly. “And if you’re worried about hospital policy, you could always admit Sabrina overnight for observation. She was in a car accident, remember?”

Kate had watched the interchange with interest. She could have bitten her tongue when she mentioned the housekeeper, thinking for a moment Marsh might ask how she knew about Mrs. B., but he hadn’t appeared to notice.

She knew by the continuing silence that Dr. Franklin’s resolve was weakening. Marsh had offered a viable solution.

“I think that could be arranged. Kate, see if you can hustle up another bed and haul it in here. I’ll take care of the paperwork.”

“Yes, Doctor,” she replied and quickly withdrew.

Moments later, with the help of an orderly, Kate maneuvered another hospital bed into the private room. Dr. Franklin had already left.

“Kate?” Marsh began tentatively. “You don’t mind if I call you Kate, do you?”

“Of course, not,” she answered as she shook out a crisp, clean, hospital sheet.

“What time is it?”

“Nine-thirty. Why?”

“Sabrina was just saying she’s hungry. Is there any way you could get her something to eat?”

“Sure. After I finish making up the bed, I’ll pop down to the cafeteria and see what I can find. Would a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of milk be all right?” she asked as she deftly tucked in the sheet

“Yes, please,” Sabrina was quick to reply. “Can I eat it in bed?”

“Sure,” Kate replied picking up a pillow and slipping on its cover.

“Mommy had rules. She never let me eat in bed.”

“Here in Kincade the rules are different,” Marsh countered lightly. “Isn’t that right, Kate?” he added with a hint of humor.

Kate felt her pulse skip a beat at the casual-but-friendly way he included her in the conversation.

“That’s right,” she agreed, smoothing out the blanket, glad he couldn’t see the blush creeping into her cheeks. “In fact, it’s a rule here at Mercy Hospital that you must eat in bed,” she added, and at the sound of Marsh’s soft chuckle a shiver chased down her spine.

“Wow! For sure?” Sabrina asked, obviously unsure whether or not Kate was teasing her.

“For sure,” Kate said with a smile.

“How long have you been a nurse, Kate?” Marsh suddenly asked.

“Seven years.”

“Have you worked at Mercy all that time?”

“No. I’m only filling in for nurses taking their summer vacations. My last shift is tomorrow morning, then I’ll be looking for another job to tide me over until the new wing opens in September.”

“You’ll be working in the new wing?”

“Yes,” Kate replied, not altogether sure why she was telling Marsh. “If you’ll excuse me,” she went on, “I’ll pop down to the cafeteria now, it closes at ten,” she said. “Would you like me to bring you something, too?”

“No, but thanks.”

“I’ll be right back.” Kate flashed Sabrina a smile before slipping out of the room.

The cafeteria, downstairs on the third floor, was almost deserted. Kate asked one of the kitchen workers for a peanut butter sandwich and while she waited, she remembered why she’d wanted to return to Kincade after her divorce.

Kincade hadn’t been the first place she and her father had moved to that year, and Kate had known from experience that it wouldn’t be the last. Her father rarely managed to keep a job for more than a couple of months, usually getting fired either for fighting or drinking, or both.

As it was they’d stayed seven months, twice as long as in most places. For the first time in her life Kate had not only felt at home, she’d made a friend.

Piper Diamond’s easy acceptance of her had been the one bright light in what had been a life of constant change, a life of struggle, a life of misery. Unlike some folks, Piper hadn’t judged Kate by her appearance or by the amount of money she’d had, she’d simply accepted her for herself. For a little while, Kate had tasted happiness. She’d even foolishly begun to hope that maybe this time they would put down roots, this time they would make a real home.

She should have known it wouldn’t last. And on the morning after Piper’s accident, her father had told her to pack her bags, they were moving on. Once again he’d been fired for drinking on the job.

They’d driven through Arizona and New Mexico, ending up in Texas, where her father had found a part-time job on a cattle ranch. By then, she’d applied for entry into a training program for nurses. Just before graduation, she’d received a letter of acceptance.

Her father’s job had ended and once again he’d told her they were moving. But this time Kate, old enough to fend for herself and wanting to strive for her own dream, refused to go with him.

After successfully completing her training she’d moved to Los Angeles. While working at a hospital there, she’d met and married Dan Turner. But she’d never forgotten those months she’d spent in Kincade.

Ever since her mother’s death, she’d dreamed of belonging. And Kincade had once embodied that dream.

When she spotted the ad for nurses to staff Kincade Mercy Hospital’s new wing, she’d leaped at the chance to come back.

She’d known for several years that Dr. Marshall Diamond worked in Chicago, so she’d felt reasonably sure the chances of running into him again were slim. The risk had seemed worth it.

“Here’s your peanut butter sandwich.” The voice cut through Kate’s meandering thoughts.

“Thanks,” Kate said and carried the tray to the cashier. Back upstairs she tapped lightly on the door, before entering.

“It’s only me,” she said, then came to a halt when she saw Sabrina lying across Marsh’s legs, fast asleep.

“She fell asleep,” Marsh said in a hushed voice. “At least I think she’s asleep. She hasn’t made a move in the past five minutes.”

“She’s asleep, all right,” Kate confirmed as she crossed to set the tray on the table at the foot of Marsh’s bed. “I’ll put her to bed, shall I?”

“I think we’ll both be more comfortable if you do.”

Kate carefully lifted Sabrina from her father’s bed and carried her to the one she’d made up nearby. Lowering the sleeping child onto the blankets, Kate carefully removed Sabrina’s shoes, socks and shorts, leaving only her T-shirt and underwear.

“She’s had quite a day,” Marsh said.

“You both have. You should try to get some sleep, too, Dr. Diamond,” she added as she eased Sabrina between the sheets.

After pulling the covers over Sabrina, Kate approached Marsh’s bed. She unhooked the call button from the wall behind him. “If you need anything during the night just press the call button,” she told him as she placed it in his uninjured hand.

Kate started to withdraw, but Marsh quickly curled his fingers around her hand to stop her.

“Thank you, for all you’ve done for Sabrina tonight.”

Kate couldn’t speak. Tiny rivulets of sensation were traveling up her arm, causing her breath to catch in her throat and her pulse to stumble drunkenly. It was all she could do not to pull free.

Although she’d often imagined what she would say or do if she ever ran into Marshall Diamond again, none of the scenarios she’d envisioned had come anywhere near the real thing.

“I’m just doing my job. Goodnight, Dr. Diamond,” she managed to say, before slipping from the room.

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