Page 3 of The Sleeping Girls

Not breathing.

She jerked awake and glanced at the clock. Seven a.m. It was early but her irrational fear took hold. She’d been worried about him, but never had this feeling before. She had to check on Cord in the hospital before heading to work.

Forcing a calming breath, she threw her feet over the edge of the bed.

The wood floor felt cold beneath her feet.

She rushed to the closet. Threw off her pajamas and dragged on jeans and a T-shirt.

Tugging her hair into a ponytail, she grabbed her phone and weapon from her nightstand then snagged her keys. Seconds later, she stepped outside into the early morning light and climbed in her Jeep.

Rain from the night before made the roads slick as she drove toward the hospital.

“You can’t leave me, Cord,” she whispered. “You can’t.”

Ten minutes later, she swung the Jeep into the parking lot, cut the engine then jumped out and rushed to the entrance. Nurses and other staff were bustling through the halls. Breakfast carts clattered. The scent of antiseptic and cleaning chemicals suffused her, making her nauseous. Machines beeped and whirred as she passed patient rooms.

By the time she reached Cord’s, she’d finally calmed her nerves.

She peeked through the open door and saw Lola Parks, the owner of the Corner Café, sitting by his bed, spoon-feeding him eggs. Cord pushed her hand away as well as the plate.

Lola’s back was to Ellie, and Ellie hesitated. Didn’t Lola realize how much Cord hated to be hovered over?

Although she and Cord—Ranger McClain—had shared a night together years ago, they’d settled into a friendship since. He was the best tracker on the Search and Rescue (SAR) team with FEMA, and had been working with her and Special Agent Fox on a task force to solve crimes in the mountains. The Appalachian Trail, with over 2,200 miles of untamed forest, wildlife and isolated areas, had become a hotbed of crime. And a place for criminals to hide.

As if Lola sensed Ellie’s presence, she pivoted, her gaze locking with Ellie’s through the window in the door. Lola stiffened, eyes narrowing and pinning Ellie to the spot.

Ellie opened the door and stepped inside. “He’s awake?” she said softly.

“He woke up last night and has been alert off and on for hours.” Her voice was as tight as her forced smile. “He asked for you this morning.”

Ellie swallowed hard at Lola’s angry look. Almost losing Cord to death had stirred feelings she hadn’t even realized she had.

But she couldn’t act upon them. Cord was having a baby with Lola.

THREE

Cord McClain’s cheeks burned as Ellie stepped inside the hospital room. He felt like he’d slept for a year, but had woken last night and this morning felt almost normal. He’d also remembered that Lola was pregnant.

Had heard her crying and begging him to come back to her and her baby.Theirbaby.

His fingers curled into the sheets and he clenched them into a fist. He hated being confined to a bed like a damn weakling. He was a doer, not a sitter. A man who rescued and saved others, not a guy who needed waiting on by a team of nurses. Or by anybody. And he certainly didn’t want pity. Or Lola hovering over him like a mother hen.

What was he going to do?

His heart skipped a beat as Ellie approached and Lola stepped into the hall. Ellie looked tired and worried and so damn beautiful that she stole his breath. Except for her stubbornness, he liked everything about her.

Hell, he even liked the stubbornness.

Her sandy-blond ponytail swung when she walked. Her soft blue eyes were soulful, loving and tough at the same time.And he admired her fierce determination, even when she threw herself under the bus to save someone else.

“Hi,” she said softly as she rested her hand on the bedrail.

Dammit, he felt grungy and needed a shower and a shave bad.

“How are you feeling?” Ellie asked.

He rubbed a hand over his beard stubble. “Like I want out of here.”

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