The Winner Takes It All. Alison Roberts

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СКАЧАТЬ slow recovery gave her insight into how magma must feel as it rose out of the earth’s mantle and moved into the crust. She wasn’t a mix of solids, melt and gases, but the physics behind making progress with her injuries was similar and taking way too much time.

      In the hallway, Sarah noticed someone in the kitchen. Someone with brown hair. Someone female with two braids.

      Not Cullen. Leanne.

      Sarah stumbled, but regained her balance before she fell. She’d experienced a lifetime of disappointments, everything from forgotten birthdays to having her marriage disintegrate. Not seeing Cullen was nothing in the grand scheme of things.

      Leanne greeted Sarah with a smile. “You’re up early today.”

      “I went to bed around eight.” Sarah hadn’t been that tired, but she’d wanted Hannah to go home and say good-night to her three children. Being tucked in meant a lot to kids. It would have meant a lot to Sarah if her parents had done that.

      Cullen must have come and gone while she was sleeping. If he’d returned home at all. A few times this week he hadn’t, and not knowing where he was bugged her.

      Sarah leaned against the breakfast bar. “I thought Zoe was going to be here.”

      “She had to run to Portland, so two of us are tag-teaming it.” Leanne picked up the coffeepot. “You’re stuck with me until lunchtime.”

      “You’re the one who’s stuck.” These women were so kind and friendly. “I appreciate what you’ve been doing for me.”

      “It’s our pleasure.” The sincerity in Leanne’s voice touched Sarah’s heart. “This is what friends do for each other.”

      Cullen was so lucky. Hood Hamlet was a very special place. A perfect place for a family. Not that she would ever have one…

      As Leanne poured coffee into two cups, light glimmered off her diamond engagement ring. The pretty paramedic had found her one true love at the fire station. A younger man who adored her, according to Zoe.

      Sarah felt a pang. Maybe happy-ever-afters were possible for some people. She hoped so for her new friend’s sake.

      “Sit.” Leanne placed the steaming mugs on the table. “I baked banana-nut muffins.”

      Sarah sat. “I like those as much as blueberry ones.”

      People in Hood Hamlet took care of each other and strangers like her, too. Home-cooked, healthy meals were either made or arrived each day. Though Cullen had been away so much, he’d ended up with leftovers. When he came home…

      Her throat tightened. Cullen hadn’t fallen right back into the same pattern of their marriage, but the longer he stayed away, the more she worried he might.

      Leanne returned to the table with a platter of muffins. “Dig in.”

      “Thanks.” Sarah bit into one. The flavors and warmth filled her mouth. “Delicious. I like the walnuts.”

      “Me, too.”

      She took another bite, but couldn’t stop thinking about Cullen. Thoughts of him more than made up for his physical absence. That added to her growing frustrations over her injuries and inability to get much work done. She tore off a piece of the muffin and shoved it into her mouth.

      Concern clouded Leanne’s brown eyes. “Taking it easy is hard for you.”

      Sarah stared into her coffee cup. “It’s downright aggravating.”

      “Cullen told me you’re improving every day.”

      Hurt sliced through her. He hadn’t told her that. She shouldn’t take it personally. She wasn’t his friend or a climbing and ski partner like Leanne.

      So what if he’d kissed Sarah? Or spent two whole days and night taking care of her before he’d returned to a marathon of shift coverage? She was a temporary roommate and no longer a permanent part of his life—a life she was beginning to envy after a week and a half in Hood Hamlet.

      Being envious was silly.

      Everything she wanted and cared about was in Bellingham. Mount Baker. The institute. Her postdoc.

      Leanne studied her. “Since you’re doing better, maybe it’s time you do something in town.”

      Anticipation made Sarah sit straighter. “I would love that.”

      “Zoe wants us to go to Taco Night at the brewpub this evening. Join us.”

      Sarah’s stomach fluttered. “Sounds like fun, but I don’t know if Cullen will agree. He can’t turn off the doctor switch.”

      Leanne grinned. “I’ll talk to him. Convince him going out will be good for you.”

      “He still might say no.”

      “Then I’ll ask Paulson to help me kidnap you. He’s been my best friend since I was nine. He’s up for anything.”

      “Even kidnapping?”

      “Pretty much,” Leanne said. “He might draw the line at disposing of a body, but with Paulson you never know, especially if a pretty woman is involved.”

      A smile tugged at the corners of Sarah’s lips. “Sounds like an interesting guy.”

      Leanne sipped her coffee. “He’s a real-life Peter Pan who will never grow up, but he’s also a total sweetheart. You’ll meet him after lunch. He’s staying with you until Cullen gets home.”

      Sarah perked up. “Cullen will be home tonight?”

      “This afternoon. That’s why tonight is perfect for you to get out.”

      “I’d like that.” Especially if she could be with Cullen.

      “It’ll happen.” Leanne sounded so confident.

      “And if not, you and Bill can kidnap me.”

      A fake kidnapping sounded fun, given Sarah had been lying around since she’d arrived. Now, if she’d been lying around with Cullen…

      Heat rocketed through her. Uh-oh. Better stick to how she was going to get to Taco Night. Mexican food was as spicy as she could handle right now.

      Cullen sat in the hospital cafeteria. A few crumbs from his fish and chips remained on his plate. He sipped his coffee. The caffeine would get him through the next two hours.

      A good thing he needed to cover only eight hours today. He’d spent the past five days covering shifts for others and working his own. He’d ended up staying at an anesthesiologist’s house rather than drive all the way home only to return a few hours later.

      He missed Sarah, but enjoyed this reprieve. Being with her messed with his head. He didn’t want her getting anywhere close to his heart.

      But this time away from her had intensified his guilt. Not only for leaving СКАЧАТЬ