blush (Westbrook Series) by Mitzi Vaughn Read Free Book Online Page A

When
he let go, Missy ran for her apartment, but he caught her before she could
unlock the door.  He clutched her hair and drug her back to the stairs, making
sure to snatch her purse in the process.  Then with one swift blow to the face
she saw nothing but darkness. 
    When Missy woke up in the hospital, she remembered
the doctors and nurses fussing around her.  She tried to move but the pain and
the IV didn't allow it.  She tried to rationalize what was going on but only
fell into darkness again. 
    The next time Missy roused she was in a room, quiet
and dark other than the light of the television.  She tried to move but only
felt pain.  "You're awake!" Missy looked over and saw a petite blonde
covered up with a small blanket in a chair by the bed.  "Wh-what
happened?" Missy managed to stammer out. 
    "You were attacked in the stairwell of your
building.  Your neighbor called 911 when she heard you screaming."  The
blonde rubbed Missy's hand.  "The police caught him before he made away
with your bag." 
    "Who are you?"  Missy questioned grimacing
from the pain.
    "Missy it's me, Chloe....I am the first quick
dial in your phone so the hospital contacted me when you arrived."  Chloe
stood and pressed the nurse button. "Don't you recognize me?"
    "Everything hurts."
    "Yeah the jackass broke three of your ribs.  You
also have some nasty stitches in your head, not to mention that badass black
eye you are sporting."
    "Hi, Ms. Duncan.  You gave us quite a scare."
The nurse quickly went to work checking Missy's vitals.  She also inserted
something into the IV for the pain. 
    "She doesn't remember who I am," Chloe
informed the nurse with concern in her voice. 
    "That is fairly normal in this type of event,
but I will let the doctor know.  He will be in shortly."
    "Missy do you remember anything before the
hospital?"  The doctor quizzed.  He had already gone through the basics of
what's your name and the date.  Missy had been asleep for thirty- two hours
straight.  The elder doctor blamed the long rest on the medication they were
giving her. 
    "Not really; I see flashes of things but
nothing else." 
    "Well you endured some mild trauma to your head
so temporary amnesia is, to some extent, par for the course.  You also just
went through a very traumatic experience so repression is also normal.  I will
check on you before my shift ends.  Definitely let someone know if anything
changes and for now try to get some rest."  The doctor jotted down some
notes on his clipboard.  "I am going to prescribe you something to help
you sleep.  This should help the swelling which should aid with the memory
loss."

Chapter 13
    On Monday, Brandon arrived at the office bright and
early.  Damn!  She's not here yet.  He checked in with the designers
working on the Mercer project and then headed to his office.  His secretary,
Jeanie, had mentioned she would be late so she hadn't arrived yet.  He put down
his briefcase and went to the break room for coffee.  Once she appeared fifteen
minutes later, she gave him his messages and they went over his schedule for
the day. 
    "Chloe called in and insisted you call her back
at this number."  The lanky woman with gray curls escaping her bun placed
a sticky note on his desk.
    "I'm running behind for my first meeting, I
will call her when I finish up.  Please send her number to my phone, and when
Missy gets here put her through to my cell immediately." 
    Brandon popped his head into Missy's office one more
time before leaving.  Still not here.  That's odd.  She must be really
pissed.
    The morning meetings turned into afternoon
meetings.  By the time Brandon returned to the office, the staff was coming
back from their lunch outings. 
    "Any messages?" Brandon asked Jeanie not
stopping for her to respond.
    "Yes.  You have two messages from R.C. in Dallas
and Chloe called again."
    Shit Chloe.  " What
about Missy?"
    "She hasn't made it in yet sir."
    "Okay.  Get Chloe on the