Jo Goodman by My Reckless Heart Read Free Book Online

know what's kept him. If I was planning on marrying Jonna I damn well would have been here before now." A glance over his shoulder at the library's mantel clock assured him it was every bit as late as he thought it was. "It's been almost twelve hours since she fell in the harbor. Where's the pup been all this time?"
    That was not Mrs. Davis's concern now, though she had wondered it privately some hours earlier. "But Dr. Hardy said Miss Remington was to rest. She's not past chills and fever yet, he said. And her shoulder's horribly bruised. She requires quiet, not visitors."
    Jack knocked back a third of his drink. "Do you want me to go up there and drag him down?" he asked only half in jest.
    Mrs. Davis eyed his splint as if she was seriously considering it. Finally she said, "No, you're supposed to be in a chair with your leg up. That's what the doctor advised."
    "I was in a chair with my leg up," he told her. "That is, until I heard you caterwauling out here." Before she could object to his description, he held up his arm so he could fit it around her shoulders. "Now, if you'd be so kind as to help me back, we'll give Mr. Sheridan a few minutes with his fiancée before we mount a rescue."
    The housekeeper let Jack's arm settle around her before she looked up at him. She was biting the inside of her cheek, her expression still worried. "There's been no official announcement, so I don't think he's properly Miss Remington's fiancé."
    Jack nodded sagely. "Then we'll give him a little less time, Mrs. Davis. Just to satisfy your notions of what's proper."
    * * *
    Jonna was sleeping soundly when Grant walked into her room. He went immediately to the bed and sat on the edge. His weight depressed the mattress and moved Jonna closer to him. He touched her cheek with his fingertips, stroking softly. As tired as he knew her to be, he couldn't stop himself from waking her.
    "Jonna," he said softly. Bending low, he kissed her cheek. Her skin was warm, flushed with sleep. "Jonna, dear. It's Grant." She moved a fraction, adjusting the hand that lay palm down near her face. Beyond that she didn't stir. He tried one more time, this time placing his hand on her shoulder and shaking her gently.
    Jonna came awake, gasping for breath. Stinging darts of pain brought tears to her eyes. She caught enough air to finally cry out. The effect on Grant was the opposite of what she could have wished for. He gathered her in his arms and hugged her. The words were soothing, but the action was not. She screamed this time, and then her screams became sobs. She struggled against him, wrenching her shoulder until the pain threatened to make her pass out.
    "For God's sake, man, let her go!"
    Grant turned sharply on the bed. He recognized Decker Thorne, but the man's presence in Jonna's home was more confusing than helpful. "Get out!" Grant snapped. "And fetch the doctor. There's something wrong with her."
    Disgusted, Decker crossed the room and wrested Grant away from Jonna. That was not accomplished easily. Sheridan was as tall as Decker but thirty pounds heavier, and not one of those pounds was soft. Pulling him up from his sitting position on the bed took the last vestige of Decker's strength.
    "Miss Remington?" He turned to Jonna as he pushed Grant away. "Are you all—"
    He saw it in her eyes. He knew the blow was coming a full second before it connected. With his strength sapped and his reaction time stretched, Decker couldn't duck the roundhouse punch. Grant Sheridan came from behind, and his fist slammed into Decker's temple. The force of the blow knocked Decker sideways against the rocker. He was out cold before he hit the floor.
    He didn't hear Jonna Remington call his name.

 
     
     
    Chapter 2

     
    "I don't think you're listening to me," Grant said.
    Jonna heard the discreetly tempered anger in Grant's tone and finally put her pen down. She looked up from the ledger she was reviewing to regard him with the full attention he thought he deserved.