[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Amanda. God forbid that she should cause trouble. Most of that magazine reporter s are topnotch.
 She doesn t work for a magazine, she recalled.  She said she was trying to sell a story that would
get her foot in the door. But she was also on the trail of some sports star who was supposed to be
hiding out in the Tetons up in Wyoming.
 A hopeful, he said, relieved.
 She was pretty optimistic. And very ambitious.
He fingered the sheet.  Something you should know about.
 I only want to work in a partnership and not have to do all the rough jobs and odd hours, she said
wistfully.  I was lucky to get the partnership at all. There are four of us in the practice, but I m the
junior one. So until I prove myself, I can t really expect much free time.
 It sounds to me as if they re the lucky ones, he muttered.  Are they all men?
She nodded.  All older than me, too. I m just out of college and full of new ideas, new theories and
treatments and they think I m a hotshot so they won t listen.
 You probably make them feel threatened, he said pointedly.  And as to who s the lucky one, I think
it s the other partners, not you. They re getting all the benefits and none of the unpleasant work.
 I could hardly open my own practice fresh out of school, she began.
 Why not? Plenty of people do.
 I m not rich, she said. She went to the window and looked out. The snow was still coming down
without a break in sight in the sky.  I barely had enough money in the bank to finish school, and part
of it was done on government student loans. I have a lot to pay back, that doesn t leave much over for
furnishing an office.
 I see.
She shrugged and turned back with a smile.  I don t mind working my way up from the bottom.
Everybody has to start somewhere. You did.
It was a nicely disguised question. He adjusted the pillows and leaned back again.  I started as a
second guitarist for a group that got lost at the bottom of the pop charts.
Eventually I worked up to helping do backup work for some of the better musicians.
That s how I met Amanda Sutton she was Amanda Corrie Callaway back then, he added with a
smile.  She and I started working together on a project, along with another guy in the band, and we
discovered that Amanda had a voice like an angel. It didn t take us long to put an act together, add a
drummer and a second guitarist, and audition for a record company. He shook his head
remembering.  We made it on the first try.
Amazing, that, when some people take years just to get a record company executive to listen to them.
 Didn t it help that you d been a football star?
 Not in music, he replied with a rueful smile.  I was a nobody like the rest of the group until our
first hit.
 Why the name Desperado? she asked.
 You ve never seen a group shot of us, I gather?
She smiled apologetically.  Sorry.
 Look in the top drawer of the desk over there against the wall. He pointed toward it.
She opened it and there was a photograph of four men and a woman.
 Now do you need to ask why? He chuckled.
 Not really. They were a frightening bunch, the men, all heavily bearded and mustached with unruly
hair and they looked really tough. Amanda was a striking contrast, with her long blond hair and dark
eyes and beautiful face.
 We ve been lucky. Now, of course, we may really have to stop performing. It all depends on how
Amanda is doing. He looked briefly worried.  I hope she s all right. I can t even telephone to ask
how she is. At least I know Quinn won t let anything happen to her. He s a wild man where Amanda is
concerned.
She thought about having someone that concerned for her welfare and wondered how it would feel.
Her father had cared about her, but no one else had since he died. She d been very much alone in the
world.
She picked u the soup bowl, but her mind not at all on what she was doing.
He didn t understand the sadness in her face. He reached out and caught her wrist.
 What s wrong? he asked softly.
She shrugged.  I was wondering what it would be like to have someone worry that much about me,
she said, and then laughed.
He let go of her wrist. He d been wondering the same thing. His lean hand smoothed over the
bedcover.  I want a bath. Do you suppose you could run some water for me?
 You re very weak, she cautioned.  And what if you get chilled?
 It s warm in here. Come on. I can t stand being grungy.
 Grungy?
He chuckled.  Maybe there s a better word for it somewhere.
 If you get stuck in the tub, how will I ever get you out? she asked worriedly, measuring him with
her eyes.  Heavens, I couldn t begin to lift you!
 That s a fact. But I wouldn t risk it if I didn t think I could cope. Humor me.
 All right. But if you drown, she advised,  I m not taking the rap for it.
She went into the bathroom and filled the tub with warm water. It was a Jacuzzi, luxurious and
spotless, and she envied him. Her guest bedroom had a nice shower, which she d used the night [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]