Critical Diagnosis

HER PERSONAL PROTECTOR

Researcher Dr. Lily McAllister has dedicated her life to finding a cure for a family disease and now, steps away from a promising new treatment, Lily is attacked. Only the training of army physician James O’Reilly can save her. As the would-be CEO of his family’s pharmaceutical company, James’s secret dream is to reenlist. But he can’t leave Lily with a bull’s-eye on her back. Nor can he stay and stop her from pursuing her goal. No one can, including the stalker who shadows her every move. Still, James has lost too many people he’s loved—and this time he refuses to lose Lily.

Had her stalker followed her earlier out to O’Reilly Manor to threaten her...or worse?

Lily didn’t relax until she parked her car alongside her house. When James pulled in behind her, she waved him off.

“I want to make sure everything’s secure,” he told her as he got out.

“Since when did you become a safety expert?”

He waved a hand down his dress uniform. He took a step closer, hovering over her. She resisted the urge to reach up and place her palm on his chest—to keep him away or to bring him closer, she wasn’t sure. “I know how to protect you,” he said.

The memory of James training a gun on the thug replayed in her mind. “I hate to admit it, but I’m still rattled.”

“You need to be careful.” The concern in his voice settled on her shoulders like a cozy shawl. It had been a long time since someone looked after her.

“I have never felt threatened living here,” she said. Until tonight.

ALISON STONE

left snowy Buffalo, New York, and headed a thousand miles south to earn an industrial engineering degree at Georgia Tech in Hotlanta. Go Yellow Jackets! She loved the South, but true love brought her back north.

After the birth of her second child, Alison left corporate America for full-time motherhood. She credits an advertisement to write children’s books for sparking her interest in writing. She never did complete a children’s book, but she did have success writing articles for local publications before finding her true calling, writing romantic suspense.

Alison lives with her husband of more than twenty years and their four children in western New York, where the summers are absolutely gorgeous and the winters are perfect for curling up with a good book—or writing one.

Besides writing, Alison keeps busy volunteering at her children’s schools, driving her girls to dance and watching her boys race motocross.

Alison loves to hear from her readers at [email protected]. For more information please visit her website, www.AlisonStone.com. She’s also chatty on Twitter, @Alison_Stone.

Critical Diagnosis

Alison Stone

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

—Proverbs 3:5–6

To my oldest, Scotty.

Congratulations on your high school graduation. I don’t know where the past eighteen years have gone, but I loved every minute of watching you grow into the fine young man you are today. God bless you in all you do as you move on to the next phase of your life. Follow your dreams, work hard and success will follow.

To my husband, Scott,

and the rest of the gang, Alex, Kelsey and Leah. You guys are the reason I work so hard. Love you always and forever.

To my beautiful niece, Lily.

The smartest four-year-old I know. I named the heroine in Critical Diagnosis after you. I’ll save a copy for you to read when you get a little older. Sorry, there’s no princess in this book, but it’s still a really good story. I promise.

To Rachel Dylan,

a fellow Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense author, who read an earlier version of this book and gave me some wonderful insight that made this final version so much better. Thank you.

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

EPILOGUE

DEAR READER

QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION

EXTRACT

ONE

“Three Saturdays in a row.” James rested his hip against the desk in the cramped nurses’ station and met Lily’s gaze. His close-cropped hair made him look every bit the army captain he was. “I appreciate it. The patients appreciate it. It seems more and more people are counting on this clinic.” He tossed the medical chart on top of the pile, a satisfied smile on his handsome face. A day well spent. The chart teetered. Lily lunged to grab it. James did the same, his solid hand brushing against hers, but he was faster.

“Oh, boy—” Lily McAllister dipped her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t want to be around if those charts hit the floor and all the files scatter.” She stood and divided the pile in two, stacking them neatly next to one another. Stepping back, she planted her fists squarely on her hips. “There.”

James laughed, his white smile bright against his tanned skin. “Nancy would have my head on Monday. She already gives me a tongue-lashing when I file the charts. Apparently, I’m messing with her system. I guess it takes more than a month for the new guy to figure out the system. Even though I was the one who set up the system before I enlisted in the army. Go figure.”