In Love with John Doe

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Suddenly, without warning, the world stood still. Lexi found herself drowning in the chocolate depths of his eyes. And when his gaze settled on her lips, they began to tingle.

What would it be like to kiss him, she wondered? To have those perfectly sculpted lips pressed against hers …

He took a step closer and when his hand touched her hair, desire rose inside her.

Married.

The word slammed like a shovel against the side of her head. Reality had finally clawed its way through the haze of desire.

This man could be married.

Lexi took a step back.

His hand dropped to his side.

Dear Reader,

I admit it. I’m a sucker for an amnesia story. This story came to me when I was in Jackson Hole, riding the tram up to the top of the ski slope. The tram operator was telling me about skiers who venture into the “back country” and how the patrol isn’t even required to rescue them. My writer’s brain started to think—what if someone did just that? What if he got caught in an avalanche? And my favorite part—what if when they found him he had no identity and no memory?

This book is special to me because it has its own song. Sometimes when I’m writing I’ll hear a song on the radio and it will fit the story. While I’m writing I will play the song repeatedly. This book’s special song was “Come Back to Me” by David Cook.

After you’ve read the book, listen to the song, especially to the words. Then, if you have the time, e-mail me and let me know if you think the song is a good fit. I can be reached at [email protected].

Warmest regards,

Cindy

CINDY KIRK has loved to read for as long as she can remember. In first grade she received an award for reading one hundred books. Growing up, summers were her favorite time of year. Nothing beat going to the library, then coming home and curling up in front of the window air conditioner with a good book. Often the novels she read would spur ideas, and she’d make up her own story (always with a happy ending). When she’d go to bed at night, instead of counting sheep, she’d make up more stories in her head. Since selling her first story to Mills & Boon in 1999, Cindy has been forced to juggle her love of reading with her passion for creating stories of her own … but she doesn’t mind. Writing for Mills & Boon^>® Cherish™ is a dream come true. She only hopes you have as much fun reading her books as she has writing them!

Cindy invites you to visit her website at www.cindykirk.com.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To my fabulous critique partners,

Louise Foster and Renee Ryan. This wouldn’t be nearly as much fun without you!

“Five bucks says he’s an undercover prince.”

Lexi Brennan stood back and watched the older nurse pull a crumpled bill from her uniform pocket and slap it on the counter.

“He’s handsome enough,” another RN said. “But I say he’s a politician’s son. God knows we get our share of them in Teton County.”

“Put me down for the undercover prince,” charge nurse Rachel Milligan said. “Then we’d better get to work.”

The staff scattered, leaving Lexi, one of the hospital’s social workers, alone at the nurse’s station with Rachel and a nurse’s aide. During the five years Lexi had been working at the Jackson Hole hospital, she’d lost a lot of money on these friendly wagers. Last month she’d vowed not to participate in another. Still, she was curious. “What are you betting on this time?”

“Our new patient, John Doe,” Rachel said. “He’s been the topic of conversation since the rescue team brought him in yesterday.”

“He is super cute,” the aide gushed.

“Mr. Landers’s call light is on.” Rachel kept her gaze focused on the young girl while handing Lexi John Doe’s chart. “Would you mind seeing what he needs?”

As the aide hurried off, Lexi flipped through the handful of pages. “Not much here.”

Rachel smiled. “When a patient doesn’t remember his name or any of his history, it makes for a pretty sparse medical record.”

Lexi recognized Rachel’s handwriting on the initial documentation. “Looks like you were working in the E.R. yesterday when they brought him in from Teton Village.”

“He was lucky,” Rachel said, her blue eyes suddenly serious. “He might have lost his memory, but another few minutes under that snow and he’d have lost his life.”

“Why skiers venture into the back country is beyond me.” Lexi wasn’t sure why she found the man’s recklessness so disturbing. He certainly wasn’t the first hotshot skier to take advantage of the mountain’s “open gate” policy. “Anyone who goes through that gate knows they’re taking a big risk.”

Rachel’s gaze took on a sad, faraway look. “Young men in that late-twenty, early-thirty range think they’re invincible.”