Nursing the Soldier's Heart

Loving the Soldier

Nurse Kirsten Bailey places her family above all else. She refuses to give former army medic Brady Hewitt any leeway for being weeks late in visiting his ill grandmother. But Brady has a good excuse, and he’s eager to show the pretty nurse that first impressions aren’t always right. While working with Brady to care for his grandmother and two orphaned boys, Kirsten realizes that his charm and kindness aren’t an act. But Kirsten plans on doing missionary work abroad, and she’s determined not to fall for the engaging soldier. Could the man she once dismissed be the one to make her stay forever?

“Brady, where are you?”

“In here.” Funny how her voice quickened his pulse.

“Ready to go?” Kirsten poked her head through the doorway.

“Almost.” As he gazed at her, he noticed the little blotch of blue paint on her cheek. Without thinking, he reached over and rubbed his thumb across it.

“You have paint on your cheek.”

“I do?” Staring at him, she rubbed a hand across the place he’d touched.

His mind turned to mush, and all he could think about was spending more time with her.

“Mr. Brady, we’re done,” a little voice interrupted. Zach charged into the room and stopped abruptly, making Tyler nearly bump into his brother.

Brady smiled at the boys. “Would you guys like to grab a burger and meet Gram?”

The boys cheered.

“Am I invited, too?”

“Of course.” Brady grinned. Things were definitely looking up. Kirsten had invited herself to join them.

Brady couldn’t help thinking about the family picture the four of them presented.

MERRILLEE WHREN is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty-five-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Please visit her website at merrilleewhren.com or connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/merrilleewhren.author.

Nursing the

Soldier’s Heart

Merrillee Whren

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

—Proverbs 19:20–21

I want to dedicate this book

to my granddaughters, who remind me of what is important in life.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

The familiar recorded voice on the other end of the line made Kirsten Bailey’s stomach churn. The phone number had an Atlanta area code, but if it was a cell phone, no telling where the owner resided. She mustered some politeness and repeated her daily mantra. How many messages would she have to leave before she got a response? She slammed down the phone.

“Why are you abusing the phone?” Jen Chafin, the other late-shift nurse, swiveled in her chair as she tucked a lock of auburn hair behind one ear.

Kirsten grimaced. “Cora Barton asked me to call her grandson again. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve left him a message. The man obviously doesn’t care about his grandmother.”

“Are you calling the right number?”

“Absolutely. The voice mail message says, ‘This is Brady Hewitt. Leave a message.’” Kirsten shook her head again. “I hate the expression on Cora’s face when I tell her I haven’t reached him.”

“Does he have a job where he’s out of signal range for a period of time?”

“Cora doesn’t know what he does.” Kirsten shrugged. “Sounds like he’s a ne’er-do-well who picks up jobs here and there when he feels like it.”

Jen turned back to her computer. “Does Cora have any other family?”

“I don’t think so, otherwise I’m sure she would’ve asked me to call someone else. Her daughter died in a car accident when her grandson was young. Cora raised him.”

Jen stopped typing. “That certainly makes him ungrateful.”

“My thoughts exactly. How could someone ignore a grandmother like Cora? She’s one of the sweetest women I know.”

“Next time you could always leave a message telling him what you really think.” Jen laughed halfheartedly.

“I’d like to, but I have to keep it professional.” Kirsten grimaced. “At least Cora has lots of friends here at The Village to make up for her inattentive grandson.”

Jen nodded. “And speaking of friends, look who’s coming down the hall.”

Kirsten peered over the cowunter. “Annie and her kids. That’ll make Cora’s day.”

Kirsten waved at Annie Payton and her two small children, Kara and Spencer. The kids let go of their mother’s hand and raced to the nurses’ station.

Shaking her head, Annie caught up to her children. “Sorry, Kirsten. They’re excited to see you.”