The Hero's Sweetheart

His Perfect Match

Military commander Jack Sullenberger is used to saving the day. But when his father has a stroke in his beloved small-town diner, it’s waitress and EMT student Olivia Abbott coming to the rescue. Jack rushes home to tend to his father and take over the business—running right into Olivia’s very strong opinions. The steely military man and the waitress can’t agree on what’s best for the restaurant. When Jack sees something that shakes his growing trust in Olivia, their undeniable connection is put to the test. But if Jack’s open to the truth, they’ll have a chance at finding a future together.

“I’ll back off on inserting my opinions,” Olivia promised. “Provided I still have a job.”

Jack’s lip twitched, as if he were about to crack a smile. “I haven’t fired anyone. Yet.”

Jack stared at her. He leaned back, rubbing his thumb and forefinger along his lower lip, studying her in that calculating way of his. Shook his head. Leaned forward, steepled his hands and released a breath before raking all ten fingers through his buzz, which looked more light brown than dark blond, as it had in Sully’s photos. “You are one stubborn broad.”

She burst out laughing because he’d muttered it mostly to himself. And because it was true.

His eyes lit at her laughter and for a moment she felt frozen in time. He was drop-dead gorgeous even when he scowled like his father, but with his finely chiseled face all loose in laughter like that, he was finer than fine.

She needed to shore up her resistance. She couldn’t be attracted to him. That enamoredness would fade soon. It had to. Trusting was too dangerous a journey to embark on.

USA TODAY bestselling author and RN CHERYL WYATT writes romance with virtue themed with rescue. She’s a grateful worshipper of Jesus. She’s also a mom, a wife, and a wrangler of words and spoiled Yorkies. She loves readers and cherishes interaction at facebook.com/cherylwyattauthor or through email at [email protected]. View her book list and join her newsletter at cherylwyatt.com.

The Hero’s Sweetheart

Cheryl Wyatt

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Be strong and take heart,

all you who hope in the Lord.

—Psalms 31:24

To Dad.

Semper Fi.

You have always been a hero

and I’m proud to call you my dad.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the wonderful community of readers who hang out with me on my Facebook page. Your presence, support, encouragement, prayers and interaction mean so much. I absolutely love the story feedback you give. You make writing fun!

Thanks also to Elizabeth Mazer, editor extraordinaire. You are brilliant and talented and I feel so blessed to be working with you. Thank you for giving life to Sully and Olivia through story.

As always, to my family for allowing me to do this and for cheering me on.

Thank you, Father God, for knowing what we need even more than we do. You always come through.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

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

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Please don’t let this be what I think it is...

“Sully, can you speak?” Even as Olivia Abbott asked her boss the question, his drooping mouth confirmed what her gut already knew. Thankfully she’d learned stroke symptoms this week in EMT class.

“Call 9-1-1!” she directed Patrice, her roommate and a fellow server at Sully’s Diner.

“What’s wrong with him?” Sully’s assistant cook, Darin, carefully helped Olivia lower Sully to the floor beside the food prep counter.

Naem, pulling double duty as server and dishwasher since Perry hadn’t shown for his shift again, skidded around the corner. Naem, normally a perpetual grinner, gasped when he saw Sully on the floor. Due to the diner’s open floor plan, customers began to notice the activity in the kitchen.

“I think he’s having a stroke,” Olivia whispered low enough that Sully couldn’t hear.

Darin leaped up and, upon entering the adjacent seating area, yelled for help clearing space. After calling 9-1-1 Patrice calmed customers, many of whom jumped in to help Darin move tables and chairs for the first responders. Sizzling sounded as Naem scraped burning food off hot grills.

Please help the ambulance hurry, Olivia prayed as Sully’s breathing grew more labored. An EMT student working her way through school by waitressing at the Eagle Point eatery part-time, she suddenly realized that knowing too much automatically gave fear an advantage over her faith.

Sully had an epic reputation for being grumpy but he was the only decent father figure she’d had in her life. He couldn’t die on her. Just couldn’t.

“Help will be here soon, Sully. I promise.”

With his head in her lap, Olivia could see frustration and confusion on his face, and white whiskers he’d missed while shaving. He was meticulous about employees’ hair being groomed—he’d obviously not been feeling well this morning. Come to think of it, he’d looked pale and fatigued at the employee Valentine’s Day party this past weekend. He’d probably been too stubborn to say something.