Read Bound to the Past (Starville Series Book 1) for Free Online

the side. “You are an angel.” He grabbed one of the magazines and opened it on his lap.
    Taking advantage of his temporary distraction, Sara studied him for a few moments. The night before, she had been mesmerized by his eyes, but things had been so frantic that everything else had been kind of a blur. Today, however, she was more than aware of the big, muscular frame lying in that bed. She had to admit that he was definitely the most handsome man sheʼd ever laid eyes on. Not that he was her type, of course. She dreamed of Prince Charming, not the Dark Knight. She had always preferred the boy-next-doorish type―safe, reliable, trustworthy. Like Brent.
    Jack Turner… Well, he looked anything but safe and trustworthy. Oh, he was handsome, all right, but in a feral, threatening way. He had a rough-edged kind of magnetism that somehow made him look dangerous even as he lay in that tiny hospital bed. The kind of magnetism that surely must have women mooning over him all the time…
    Oh, for Godʼs sake! Cursing under her breath, Sara forced her eyes off him and tried to relax against the back of the chair. “How are you feeling?”
    Jack raised his eyes from the magazine to look at her. “Not great, but better,” he answered in an innocent tone that made her feel guilty for her inappropriate thoughts. “According to Doc, my leg doesnʼt need surgery, but Iʼll have to wear this for a few weeks.” He pointed at his right knee, wrapped in a hinged brace.
    “Thatʼs good.”
    “Yeah.” Jack closed the magazine with a snap and put it aside. “Sara, I want to thank you again for all you did last night. Had you not helped me, I probably wouldʼve―”
    “Donʼt say it. Letʼs just be happy that youʼre okay.”
    He nodded. “Right. But thank you.”
    “Youʼre welcome. So, have you remembered anything?”
    “Nope. Doc says itʼs normal, though, and that it might take weeks, months, or even years for my memory to come back.”
    Her eyes widened. “Years?”
    “Thatʼs correct,” the doctorʼs voice interjected as he walked into the room. “I believe Jack is suffering from what we call PTA―or post-traumatic amnesia―which is usually caused by a severe head injury like the one he sustained. This kind of amnesia is rarely permanent, but it may take a long time for Jack to fully regain his memory. Unfortunately, itʼs completely subjective and impossible to predict. I do expect him to make a full recovery with time, though, as the CT scans show no lesions or abnormality with his brain. Nothing that would justify this memory loss, anyway.”
    Sara frowned at Docʼs words. Was he doubting Jackʼs amnesia? Did he suspect he might be lying? She gave him a quizzical look, but he ignored it.
    “Either way, weʼll keep Jack under observation for a couple of days and run a few more tests.”
    “Oh, come on!”
    The doctor rolled his eyes at Jackʼs protest. “Jack, weʼve discussed this already. Itʼs only for a day or two. Besides, you donʼt even have a place to stay.”
    Saraʼs thoughts ran to the Turners’ ranch, and goose bumps ran up her spine at the mere idea. Of course he couldnʼt go back there. Maybe, though, she could offer to let him stay at her house for a few days, or at least until he recovered and remembered something. Just as she was about to make the suggestion, something inside her screamed. Had she lost her mind? How could she think about inviting a stranger into her house? A potential murderer, no less!
    Ignoring Jackʼs glare, Doc asked him a few more routine questions, then turned toward Sara. “Donʼt stay too long. He needs to rest.” With one last warning look, he left the room.
    Jack shook his head as soon as the door clicked shut. “Apparently the entire staff of this hospital is competing for the kindest person of the year award.”
    Sara couldnʼt help smiling, despite everything. “Doc means well, though.”
    “I know,” he admitted with a sigh. “I just hate that he makes me feel