Montana Secrets
Secrets kept. Lives changed forever.
As a physical therapist, Grace Korbit has had some tough cases, but returning to her hometown to care for Seth Rowland will be the most difficult job she's ever had. When she left ten years ago, Grace was running from the secrets in her past. And from Seth.
After a riding accident left him in a wheelchair, Seth holed up in his room, shutting out the world. He doesn't want help from anyone. Especially Grace, considering she left him without explanation ten years ago.
But what Seth doesn't know is that Grace had a really good reason for leaving...
Going Back.... What if you discovered that all you ever wanted were the things you left behind?
Excerpt
Grace Korbit flinched when a book slammed against the wall three feet to the right of her head.
“Next time I won’t miss. Get out.”
Gathering her courage, she peered into Seth Rowland’s bedroom, unable to see much because of the dark blinds covering the windows. Too bad they didn’t block the smell. Musty air and a decidedly unpleasant aroma assailed her.
“You gotta hearing problem? None of you’ve managed to fix me yet and I’m sick of waiting for a miracle.”
Grace was shocked. This wasn’t the Seth she remembered. Taking a deep breath, she ignored his order and went inside, hoping her instincts would protect her from any additional flying objects. Three steps in, her foot landed on something soft and skidded an inch to the left. Eeeew.
But the goo sticking to her foot explained the smell. At least part of it. The pungent odor of a too-ripe banana filled her nostrils. She lifted her shoe, hobbling momentarily and, using the light streaming in from the connecting bedroom, spotted the outline of an overflowing trash can. She shook her foot over the container until she heard a dull thunk.
“How about I open the blinds and windows?” she asked, her voice husky as she scraped the sole of her shoe over the edge. That done, a steadying breath full of dust and the lingering smell of fruit propelled her quickly through the mess.
“How about you go--” Seth finished his crude suggestion. Grace winced, but she’d heard worse.
She trailed her fingers along the wall until they found the drawstring pull of the blind and yanked hard, although she regretted it instantly when the dust flew. She waved one hand in front of her face while unlocking the sash with the other. Cold, crisp air flowed in.
Seth’s eyes bored a hole into her back as Grace made her way to the second window, thankful the sunlight enabled her to maneuver around the messy room, which looked as though it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks.
Mindful of the dust, she raised this blind slower, giving the task more attention than it deserved due to a sudden nervousness. How had she ever convinced herself she could do this? See Seth again? Talk to him, touch him? But in the same vein, how could she have said no?
She stared outside, at the dirt-and-gravel road leading away from the house, and knew this was one window she’d better keep closed. Otherwise she’d have a hard time fighting the temptation to climb through and make a run for it.
Unable to postpone the inevitable any longer, she turned. “Seth, I--” Grace gasped at the sight of him and hated herself because she wasn’t quick enough to squelch the revealing sound. He heard, too, because his gaze narrowed on her and she knew the exact moment he recognized her—and she realized in an instant Jake hadn’t told Seth his ex-girlfriend was to be his next physical therapist.
Seth’s eyes widened, then he looked away. But in that moment in between she saw it all. Saw the cold, bitter distance she’d created. The anger and upset and breath-stealing pain.
Seth’s guarded stare reminded her of an injured, cornered animal, fighting back out of instinct, but unsure of whether or not he really wanted to continue the battle.
Oh, Seth.
Lucky for her he appeared as shocked to see her as she was to see him in such a condition. She fell back on six years of training and experience. Lessons hard learned and refined by taking on some of the most difficult cases others had given up on. Like Seth.
Squaring her shoulders, she swallowed. “It’s good to see you, Seth. Do you throw books at everyone who comes through the door or just me?”
Jaw tight, he continued to glare. “I thought you were— Ah, hell no,” he growled as understanding replaced his shock.
She forced herself to move closer with a confidence she didn’t feel. “That’s right. I’m you’re new therapist.”
Grace crossed her arms over her chest, hoping it looked like a gesture of strength, even arrogance, instead of what it really was—an attempt to control her quivering limbs.
He laughed, the sound gruff and low, sending shivers through her.
Seth glowered at the door. “Jake!”
Moving forward another step, she was amazed at the difference in the man she’d known compared to the one before her. Ten years ago Seth had been clean-cut and entirely too handsome, God-gifted with one of those rugged, craggy faces that only got better with age. Tall and lanky, he’d had a naturally swagger and smile that stopped what little traffic North Star, Montana, could lay claim to.
Now the handsome cowboy was gone, and in his place was a bitter and broken man with eyes that burned hot with anger, and an appearance that stated quite clearly Seth didn’t care what happened to him. Not anymore.
“He isn’t--”
“Jake!” When Jake didn’t appear, Seth turned to her. “You’ve had your look at the cripple, now get out.”
Her nails dug into the flesh of her arms. The sharp pain stiffened her resolve and reminded her, for the moment at least, she was the one in charge. She just had to prove it to Seth. And to herself.
“I can’t leave you like this.”
He laughed without humor. “You didn’t have a problem leaving me before. Now’s no different.”
Now was different, but her reasoning the same. And as badly as she wanted to do as he said, to turn tail and run, she was just as determined to stay.
She shook her head. “I’m good at what I do, Seth. What do you say? Will you work with me?”
A vicious curse filled the air, succinct with fury.
“Fine, I’ll leave,” she said, careful to keep her voice from shaking even as she raised it to be heard over his ongoing litany. Seth stilled, then smirked in triumph, and that’s when she decided he needed a firm kick in the rear. “That is, when you’re able to get out of that bed and throw me out yourself.”
From the book Montana Secrets by Kay Stockham
Harlequin Superromance ® October 2005, ISBN 037371307, ©2005 Dorma Kay Stockham.
Cover Copyright ©2005 Harlequin Enterprises Limited
® and T are trademarks of the publisher.
The excerpt published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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