A Man She Can Trust

A Man She Can Trust
Roxanne Rustand

Pregnancy is the last thing on her mindAfter all, isn't that one of the reasons Grant walked out on her last fall? He couldn't wait for her practice to settle down to have kids. Not to mention, her husband couldn't seem to commit to one woman. It seems next to impossible that one night of stupidity could lead to her becoming pregnant. She still can't forgive him, but Jill has to tell Grant he's going to be a father.As if Grant's return wasn't hard enough, the man has provoked someone else–someone who won't stop the phone calls, the threats.As much as she hates it, Dr. Jill Edwards's life may depend on her estranged husband.

Jill stood still

Had she moved the rocker to the room’s front window last weekend? Her heart skipped a beat as she stared at it.

Almost imperceptibly, it appeared to be moving…as in those moments after someone has gotten up and walked away.

You really need more sleep. Next you’ll be seeing apparitions in the hallway and bogeymen in your closet.

It was only the wind, of course. Drafts found their way into the old house whenever the wind blew outside.

A faint sound echoed down the shotgun hallway leading to the front entry. Jill looked down, surprised to see her hands clenched.

It’s only my imagination.

Or Sheriff Johnson, here to give her a logical explanation for the lights at Warren’s house.

She strode to the front door, already forming an apology, and pulled it open.

“I suppose it was n-nothing…”

She stammered to a halt, her hand at her throat, and stared into the face of the man who’d sworn he’d never set foot on Chapel Hill again.

Dear Reader,

Beautiful northern Wisconsin…just the words make me think of pine-scented breezes, sparkling sapphire lakes and blazing fall colors. But even the loveliest places have their darker side, and that’s definitely true for the little town of Blackberry Hill.

Blackberry Hill Memorial is a small, struggling hospital facing serious challenges, and the residents of this town face them, as well. For Dr. Jill Edwards and her husband, Grant, their troubled marriage may provide a perfect opportunity for an old enemy to seek revenge…and for an old ghost to find peace at last. For Grace Fisher, retirement is just ahead—only now she finds herself with a troubled teenage nephew to raise and a chance for her own once-in-a-lifetime love. Who knew life could change so quickly?

I love writing stories that touch on the lives of families of every generation and the problems so many of us face. But above all, I love writing about men and women who must overcome nearly insurmountable obstacles in search of love and commitment.

I hope you enjoy Jill and Grant’s story, and that you’ll come back to the third in the BLACKBERRY HILL MEMORIAL series in August. If you missed the first book in the series, Almost a Family, you can find it at www.eHarlequin.com.

I love hearing from readers at www.roxannerustand.com, www.booksbyrustand.com or at P.O. Box 2550, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406-2550. Send a SASE and I’ll send you bookmarks or other promotional material.

Wishing you all the best for your own happily ever after!

Roxanne Rustand

A Man She Can Trust

Roxanne Rustand

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

With love to Larry, Andy, Brian and Emily.

I am so proud of all of you!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

With many thanks to Rene Miller for her research assistance

into small-town law practices, Michelle Klosterman, R.N.

CEN (Certified in Emergency Nursing), whose expertise in

the operation of small-town hospitals has been invaluable,

and to Lyn Cote for your friendship and your assistance with

details of life in northern Wisconsin!

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

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