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SENSUALITY: Spicy

Cover art (c) Jenny Dixon 2004
ISBN 1-58608-482-8
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Rating: Contains graphic sexual content and explicit/suggestive language.

HIGHLAND HEAT

By

Fiona Neal

© copyright June 2004, Carolyn Rickenbaker

Cover art by Jenny Dixon, © copyright June 2004

New Concepts Publishing

5202 Humphreys Rd.

Lake Park, GA 31636

www.newconceptspublishing.com

Prologue

Boston, Massachusetts

"Oh, Cindy, thank God, you've come!" Tears running down her cheeks, Kerry Cameron hugged her best friend.

"Sorry I took so long," the willowy blonde answered on short breath. "Driving over here, I caught a red light at every intersection. Then I had trouble finding a parking space."

Disengaging, Kerry reached into her coat pocket for a tissue and wiped her eyes.

"How's your grandfather?" Cindy asked.

"I don't know. He's in there." Sniffing, Kerry tilted her head toward the emergency room and blew her nose.

Cindy nodded. "What happened?"

"I...." Slumping into one of the black plastic chairs along the wall of the crowded waiting area, Kerry put her hands over her mouth and cried silently.

Cindy sat next to her, sympathy in her big blue eyes. "It's okay, Ker. You don't have to talk if you don't feel like it."

Kerry swallowed the lump in her throat, again drying her tears. "I know, but I think talking about it will help." She took a shaky breath. "I came home early from work and found Gramps unconscious. I really freaked out, but I managed to phone 911. Then I called you at work. I hope I didn't mess things up for you."

"You didn't. I told my boss I had an emergency and left the office right away. Besides, the Morgan Advertising Agency won't fall apart if I left an hour early. I stay late plenty."

"Thanks, Cindy."

"No problem, but it's a darn good thing you happened to go home early."

Kerry swallowed back a sob, trying desperately to control her emotions. "I didn't think so at the time, but I just couldn't stay at the office another minute because I lost my job. Oh, Cindy, I felt so horrible when my editor gave me notice."

"Oh, geezes, Kerry! Talk about having a bad day. I'm so sorry." Cindy sat back.

"Now, being unemployed doesn't seem like such a big deal. Gramps getting sick sure puts things into perspective."

"What the heck happened with your job?"

"They're reorganizing the company 'cause of the slump in the economy, and my position was eliminated." She brushed back a lock of dark hair that had slipped from behind her ear.

"Well, that's the Boston Herald's loss, but I know how much you love being a reporter."

"Well, I'll deal with that later. Right now, I've got Gramps to think about. He's my first priority."

"Sure, and you can always find another job, but...."

Kerry put her hands over her ears and shook her head. "Don't say it, Cindy. I can't bear to think about loosing him. He's the only family I have left."

"I was going to say, it might take a while to find the kind of work you want. As for Gramps, he's as tough as New Hampshire granite. He'll pull through. Come to think of it, in all the years I've lived next door to the two of you, he's never been sick."

Suddenly, the door to the emergency room opened, and a tall dark-haired man wearing a white lab coat approached them.

"Miss Cameron?"

"Yes?" Knees wobbly and her stomach in a knot, she stood.

"I'm Dr. Scott. I'm afraid your grandfather has had a stroke."

Kerry fought for composure. "Will he...." A sob choked off her question.

"Is he going to be all right, doctor," Cindy finished for her.

"That's what we're working for," he answered. "But his speech has been affected, and he has some paralysis. He'll need a lot of therapy, but at his age, I'm not sure he'll regain his ability to talk."

"May we see him, doctor?" Kerry bit her lip, trying to control her trembling chin.

"Of course. We've sent him up to Intensive Care. Dr. Williams has taken over your grandfather's care. He'll be able to answer all your questions."

"Thank you, doctor," Kerry replied.

"Now, if you'll excuse me...." he said.

"Of course," Kerry answered.

He turned and hurried off.

"Want me to call Rick?" Cindy asked.

"He knows. I phoned him after I talked to you. He told me he would stop by later."

Cindy didn't say anything. She didn't have to. She disliked Rick, and the subtle twitch at the corner of her mouth clearly demonstrated her contempt for him and the fact he had failed to show up right away.

"Come on, Ker. Let's go to see Gramps."

They walked to the elevator, entered, and rode up to the Intensive Care Unit. The smell of antiseptics permeated the air, and the fluorescent lights glared harshly off the stark walls.

After inquiring at the nurses' station which room Gramps occupied, Kerry paused, mustering the courage to go in. Taking a deep breath, she walked inside. Still, she had to stifle a gasp when she saw how the stroke had contorted the muscles on one side of her grandfather's face.

A sob escaped Cindy. "I -- If there's anything I can do, Kerry, I'm here for the both of you."

Tears blurring her vision, Kerry walked to the bedside and took hold of her grandfather's hand, squeezing it.

Dear God, I'll do everything to see that Gramps gets what he needs if you'll just make him well.