Chrysanthemums in November

 

 

Blurb:

Running into Amber Neville after twenty years wasn’t on Dr. Jackson Parker’s list of things to do. Amber had been head girl to his head boy, and from what he remembers, she was British, stuck up and bossy...But the red-haired beauty she’s grown into leaves him stunned.

Newly returned from a job in Canada, Amber remembers Jackson as a brash and rude American--not at all the even-tempered, handsome doctor he's turned out to be. But she can’t get involved, not with the massive burden she bears--a burden that has to remain hidden at all costs.

As secrets are revealed, Amber’s life is thrown into danger. As the flowers fade, so does her chance of survival. But Jackson has other plans. After all, doctors are meant to save lives, no matter the cost.

Extract:

Amber Neville stood rooted to the spot. Of all the people she’d met since she fled Canada and arrived in Headley Cross, Jackson Parker was the last person she expected. She’d picked a town she’d never lived in, only to discover an amazing church family that welcomed her. Along with a cousin who’d asked her to stay for as long as she needed somewhere to live.
Maybe it wasn’t Jackson. After twenty years, she couldn’t be sure. She nudged Niamh Harkin, her cousin’s wife. “Who’s that over there? Long dark blondish hair, green coat, staring at us?”
“That, my dear, is Jackson Parker, doctor, church member, upstanding pillar of the community.” Niamh grinned. “And, apparently, he’s unable to take his eyes off you either.”
Amber froze. The only American kid in the entire school, Jackson was brash, rude, arrogant, self-centered, and had a penchant for getting his own way. She’d wanted Simon Payne to get the headship along with her. Then she could have spent time with him and maybe he’d have liked her.
Instead, she got Jackson, the one kid in her year who seemed impervious to her, whereas everyone else just plain didn’t like her. Which didn’t make being head girl any easier.
However, she had to admit he’d changed over the years. The spots had gone, and so had the dark hair. His longish locks were now fairer than she remembered, with a lean muscular frame peeping through his open, full length coat.
Niamh nudged her. “Are you OK? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I guess I have.” Amber swallowed, trying to regain her composure. “We were at school together. From what I remember, his father was working over here, doing something in the American Embassy. I never did find out what. He left soon after our final exams.” She tore her gaze away and took a step to the side.
From the way the man stared, he recognized her too, and that could only lead to problems in the future.
Maybe she should move, again. Start over someplace else. But her ankle had other ideas as she made a misstep on the uneven ground and it twisted beneath her, sending her to the ground in an undignified heap. Clucking in embarrassment, Amber tried to get up, but found herself unable to do so.
Niamh dropped to her side, and called over her shoulder. “Jackson?”
“Don’t,” Amber hissed, grabbing her ankle as pain speared her. “This is embarrassing enough as it is. Just give me a second and I’ll be right as rain.”
“Too late, he’s coming over.”
“I’m off duty, Niamh.” The slow Texan drawl hadn’t changed over the years. It grated as much as it ever had.
“And if there was a fire, Jared would just stand and watch it burn.”
Jackson grinned. “Of course he would. That is why we’re here tonight, right, to watch the bonfire burn?”
Niamh chuckled. “Jackson, this is Amber. Amber, Jackson. I’ll leave you in his capable hands.”
Niamh had obviously mistaken her horror for interest. Amber looked up at Jackson. His hands were the last place she wanted to be left. Now or ever.