The Adventurer by Diana Whitney Page A

softly. She issued a jerky nod then snatched up a tube of anti biotic ointment and went to work. When she’d finished, he held up his bandaged hand and flexed his fingers.
    “As field triage goes, this would definitely pass muster. “
    “You’re too kind. ” ‘ Smiling, he glanced around the kitchen. His gaze lingered on the electric coffee machine beside a black glass cooking top. “Say, didn’t you mention something about making coffee? ” Jessica fidgeted, increasingly uncomfortable with his nearness and her own peculiar reaction to it. “I may have to give you a rain check on that”
    He pursed his lips, regarding her thoughtfully. “Have I upset you? “
    Yes, she thought miserably, but not the way you think. “Not at all. ” Sidling a safe distance away, she casually gestured toward the blinking light on her telephone answering machine. ” It’s just that I should return Crandall’s call. “
    The excuse was as lame as a three-legged mule and they both knew it.
    Fortunately, Devon proved himself too much of a gentlemen to call her on it.
    “All right, ” he said pleasantly”
    “Another time. ” “Yes. ” She clasped her hands together and followed him to the front door.
    “I’ll look forward to it. “
    He opened the door and hesitated. Jessica held her breath. Finally, he lifted his bandaged hand and said, “
    “Thanks again. “
    She exhaled all at once. “You’re welcome!”
    He touched two fingers to his forehead, spun on his heel and was gone.
    Trembling, Jessica closed the door and sagged against the jamb, wondering what on earth had come over her. She glanced at her watch. Since her next dose of medicine wasn’t due for hours, that obviously wasn’t the reason for her sudden weakness. Changing spark plugs hadn’t been strenuous enough to account for her physical symptoms and the minor chore certainly had nothing to do with the erotic images flashing through her troubled mind. Cooling her fare with her palms, she issued a lusty sigh and returned to the kitchen, realizing that life would have been a whole lot easier if her boss’s son had turned out to be a real dog.
    She shook off the distracting thought and pushed the Message button.
    Crandall’s voice boomed out of the machine’ Jessica Pick up.. Are you there? Dammit. ” Click. The tape whirred into another message. “Jessica? Call me at the hospital. It’s important. ” Click. Whir. “Where are you, Jessica? Why haven’t you called back? If I don’t hear from you in fifteen minutes-” The worry in Crandall’s voice stabbed her like a guilty sword. She couldn’t stand to hear another word and pressed the Next Message button. “It’s been fifteen minutes, Jessi-” g She hit the button and was startled by her stepfather’s soft voice. “Hello, sweetheart. Give me a call when you can. We have to… make arrangements. ” ‘ Gasping, Jessica quickly shut off the machine. Her blood ran like ice in her veins. Dear God, it was time. She’d have to go home soon. And that scared her to death.
    Chapter Three.
    Devon drove directly from Jessica’s place to the hospital. He found Crandall sitting up in bed, calmly studying what appeared to be a financial report and looking much stronger than he had yesterday afternoon. The IV tubes had been removed and much of the color had returned to Crandall’s ruddy complexion. Massively relieved by his father’s obvious improvement, Devon stepped inside the room and closed the door. “Since you’re not screaming at the 911 operator, I assume you’ve heard from Jessica. “
    Crandall peered over his reading glasses. “
    “Yes. She called a few moments ago. ” “Did she tell you that I found her in the parking lot with a wrench in her hand and grease on her nose? “
    “Really? What on earth was she doing? “
    Devon dropped his jacket on the tubular steel foot board and pulled up a chair. “Changing spark plugs. ” “Ah. ” Crandall nodded sagely, readjusted his glasses