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  Sidney had no idea how Brock was feeling about all of this, but she didn’t dare take her gaze off Marsha. She had to get this all out and dealt with now. “All Dani expects from us is a professional environment at all times while on duty. Our private lives are, as always, our own.”

  She stood, towering way above Marsha. She didn’t intend it is a power play, but she wanted to let her know exactly what she needed from her. “That’s what I would like to see. My private life is my life, and you’re entitled to yours. If it doesn’t cross the line in terms of patient care, it’s neither of our business. As for that mistake, hopefully this new system will prevent it from happening again because I don’t believe you did it on purpose. I just think it was one of those blind spots that can creep up on us when our focus is elsewhere.”

  Marsha nodded. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I wouldn’t hurt Andrew. Of course, I wanted to give him the best care possible. I won’t do it again.”

  “I’m certain you won’t,” Sidney said warmly. “But at the same time, the way you dealt with the problem and the way you’ve dealt with me since is not something I’m happy with.”

  Marsha looked very uncomfortable. Clearly, she’d come over intending to blast Sidney and make a few demands of her own. Now she was in the hot seat, and it was not a very nice place to be. Sidney took pity on her.

  “If possible, I’d like to put this behind us and move forward as the two professionals we are.”

  She waited, watching the expressions twist and turn across Marsha’s face. Then the woman relented, and her shoulders sagged. Sidney let her breath out slowly. It could’ve been so much worse.

  Marsha looked up at her and gave her a small, fragile smile. “I’d like that. Have a nice evening.” With one more smile, she turned and walked away.

  Sidney fell back down in her chair and looked to Brock. “Oh, my God. That was hard.”

  He reached across the table, grabbed her hand and said, “It might’ve been hard, but you did a damned good job.”

  In fact, Sidney had done better than good. She had been professional, but easygoing, and somehow, she had taken Marsha’s ire and turned it into something completely different. He knew in that moment, he should never have had any doubts. He hadn’t really, but there always had been that question in his mind about whether she was right for him. Now he knew. There was no one more perfect for him, ever. Just that simple act of trying to make something of a relationship with Marsha made him love her all that much more.

  It made him realize how hanging onto his own feelings of bitterness about his accident and the sense of defeat had hurt him. He hadn’t actually seen Sidney’s magic, but it had worked on him just as it had worked on Marsha. He felt whole again. He had let all that anger go, and he was so much better for it. He just hadn’t understood how far he’d come, but now he did as he watched Marsha picking up coffee and dessert. Even her bearing was different now. She had a bounce in her step, a swing in her hips, a smile on her face.

  That’s how he felt—as if something inside had been settled, been resolved. It was put away in his past where it belonged. Dealt with, so he could move forward. With his own miracle—Sidney.

  He stared down at his coffee cup, stunned by the realization. He had no idea his feelings were that deep, but they were. Like a slow river moving way below the earth. When they popped up, it was certainly a surprise. He had no doubt about the validity of the experience, the reality of his feelings. She was somebody he could really relate to. He wanted her like he’d never wanted another woman. She reached across and stroked his hand and said, “You’re so quiet. Problems?”

  He smiled into her eyes and said, “Yes.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “What’s the problem?”

  “You,” he said with a smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody more admirable than you.”

  Clearly self-consciously pleased, she gave a laugh. “No, not true. This place is full of them.” She motioned around them. “You’re just looking through rose-colored glasses.”

  “No,” he said with a smile. “I’m just now seeing the truth for what it really is.”

  She frowned, and he could see the little bit of worry coming into her gaze. Hell, he was feeling a little nervous and worried, himself.

  “This is the truth, and I want you to be happy about it,” he said. She was starting to push back, leaning against her chair. He knew she was doing what she usually did. When there was an unpleasant truth coming out, she was trying to step away. So it wouldn’t hurt so much.

  “Well, I hope you will,” he said. “Because it’s really something major.”

  She studied him and waited. He took a deep breath.

  “I just realized how much I love you.”

  Tears came to her eyes. She reached across the table and grasped his hands in both of hers. “Maybe it’s been really fast. Maybe you don’t know really how you’re feeling. Maybe it’s more a case of being grateful you’re healthy and strong now, and you can leave soon.”

  “Stop,” he ordered. “I’m an adult. I have a very good idea of what I feel, how I feel, and why I feel this way. I understand you might be nervous, a little scared. But then, hell, so am I.”

  She stared at him, and then, in a small voice, she whispered, “Really? Do you?”

  That note of vulnerability was his undoing. He picked up her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it.

  “Absolutely, I love you.”

  She leaned forward, her hand going on top of his. Although it seemed they were in a small, private bubble of their own, he knew that wasn’t so. She’d gotten in enough trouble because of his actions.

  Not anymore.

  Then, she surprised him. She leaned forward, squeezing his hand, and said, “You’d better. You’d better be sure because I love you, too, and I don’t think I could stand it if this was misplaced gratitude.”

  Not giving a damn if anyone saw them or not, he leaned across the table, tilted her chin and kissed her. He wanted the whole world to see. Wanted them to see she was his, and he was hers. Forever. When he slowly withdrew and leaned back in his chair, he said, “Convinced?”

  A smile played out on the corner of her lips. “A little bit. Because that was just a little bit of a kiss.”

  He grinned boyishly. “Now, if we had the time and the opportunity, I could show you a whole lot more.”

  She smiled once again, tears coming to her eyes, and said, “I look forward to it.” She stood, then he did, too. She threw herself into his arms.

  “Dear God, I love you so much,” she whispered. “I’ve never been happier.”

  His arms closed around her, and he knew exactly what she meant. Because neither had he.

  Epilogue

  The Next Day …

  Cole sat in the wheelchair in the doorway to the dining area and studied his best friend. Brock had never looked happier. In fact, he couldn’t imagine love sprouting from such a horrific event. There had been so little joy in Brock’s life lately. Cole was really happy for him. It also gave him hope for himself. He’d been single for a long time. Of course, he’d been married before, then divorced. His being in the military had been brutal on his wife. She’d been terrified he would never come home. Finally, she couldn’t stand living with it any longer. He’d understood, but it broke his heart. Five years later, he had a broken body to go with it.

  He wondered if he was ever going to become whole again.

  Brock had been filled with guilt and anger. But it looked like Sidney had a way about her because he was no longer the same bitter man Cole used to know. For that, he was grateful.

  Maybe Hathaway House did perform miracles. He’d heard wonderful things about it before he’d applied for a transfer. Of course, his own arrival had been much less than stellar with him having to be transported right back to the hospital. But he was back now, and he was prepared for the fight of his life because he now saw hope in front of him. He saw a chance to become the man he had been.


  Maybe not the exact same as he had been, because that likely wasn’t possible, but he had a chance to become a man that was as good as he had been. Brock was living proof of that.

  Cole wanted that for himself.

  He hoped Hathaway House had just one more miracle to deliver. And if Cole was lucky, it had his name on it.

  This concludes Book 2 of Hathaway House: Brock.

  Read about Cole: Hathaway House, Book 3

  Hathaway House: Cole (Book #3)

  Welcome to Hathaway House. Rehab Center. Safe Haven. Second chance at life and love.

  When Navy SEAL Cole Muster entered Hathaway House weeks ago, he was doing well. His meds were under control; his recovery was progressing at a safe rate, and he was getting better every day. But, left to his own devices, Cole pushed himself too hard and took himself off his medication—and ended up causing himself harm and earned himself time in a hospital. Now he’s returned, hoping that Hathaway House can get him back on track one more time.

  RN Sandra Denver feels responsible for what happened to Cole. She was his nurse and should have realized that he wasn’t ready to leave Hathaway House. His setback was her fault, or at least she could have prevented it, if she’d made sure he was taking those meds she gave him daily. Now that he’s back, she’s finding it hard to trust not just him but herself. And she understands, when Cole has a hard time trusting himself too, it won’t make his recovery any easier.

  For Cole’s sake, Sandra must help him overcome his stumbling blocks as well as her own. With any luck, they’ll find a second chance at recovery, for both of them, at Hathaway House.

  Book 3 is available now!

  To find out more visit Dale Mayer’s website.

  Author’s Note

  Thank you for reading Brock: Hathaway House, Book 2! If you enjoyed the book, please take a moment and leave a short review here.

  Dear reader,

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  Cheers,

  Dale Mayer

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  About the Author

  Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her Psychic Visions and Family Blood Ties series. Her contemporary romances are raw and full of passion and emotion (Second Chances, SKIN), her thrillers will keep you guessing (By Death series), and her romantic comedies will keep you giggling (It’s a Dog’s Life and Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy series).

  She honors the stories that come to her – and some of them are crazy and break all the rules and cross multiple genres!

  To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series. All her books are available in print and ebook format.

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  BROCK: HATHAWAY HOUSE, BOOK 2

  Dale Mayer

  Valley Publishing Ltd.

  Copyright © 2019

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-773361-52-9

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  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.