A Chance Encounter Read Free

chest and fell to the floor. Taylor was on his feet instantly. The other patrons froze, staring down at the man who lay gasping for breath.
    Katie dropped her fork, horrified. Her eyes widened as the stranger strode across the room like a jungle cat and dropped to his knees beside the victim. Her heart pounded as he leaned over the stricken man, who was thrashing wildly on the floor as if trying to get his breath. The stranger jerked the tie from the victim’s throat and yanked open the man’s collar and belt. The restaurant was heavy with shocked silence, and Katie realized the victim was having a heart attack.
    “Does anyone here know CPR?” the rescuer thundered.
    Katie blinked at the growling force of his voice. It was an in-charge tone that jarred the stonelike patrons. The victim’s face was bluish-gray—he was nearly unconscious now—and she watched the stranger tilt the lolling head back.
    “Move, dammit! I need help!”
    Frustration warred with anger as Taylor glared up at Williams. The photographer shrugged apologetically. Figures, Taylor thought. What would a bunch of vegetarians know about real life?
    Taylor keenly assessed the now-unconscious man. Jerking his head up, he snarled, “Call 911!”
    He was about to begin resuscitation, when Taylor saw a flash of color and watched the patchwork skirt settle opposite him. It was Katie, her eyes wide. For some reason, the closeness of her shook him. Before he could tell her what to do, she placed her left hand over the victim’s heart. Taylor blinked once, aware of a mild tingling flowing up through his fingers, which were resting on the victim’s neck and forehead. Suddenly, the man’s bluish pallor was replaced by the flush of life. Color flowed back into his cheeks. What the hell was going on? Taylor started to speak, but Katie’s hushed voice broke through his turmoil.
    “Keep his head tilted back so he can breathe.”
    Taylor scowled darkly, keeping one hand on the man’s neck to check his pulse. But his eyes were on Katie. He could feel something. But it wasn’t visible. And it was unlike anything he had ever felt in his life. Katie was kneeling over the man, her slender white hand gently pressed to his chest, her expression rapt and—and what? Taylor wet his lips. Suddenly he was afraid. The man had been in the throes of a heart attack seconds before. As soon as Katie laid her hand on him, he had begun to recover.
    Katie swallowed a lump in her throat, aware of the stranger’s predatory, gray eyes piercing her. The silence in the restaurant was ominous. Suddenly a camera flashed…once, twice, three times. Katie swung her head sharply away from Barry.
    “No!” she cried, throwing out one hand. “Don’t!”
    Barry Williams ignored her, moving quickly around to Taylor to get a better shot. He clicked the Canon digital camera twice more, ignoring Katie’s protests. Excitedly he looked down at Taylor.
    “Dude, I don’t believe this! Lucky we happened to be on the scene. I got some good pictures, Taylor. This’ll make a neat little feature story.”
    Oh, no! Katie bowed her head, anguish flooding her. This was the very thing she had sworn never to allow! She felt the eyes of the stranger examining her as if she were an insect under a microscope.
    “Who are you?” Taylor rasped softly. “What are you—”
    At that instant a team of paramedics burst into the restaurant, and Katie leaped to her feet. Quickly darting through the gathering crowd, she made it back to her table. Grabbing her purse and books, she whirled around, seeking escape. The restaurant’s rear entrance was accessible and she virtually flew down the hall and flung the back door open.
    A strong hand closed firmly over her arm, bringing her to a halt just outside the door. Katie whirled, the cloud of black hair swirling around her pale face. She thrust out her other hand and met the hard, uncompromising wall of his chest. Her lips parted and she gasped.
    “You…” she