Made for You Read Free Page A

don’t need any more damned morphine.”
    “You’re not going anywhere until the doctor releases you,” came a no-nonsense female reply as Reese reached Kelley’s room. “The doctor already told you that you need to stay until he feels you’re well enough to leave,” the nurse added as Reese entered the doorway.
    When he saw Kelley, his gut twisted. The normally tough spitfire of a detective appeared so pale, almost delicate, propped up against the white pillows, an IV attached to the back of her hand. Despite her weak appearance, she still looked mulish as she glared at the nurse.
    “Let me have a little chat with Detective Petrova,” Reese said to the pretty dark-haired nurse named Nancy, who he’d met on an earlier visit. She somehow managed to look calm in spite of Kelley’s stubbornness.
    The nurse faced him, her back to Kelley, and gave a little smile. “She’s all yours, Detective McBride. Just see that she keeps her butt in bed.”
    Reese winked at Nancy. “You bet.”
    When the nurse left the room, Kelley glared at him. “I don’t need to be here. I can rest up just as well at home.”
    “You, rest?” He snorted. “I think you belong right here as long as they’ll keep you.”
    “Humph.” Kelley started to cross her arms over her chest then winced, pain flashing across her face. Still, she did not make a sound even though it clearly hurt her to move.
    Guilt stabbed Reese’s insides like a knife. He’d seen that Kelley was still affected by the concussion, but he’d let her go with him to Laura Jones’s place. If he’d just insisted that she wasn’t ready—
    Even as he berated himself, he knew that it wouldn’t have done a damned bit of good. Kelley would have gone anyway.
    But couldn’t he have done something to keep her from being shot?
    He pulled up a chair beside her bed. The colorful bouquet of flowers he’d brought her earlier was on a stand next to the bed with the card beside it. “How are you really doing, Kelley?”
    The stubborn look faded. “I’m fine. I should be home. I should be—”
    He cut across her words. “Don’t say you should be looking for that bastard, Taynor.” Reese frowned. “You leave that up to Prescott’s finest.”
    She let out her breath. He knew she wouldn’t argue that the men and women of PPD were good at their jobs. Still, she said, “But one more person searching for him will bring us that much closer.” She sounded as if she might cry as she said. “I have to do this.”
    “What can you do with that shoulder?” Reese said quietly. “Not to mention you’re going to have to go through physical therapy.”
    Kelley frowned. “Like I have time for that.”
    “You’ll have plenty of time while you’re on leave. You know you need PT if you’re going to get back to a hundred percent.” He reached out and put his hand over hers. “Take it easy, okay? Promise me?”
    She looked at his hand covering hers and something he couldn’t define made his heart thump a little faster. When her eyes met his, she had an almost surprised look, as if she had felt something, too.
    He squeezed her hand. “Promise me.”
    Her throat worked as she swallowed. “I can’t.”
    “Damn it, Petrova.” He moved his hand from hers. “You’re going to make things worse with your shoulder if you’re not careful. If that happens, it will be even longer before you’ll be back to full speed.”
    If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was holding back tears. Kelley’s jaw visibly tightened. He knew that on the occasions Kelley had met with Laura, Kelley had had the opportunity to talk with Belle
    “He’s out there,” Kelley said. “He killed Laura and he has her daughter. I owe it to Laura to help put the bastard behind bars and get her daughter back safely.” She clenched the fist he’d just touched. “For God’s sake, Belle is only eight.”
    Reese dragged his palm down his face. The ghost pains from his missing fingers made his whole hand