Midnight Kisses Read Free

drawing him for his momentary lapse.
    â€œI’ve come to get some information about the young lady that was just brought in?” he said quickly
    â€œWe did just admit a few young girls, sir. Can you be a bit more specific?”
    â€œSorry, the young lady who was beaten up?” he replied.
    â€œAre you a relative?” she asked, her eyebrow raised.
    â€œNo, but I’m the one who stopped the attack. I wanted to make sure she was all right.”
    â€œI’m sure the doctor will be by soon, but I’m not sure…”
    â€œI’m a minister,” he interrupted her, reaching for the ID he still carried in his pocket.
    She looked at him down her nose, her eyes assessing him critically, but she did not take his card.
    She turned to him again, her eyes wary. “Listen, I’m not sure if you’re telling the truth or not, but you did help. I’ll let the doctor speak to you as soon as he’s done with her.”
    â€œThank you. I’ll just sit over there until he comes.”
    Without waiting for a response, Daniel turned and headed to the waiting area.
    He sat, noticing that he was trembling. He didn’t likehospitals. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. But memories from his past kept him from becoming calm.
    He saw his wife and his daughter. He heard Lorraine’s constant laughter, saw her stomach round with their child. He’d always wondered what she’d seen in him. He had been too serious, too fanatical about his faith. The past few years had taught him that much.
    Daniel knew that he’d changed; not only because of the anger that he felt at his loss, but because he had discovered so much about the person he’d been. A lot of it he didn’t much care for. He’d been self-righteous and single-minded. Oh, he had been kind to his congregation, but his own family had borne the brunt of his fanaticism.
    Yes, Daniel still felt angry with God. He still wondered why his wife and child had been taken away from him.
    A noise at the nurses’ station distracted him and he turned to see a tall woman standing there, her back to him.
    When the nurse pointed at him, she turned and the strangest thing happened. For a moment, he could not breathe.
    She moved toward him, her hips swaying from side to side. He did all he could do to control his reaction.
    When she reached him, she stopped, a cautious smile on her face.
    He immediately stood, not liking the fact that she towered over him while he sat. Now that her headreached his shoulder, he relaxed, feeling more in control.
    His standing forced her to step back, but not before he caught a whiff of the fragrance she was wearing. She smelled good, like the freshness after a gentle shower. He almost closed his eyes, feeling the urge to inhale deeply.
    She stretched out her hand, shaking his when he accepted her greeting. Pure electricity surged through his body and he did all he could not to release her hand immediately. The startled look on her face made him aware that the touch had affected her in the same way.
    â€œI’m Renée Walker,” she said. Her voice was surprisingly strong and husky.
    â€œI’m Daniel Buchanan,” he replied.
    â€œThe nurse told me that you rescued the young lady?”
    â€œI don’t know if I would use the word rescued but I was driving home from work when I saw her being pulled into the alley. I had to do something.”
    â€œThat girl can consider herself lucky. You probably saved her from being raped or killed.”
    â€œIs she okay?”
    â€œThe doctor examined her a while ago, but she’s still suffering the effects of the blow she took. We’re still not sure how she is.”
    â€œI don’t want to be rude, but I’m still not sure who you are,” Daniel said.
    â€œSorry, I should have made it clear from the beginning. I’m one of the hospital’s social workers. I’mresponsible for cases like