A Shot In the Dark
by Jennifer Burrows
Romantic Thriller
Date Published: 7/11/2013
Most of the patients that are brought to the trauma bay in the ER remain nameless, and for the most part, faceless. For Laney Pearson and the rest of the staff, this makes it easier to move past the senseless death and destruction that they see on an almost daily basis. But all of that changes for Laney when she finds herself trying to pump the life back into a young motorcycle rider who arrives by helicopter more dead than alive.
Skyler Smith has all the makings of the next great motocross rider, right up until he crashes while trying to perform the trick that will secure his future. From the time his motionless body is lifted off the track, the question becomes not when his next race takes place, but whether he will live to see another day. And now there is mounting evidence that the tragedy was no accident
Laney can never envision this boy’s crash and the ensuing investigation will have such an impact on her own life, but in the days that follow, she discovers a life within her she never knew existed. While the police sort through the mounting evidence from the crash, Laney has to sort through her own feelings for the handsome trauma surgeon that she previously never gave a second thought. Is he really as charming as he seems, or is there another reality hiding beneath the surface? And just how long has he been watching her?
Excerpt :
Laney
stared at the television on the wall noting the ESPN announcers talking about
the day's football games highlights. She barely noticed the man that slipped in
the barstool beside her. She probably would have ignored him all together except
the wonderful smell of his cologne made her tune in to the fact that there was
someone sitting next to her. It was the same smell that permeates the
Abercrombie and Fitch stores. Oh God I love that smell. She felt a
warming sensation between her legs and was startled out of her thoughts when he
turned towards her.
"You
should probably eat something if you are going to drink like that."
"Excuse..."
Laney
turned her head towards the voice of the wonderfully smelling man and was
shocked to see Dr. Stone sitting next to her. She instantly turned bright red,
embarrassed by the thoughts that had crossed her mind just a few seconds
before.
"What. are.?"
"Laney, it's never good to drink on an empty stomach."
Annoyed,
Laney responded. "I didn't realize that I asked for your professional
opinion".
Dr.
Stone looked a bit taken back by her sharp tongue. Laney instantly regretted
what she said and the inclination of her voice.
"I'm
sorry; I didn't mean it like that. It's just.it was a really rough day."
The
bartender appeared with the Grey Goose and soda. Taylor looked at Dr. Stone
admiring him as though she could have him for dinner. Laney looked at Taylor
checking out Dr. Stone and then looked at his reaction. He didn't even seem to
notice that she had been checking him out. I can see why everyone is hot for
this guy. He is pretty hot.... in an asshole sort of way.
"And
what can I get for you?" Taylor nearly crawled over the bar as she was
getting Dr. Stone's order.
"I'll have what she is having".
"Do you have a name?"
Now
looking a little caught off guard, he turned his attention away from Laney and
replied, "Josh. My name is Josh."
Taylor
redirected her attention towards Laney. "Laney, is the good looking man
your date for the evening?"
Laney
looked at Dr. Stone and then back at Taylor and retorted. "Absolutely
not."
"What
a shame. A good looking guy like this will be snatched up quickly. So Josh, one
Greygoose and soda coming up. Will there be anything else? Maybe a menu or
maybe my number?"
Laney
looked up stunned by the directness of the Taylor. She had never actually seen
Taylor act this way towards any of the patrons. How rude! What if he were
mine? Okay Laney, cool down. You did say that emphatically that he was not
yours. She took a look at Josh who seemed to not even have noticed how
easily the waitress asked for his number. As the shock wore off, Laney noticed
how handsome he really was and felt a pang of jealousy begin to develop. His
deep blue eyes were the color of the Caribbean and utterly electrifying. His
dark brown hair was short and perfectly manicured. His olive colored face had
perfectly chiseled features and his lips... so darn kissable. He was out of his
scrubs and dressed in jeans and a tight fitting black silk t-shirt that accentuated
his large biceps and unbelievable pecs. How have I missed this for so long?
"Ah,
I'm good for right now," he stated without even batting an eye. It's as
if getting asked for his number was part of an everyday conversation for him.
Maybe it is. Laney thought to herself.
"Let me get you some dinner" he offered.
"No,
thank you. I am not hungry. And no offense, but I prefer to be alone after a
rough day at work."
She
took a large sip of her drink and looked up at Josh. His big blue eyes piercing
right through her made her catch her breath. What am I thinking? I have this
gorgeous guy next to me, and all I can think about is being alone and drowning
my sorrows into this glass. What is my problem? Laney, you know he's a jerk.
Well maybe that is just the way he is at work.
Laney
discontinued the conversation she was having with herself in her head and
decided to get back to the conversation she washaving with Dr. Stone.
"I'm
sorry, Dr. Stone. I am being selfish. Your day wasn't any better." He
flashed a million dollar smile at her that would have swept any woman off her
feet. She however was not willing to give in that easily. She was not ready to
let go of her already formed opinion of him.
"No
problem Laney. If you want to be alone I completely understand. I hope that you
will decide otherwise. And please, call me Josh. We aren't at work."
Just
then, Taylor walked up with Josh's Greygoose and soda. Laney took a sip of her
drink and began stirring it with the little cocktail straw in the glass. She
squeezed the lime to produce a couple more drops in her drink in an effort to
distract her from the fact that Dr. Stone just told her to call him Josh. It
didn't feel quite right. She had always known him as Dr. Stone.
"For what it's worth, Laney, you did a great job in there
today."
"Thanks. You, too. You saved his life!"
"I
would say that we both saved his life. He wouldn't be here without you pounding
on his chest keeping his heart going. And I really like that move where you had
straddled Skyler on the gurney doing CPR while rolling into the OR. If the
situation weren't so horrible, it might have been slightly comical."
Laney's
cheeks flushed. She wasn't used to taking complements especially not from
someone she found so attractive. Laney downed the rest of her drink, threw down
some money on the bar and stepped out of her chair. Laney knew that she
shouldn't drive after having a couple of drinks. But, her judgment had become
slightly clouded and, she knew that if she stayed there much longer, she might
get herself into some trouble.
"Thanks
for the company. I have to go. I have to work tomorrow."
Josh
stood up from his chair and grabbed Laney's arm just as she turned to walk
away.
"Laney.
You just had two very strong drinks in the course of just a few minutes. And,
you didn't have anything to eat. You shouldn't be driving. You of all people
should know better."
"Excuse me, Dr. Stone, but I think I am very aware of my
limits,and I don't need you to act like my dad!" Laney pulled her arm away
and started to turn back around.
"Laney,
at least let me get you some dinner or an appetizer. It won't take that long
and you'll be back home and in your bed before you know it."
"I
appreciate your concern. But, I am ok. I'll hit a drive thru and grab something
to eat." She continued to head out the door. She looked back over shoulder
to find him with a shocked expression on his face. She continued out the door
and unlocked her BMW with the controller, got in and started her car. Just as
she was starting to pull away from the curb, Josh knocked on the window. Laney
pressed the button to roll it down.
"What?"
"Laney, how about I drive you?"
"I
told you, I have to work tomorrow. I don't have any way of getting my car to
get to work."
"I could pick you up in the morning to get your car."
"Don't be absurd!"
"Laney, really."
"Good night, Dr. Stone."
"Laney, please drive carefully."
 |
| Jennifer Burrows |
Ten Favorite Authors and Why
I like a variety of genres.
But here are ten of my favorite authors in no particular order:
1.
Dan
Brown: I feel like I get an art history
lesson every time I read one of his books.
I’m not particularly a fan of art history. But somehow, Dan Brown makes me not only
enjoy it but I want to learn more about what he’s referencing.
2.
Bill O’Riley: As controversial as he may be, I
find his books informative and thought provoking. I can’t wait to read Killing Lincoln.
3.
Jamie McGuire:
Who doesn’t love Beautiful Disaster?
I felt like I was right there with Travis and Pidge. I felt so many different emotions when
reading the book. And, who doesn’t love
a bad boy like Travis?
4.
Samantha Young:
I just love her writing style. I
love her references to Scotland and how she builds her characters. She always has a female who has had some
trauma in her life and works hard to have a normal life and eventually fall in
love. Who doesn’t love a good love
story?
5.
C.M. Stunich:
I just read the Hard Rock Serious.
Needless to say, I can’t wait for the third one to come out. These rockers are hard core dirty. At times, they are just so disgusting. I have to admire anyone who can make me fall
in love with characters that are so filthy they are hot!
6.
Tarryn Fisher: Her Love me with Lies serious was
very messed up. I kept finding myself
shocked and it was unpredictable. I love
a book in which I’m not going to figure out the ending. And she definitely captured my attention
through the entire three book series.
7.
Tiffany Reisz: The Original Sinners serious is
like nothing I’ve ever read before. She
develops her characters so well and the sex scenes are so well done. I’ve read the first four books and I’m
looking forward to the fifth. She is
definitely someone I’m going to continue to follow.
8.
Kylie Scott: I recently read Lick. And again, I’ve never been into the rock star
books. But, something about her
characters made me want to keep reading her book. And, I’m glad I did. It was one of the very few books I’ve read
that makes me keep thinking about it for days after I read it. I keep hoping to stumble onto something similar.
9.
Stieg Larsson: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
series. The books reminded me a little
bit of Dan Brown’s writing but without all of the art history. I loved how he kept me guessing throughout
the entire series. It was suspenseful,
had just the right amount of love scenes, and it made me feel like an
intelligent reader.
10.
Gillian Flynn: Gone girl was seriously a messed
up story. It’s one of those books where
when you finished all you can say is WOW!
Jennifer is a Registered Nurse, and she holds a Master’s degree in Nursing Administration. She has 15 years of experience working in the Emergency Room and the Intensive Care Unit of a major trauma center. While she is equally adept at all facets of patient care, Emergency room nursing is her passion, and is the inspiration for this story. Currently, she resides in Southern California with her husband and their three amazing boys. This is her first published novel, with the sequel expected soon.
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