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Clutching her daughter’s picture, Lilly drifted off to sleep.
She dreamed of walking, her hand gently holding her daughter’s. Of hope. Of a future Lilly hadn’t even known that she wanted until she’d seen the photo of Megan. Her baby’s smile. Her eyes.
Then the dream changed.
It became dark, and Lilly felt pressure on her face and chest. Painful, punishing compression that made her feel as if her ribs were ready to implode.
She fought the dream, shoved at the pressure with her hands and forced herself to wake up.
Her eyes flew open.
The darkness stayed. So did the suffocating sensation.
It was unbearable. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move.
It took a moment to understand why. The darkness and the pressure weren’t remnants of the dream. They were real. Because someone was shoving a pillow against her face. Suffocating her.
Someone wanted her dead.
Unexpected Father
Delores Fossen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Imagine a family tree that includes Texas cowboys, Choctaw and Cherokee Indians, a Louisiana pirate and a Scottish rebel who battled side by side with William Wallace. With ancestors like that, it’s easy to understand why Texas author and former air force captain Delores Fossen feels as if she was genetically predisposed to writing romances. Along the way to fulfilling her DNA destiny, Delores married a U.S. Air Force Top Gun who just happens to be of Viking descent. With all those romantic bases covered, she doesn’t have to look too far for inspiration.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Lilly Nelson—She wakes up from a coma to learn she’s given birth to a daughter, Megan, and that the unidentified person who tried to kill her still wants her dead. In order to protect her child, Lilly will have to depend on Megan’s guardian…the very man she can’t have, despite what her heart is telling her.
Detective Jason Lawrence—This tough-as-nails cop finds himself the unexpected father of his late brother’s baby, Megan. Now, protecting Megan and Lilly from an unknown assailant could cost him everything, including his heart and his life.
Megan Nelson—She’s still two weeks away from her first birthday and has no idea of the danger she’s in. Megan only knows that she loves Jason and he’s the only daddy she’s ever known.
Wayne Sandling—A prominent, ruthless attorney who detests Lilly because of evidence she turned over to the police that got him disbarred.
Raymond Klein—Wayne Sandling’s business associate whose career was also ruined with the evidence Lilly provided to the police. Is he willing to murder Lilly out of revenge?
Corinne Davies—Lilly’s former secretary. On the surface Corinne seems helpful and supportive, but could she be covering her tracks to keep old secrets buried?
Erica Fontaine—She’s been Megan’s nanny since the day the child was born, and isn’t happy to hand Megan over to Lilly.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter One
St. Joseph’s Convalescent Hospital
San Antonio, Texas
“Lilly came out of the coma.” Dr. Staten’s voice was clinical. Void of emotion or any speculation as to the impact of the bombshell that he’d just delivered.
Detective Jason Lawrence’s reaction, however, wasn’t quite so serene or detached.
There was emotion. Plenty of it. And speculation? That, too. A really bad kind of speculation that knotted his stomach and tightened every muscle in his body.
Oh, man.
It felt as if someone had sucker punched him.
“Lilly’s awake?” Jason managed to ask even though he already knew the answer. Still, he wanted a confirmation, and while he waited for it, he prayed.
Except he didn’t know what the hell to pray for.
Dr. Staten nodded. “She woke up about two hours ago. That’s why I called and asked you to come.”
And at no time during the call had the doctor indicated that Lilly was no longer comatose. Of course, Dr. Staten probably thought it was news best delivered in person. Jason was debating that. Though there was nothing that could have helped pave the way for this, he would have liked a few minutes in private to prepare himself.
“How did this happen?” Because he didn’t want to risk something as dignity-reducing as losing his balance, Jason dropped down into the burgundy leather chair across from Dr. Staten’s desk.
“She simply woke up.” The doctor lifted a shoulder and flexed his dark, gray-threaded eyebrows. “We don’t know why. It’s not a common occurrence, but it does happen—even after nineteen months.”
Yes. These things probably did happen. But nineteen months had been more than enough time for Jason to believe it wouldn’t happen.
Ever.
And he’d built his entire life around that ever.
Dr. Staten sat, as well, easing down into his chair, and from over the thin silver rims of his glasses, he examined Jason with sympathetic brown eyes. “I know this has to come as a surprise…”
Jason almost laughed. Not from humor. Definitely not from that. But from the irony. Lilly was awake—after nineteen months, three days and a couple of hours. After everyone, including the medical community, and he had given up hope. She was awake.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
And the beginning of what would no doubt be his own personal nightmare.
Jason pulled in his breath, released it slowly. “Has Lilly said anything?”
“A little. She’s still somewhat disorientated and doesn’t remember much about the car accident. That’s to be expected. It’ll take a while for her body to start functioning normally, but now that she’s awake, I believe she’ll make a full recovery.”
Jason silently cursed his reaction. Cursed himself. And then cursed fate for dealing him a hand that he didn’t want to play. He was happy for Lilly. Truly happy. No one deserved to be in a vegetative state, and now she would get a second chance at life. But Jason couldn’t help it: her second chance changed everything.
“Have you told her?” Jason asked.
Dr. Staten paused a moment. There was no need for Jason to clarify his