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RENEGADE MILLIONAIRE

Kristi Gold has always believed that love has remarkable healing powers and feels very fortunate to be able to weave stories of romance and commitment. As a bestselling author and romance Writers of America RITA^® Award finalist, she’s learned that although accolades are wonderful, the most cherished rewards come from the most unexpected places, namely from personal stories shared by readers. Kristi resides on a ranch in Central Texas with her husband and three children, along with various and sundry livestock. she loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at KGOLDAUTHOR@ aol.com or Po Box 11292, robinson, TX 76716, USA.

To Vicky,

for joining me on every step of the

incredible journey

One

Joanna Blake had never been kissed like this before. If only she knew his name.

A few moments ago, he had come to her at the stroke of midnight, an ethereal presence with topaz eyes as enticing as a powerful talisman. She’d been standing in a corner of the hotel’s ballroom wearing a borrowed dress, practically unnoticed by most of the medical community in attendance at the New Year’s Eve gala. Now she was under the spell of a stranger who had somehow empowered her to be brave and bold, uninhibited.

When he pulled her closer in a solid embrace and deepened the kiss, Joanna’s heart rate skyrocketed like the fireworks outside heralding the new year. The sleek glide of his tongue, his heady scent, his arousing heat, called to Joanna on a primal level, a sensual plane she hadn’t known existed until now.

He ended the kiss yet kept his sultry gaze fastened on her face. Joanna was only mildly aware of the room’s revelry, the jubilant toasts, the clink of champagne glasses. At the moment, it was as if they were the only two occupants caught in some other dimension.

He brought his lips to her ear and murmured, “Happy New Year,” followed by a word that she didn’t understand in a language that was as exotic as the man. It sounded musical and mysterious, an endearment, she presumed, or maybe hoped. He smiled and she smiled back, helpless to do anything else.

The spell was suddenly broken when reality took hold. Joanna backed away from him, appalled by what she had done. She had never kissed a perfect stranger. In fact, she hadn’t kissed any man in quite some time. Maybe that was why she had allowed it to happen, and so enthusiastically enjoyed it. Still, that was no excuse to carry on the way she had.

Overcome by the need to escape, she muttered, “I have to go now.”

He raised a dark eyebrow. “So soon?”

She tried to respond but couldn’t quite reclaim her voice. Once again, he had captured her thoughts, her will. She couldn’t allow the hold he had on her. “I need to go home.” Home to an empty, run-down apartment void of warmth and welcome.

She turned away from the stranger and headed for a safe haven, beyond his mesmeric pull. She’d only managed a few steps before she paused to take another look, as if he still held some mystical power over her. He watched her with a guarded smile, an enigmatic backdrop against the floor-to-ceiling windows.

His dark hair was pulled back at his nape; his flawless skin the color of warm caramel. His attire stood out among the standard tuxedos, a muted gray jacket and slacks and a black shirt secured at the collar by a platinum medallion. The diamond stud in his ear seemed to twinkle in sync with the lights of the San Antonio skyline reflecting from the window at his back.

Struggling with good judgment, Joanna hurried toward the double doors to escape all that magnetism. But in her heart of hearts she knew that she would never forget this event, never forget him and the imposing image he cast against the night sky. Never forget his drugging kiss or that something inexplicable had happened to her normally cautious self.

She reached for the door with one hand and fumbled for the car keys in her small satin bag with the other. In her haste, the purse tipped, spilling its contents. She knelt and quickly scooped up the few items, shoved them back into the bag, then rushed into the corridor.

Once she reached the stairs outside leading to the parking lot, Joanna gripped the railing and paused to catch her breath before making her way to her dilapidated car. She unlocked the door and slid inside, taking another moment to recover. Luckily she’d had only a single glass of champagne, otherwise she probably wouldn’t be able to drive. At the moment she felt more than a little dizzy, but it wasn’t the wine having that effect on her. It was the kiss. It was him.

After fumbling twice with the key, Joanna finally turned the ignition and heard only a grinding noise. She tried once more, and then again, receiving nothing but protest from the temperamental vehicle. The worn-out sedan had chosen that moment to give up, something she’d been expecting—and dreading—for months.

Tapping her forehead against the steering wheel, she released a frustrated groan. Why now? Why tonight? She had no one to call, no one to seek out for a ride unless she returned to the ballroom. If she chose that route then she risked running into the phantom kisser. Maybe that wasn’t such a horrible prospect.

Good grief. She certainly didn’t need to see him again, no matter how appealing the thought. She already had one male in her life; she didn’t need another. Joseph, with his trusting smile and wisdom beyond his years, was her world, her hope, her all. Considering he was only six years old, he posed a lot less trouble than most adult men, especially his father, who had left them alone in the city while he chased after another scheme that promised him riches and excitement. A man who couldn’t let go of his youth. Adam hadn’t wanted to deal with responsibilities, or a family. Joanna had learned much too late that he would never change.

And now their child—the baby Joanna had wanted so badly—had to depend on her, because his father simply didn’t care. If she hadn’t been able to send Joseph to live with her mom, she didn’t know what she would have done.

If only Joseph could be with her now, but he wasn’t, and she should be thankful for that. The broken-down car, her equally broken-down apartment, served as reminders of why her son must continue to live with his grandmother, over five hundred miles away. Although that was best, sending him away had been the most painful experience of her life.

She turned her thoughts to the day when she’d told Joseph goodbye with the promise that they would be together soon. She’d tried so hard not to cry, tried to be strong, but to no avail. Joseph had proved to be much stronger. When she’d hugged him hard, never wanting to let go, he’d patted her back and said, “It’s okay, Mommy. You’ll have a good job and make some money, then I’ll come back to San Antonio, okay?”

Her little man. And every day since their parting two months ago, Joanna had resisted the urge to send for him so they could be together now.

Joanna had no choice but to put that idea out of her mind. Joseph needed security and a safe place to live, something she couldn’t offer until she found better housing, paid off a few more bills. Hopefully they would be reunited soon, if only fate would quit throwing up roadblocks.

The rap on the window startled Joanna so much that she almost cried out. She was overcome with relief when she saw Cassie O’Connor standing outside the car, not some mugger.

She stepped out of the sedan then leaned back against the closed door for support.

Cassie gave a one-handed sweep of her shoulderlength blond hair, her dark eyes reflecting her concern. “Where did you go in such a hurry?” Cassie asked.

Joanna willed her pounding heart to slow. “I have to work at the birthing center tomorrow.”

“That’s horrible, working on New Year’s.”

The day held little meaning for Joanna, since she would be spending it without her child. “Babies don’t care about holidays. Besides, I’ve got bills to pay.” And it looked as though she would have one more debt now that her car refused to run. Just another to add to the pile, thanks to her ex-husband’s careless disregard.

“I’m sorry if I scared you,” Cassie said. “I was worried something might be wrong when I saw you rush out.”

“Actually, I’m glad you came along. My car won’t start.”

Cassie gave her a sympathetic look. “Not a great way to ring in the new year, that’s for sure. Do you have a phone to call a mechanic?”

Joanna couldn’t afford a cell phone. She could barely afford the pager she was required to carry. “No, and I have no idea who to call.” Nor did she know how she was going to pay for the repairs. Under normal circumstances, her nurse’s salary was more than decent, but the amount of liabilities Adam had left her with was obscene.

“We’ll ask Brendan for a recommendation,” Cassie said. “He’s bringing the car around. We can give you a ride home.”

Joanna didn’t relish the thought of the O’Connors seeing her neighborhood. “I’d appreciate that, but you can just drop me off at the clinic. I have some extra clothes there.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go home?”

“I’m sure. That way I’ll already be at work in the morning, since it looks like I’ll be without transportation.”

“Okay. If you’re sure.” Cassie’s brassy smile appeared. “And how did you like Dr. Madrid?”

“Dr. Madrid?”

“Yes, Rio Madrid. The man who had you in a lip lock a few minutes ago.”

Joanna’s face heated to flash-fire proportions. She’d hoped that no one had witnessed her reckless behavior. Obviously she’d made a total fool out of herself with a man. Again. “Oh, him. I guess I didn’t realize he was a doctor.” She hadn’t even known his name.

“As a matter of fact, he assisted Dr. Anderson when the twins were born.”

“He’s an OB?” Joanna failed to keep the shock from her voice.

“Yes, and I’m surprised you haven’t met him before tonight.”

Joanna still hadn’t officially met him, but she had kissed him. “I’ve only been working at the center for six weeks. I still haven’t met all the obstetricians.”

“That might be for the best,” Cassie said. “He’s not too receptive to alternative birth methods.”

Classic conservative-doctor attitude, Joanna thought, though the man didn’t appear to be typical physician material. But men could be deceptive. She had learned that lesson the hard way. “Hopefully I won’t be crossing his path any time soon.”

Cassie’s grin deepened. “Do you mean personally or professionally?”

“Both.”

Cassie rubbed her arms and shivered. “If you say so. Right now let’s get out of here. It’s pretty nippy tonight and I need to relieve the baby-sitter.”

Joanna hadn’t noticed the cold, probably because she still battled a slow-burn heat caused by Dr. Rio Madrid. She started to move but realized her dress was caught in the closed door—the dress she had borrowed from Cassie. What other disaster could possibly befall her tonight?

She opened the door and pulled the hem from the car’s rusty clutches, immediately noting an ugly smudge of grease on the royal-blue satin. “I’m sorry, Cassie. You were so nice to loan this to me and now I’ve probably ruined it.”

Cassie glanced at the soiled hem. “That’s okay, Joanna. I’m sure the dress will be fine after it’s cleaned.”

Joanna had her doubts about that. “I’ll get it cleaned for you. It’s the least I can do.”

“You have enough to worry about. I’ll take care of it. Believe me, with six-month-old twins, you have to have a lot of things cleaned.”

Joanna thanked her lucky stars that she had met Cassie and her husband, neonatologist Dr. Brendan O’Connor, just after she’d taken the job. Cassie had visited the birthing center and sent several referrals her way through her social work at Memorial. Their friendship made the transition of sending Joseph to live with his grandmother somewhat easier.

Joanna sighed. “Guess I’m kind of out of it tonight.”

Cassie grinned again. “I don’t doubt that one bit. Midnight kisses can do that to a girl.”

Joanna couldn’t agree more. That kiss was still fresh on her mind—and on her lips. But she was determined to forget it, even though it was the most unforgettable kiss she had ever received.

A kiss delivered by a gorgeous stranger. A beautiful doctor. The very last thing she needed in her life.

Rio Madrid yanked the pager from his lab-coat pocket and pressed the button. Great. A call from the E.R.— just what he needed to end one helluva hectic day.

He tossed the tray filled with his untouched dinner onto the cafeteria conveyor belt and headed down to the emergency room. In the past eighteen hours, he’d delivered three babies, seen an office full of patients and had barely enough time to take a breather, much less eat. He was beginning to question whether he should have hired a partner after Anderson’s retirement. Too late to worry about that now. Besides, he’d always been a loner, and he liked it that way.

After he reached the nurses’ station, he used the counter for support. He was too tired for a man barely thirty-three years old. “What’s up, Carl?”

The burly nurse glanced up from his charting and hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward the board listings. “We have an OB admit brought in by a nurse from the birthing center.”

“Where is she?”

“The patient?”

No, the pope, Rio wanted to say but kept his frustration in check. “Yeah, the patient.”

“In Room 3 with the nurse.”

“The nurse?”

Carl shrugged. “She won’t leave until she knows what’s up. Common practice when midwives are involved.”

That didn’t surprise Rio at all. In fact, he was immediately reminded of his mother.

Forcing himself into action, Rio headed down the corridor and noticed a slight woman dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt standing outside his destination. She studied the toe of her sneaker, her arms folded across her chest.

Although he couldn’t make out her features, Rio was hit with a sense of familiarity. Strange, since he was certain they’d never met, but he couldn’t escape the belief that he knew her from somewhere.

His steps slowed. Something about her reminded him of another woman standing alone in one corner of a crowded ballroom, seeming as if she’d been trying to blend into the background. But Rio had noticed her immediately. When midnight rolled around, and no one had claimed her for the traditional kiss, he’d spontaneously stepped into the role.

Why he’d done it, he couldn’t exactly say. Maybe because she had seemed so lost and out of place among the medical icons and their wives. Maybe because she’d looked so beautiful yet lonely and he could relate to that. But the way she’d responded to his kiss had made him consider taking her to his bed to welcome in the new year—until she ran away. In truth, she’d been in his bed since that night, if only in his imagination.

He studied this particular woman as he continued forward, doubts creeping in with every step. No way this could be her. He couldn’t be that lucky twice. Besides, the woman he’d kissed had been dressed in blue satin, her hair pinned up into a fashionable style, her face carefully made up to suit the occasion, anything but nondescript.

Then the midwife looked up. Dark lashes outlined her vibrant blue eyes devoid of makeup, her fair skin a direct contrast to the dark spiraling curls framing her face. She looked as if she’d stepped right out of a soap commercial, all natural, attractive, appealing in an unpretentious way. Still, he couldn’t get past those expressive eyes that now studied him with only mild curiosity, not surprise or anything that would indicate she knew him. But he got the distinct feeling that he did, in fact, know her.

It didn’t matter, Rio decided. Tonight he had to play the professional. Tonight he was the obstetrician, and she the midwife. It sure as hell wasn’t a good time to get personal, even if it turned out that she happened to be his New Year’s temptress. Even if he did have something that belonged to her. Something he’d been carrying around for the past three days, futilely trying to find its owner. And now he was fairly sure he’d found her.

When she didn’t acknowledge him, he reached around her, slipped the metal chart from the holder and opened it to check the notes. “Are you with Mrs. Gonzales?”

“Yes, I am.”

Rio couldn’t help but react to her floral scent, her closeness, the stubborn memories of a kiss that wouldn’t get out of his head. He looked up from the chart and met her noncommittal expression. “And you are?”

“Joanna Blake. I’m with the birthing center.”

Rio took the hand she offered, noting the smooth texture and how fragile it felt in his palm. “I’m Dr. Madrid.” For some reason he was reluctant to let her go.

She pulled her hand from his grasp. “Nice to meet you.”

He studied the chart again but couldn’t quite focus. The more he looked at her, the more certain he was that this could be his unidentified angel. “Tell me about Mrs. Gonzales.”

“She came to the center and presented with excessive vaginal bleeding. She’s a gravida 2, para 1, abortus 1.”

Rio rubbed his chin. “Three pregnancies and one live birth and this one. What happened with the other pregnancy?”

“First trimester miscarriage about two years ago. This time, she’s had an uneventful gestation. No significant problems.”

“Well, it looks like she has some now.” He flipped the chart closed and held it against his chest. “Did you examine her cervix?”

She frowned. “Of course not. I think we both know that an internal examination could exacerbate her bleeding.”

Her adamant tone, the fire in her eyes, intrigued him. Excited him, even. “Just making sure.”

Frustration passed over her once-guarded expression. “Dr. Madrid, I’m trained to recognize problematic signs. That’s why I came here with her, to make sure my patient receives the best care.”

“I wasn’t questioning your judgment.”

“Yes, you were.”

Actually, he was. He’d seen his share of births go badly in nonhospital settings—one in particular. For that reason, he couldn’t seem to stop his concern over nontraditional methods, even though they were becoming readily accepted in the medical community. “Consider me overly cautious, okay? Now do we stand here in the hall and continue our conversation, or do we go see about our patient?”

For a second he thought she might smile but it didn’t quite take. “Yes. But first I think you should know that Mr. Gonzales knows only a little English and Mrs. Gonzales knows next to none. If you’d like for me to interpret —”

“I can hold my own in the Spanish department, Ms. Blake.”

A slight blush stained her porcelain cheeks. “Okay, then.” She made a sweeping gesture toward the open door. “After you, Doctor.”

He couldn’t resist rattling her chain a little. “I would say ladies first, but I’m thinking you might slug me.”

“I’m thinking you might be right.”

Finally, she smiled, and then he knew for certain. She was the woman who’d marched through his mind for the past three days. The woman who’d run away from him at midnight. His reluctant Cinderella.

Obviously he didn’t recognize her. That shouldn’t matter to Joanna, but for some reason it did. If she looked at it logically, there was no reason why he should remember. It had been dark in the ballroom, and she’d been dressed up. Still, she couldn’t ignore the little twinge of hurt.

But she had to ignore it. Mrs. Gonzales’s well-being should be first and foremost in her mind, not Rio Madrid. At least the doctor seemed genuinely concerned for the woman. He spoke in perfect Spanish, his voice gentle and compassionate as he performed the ultrasound.

While he worked, Joanna took the opportunity to study him. He looked much the same as he had that night—darkly handsome, but his suit had been replaced by a blue scrub top that covered faded jeans, and the diamond stud in his earlobe exchanged for a small gold loop. His slick dark hair was still pulled back and secured at his neck, allowing Joanna to look her fill at his face in the glare of fluorescent lights—a chiseled face with a finely honed nose, high cheekbones and a granite jaw. And oh, that mouth. She recalled his soft lips, how gentle and breathtaking that kiss had been.

Her gaze dropped to his strong hands that had pressed against her back, held her close, made her melt. He might not look like a conventional doctor, but he was one fine masterpiece of a man. Even his name sounded striking. Rio Madrid…

“Okay, that does it.”

The doctor-in-question’s declaration forced Joanna back into the situation at hand, and her thoughts back onto her patient. The fear in Mr. and Mrs. Gonzales’s faces had lessened until Dr. Madrid began to explain the findings from the ultrasound. Placenta previa, as Joanna had suspected, and now the baby would more than likely have to be delivered by cesarean.

After the doctor was done, he stood and signaled Joanna to follow him into the hallway. Once they were out of the patient’s earshot, he said, “Since she’s at term, I’ll go ahead and do a C-section.”

“Bed rest—”

“Is not an option. She’s bleeding too much—”

“Dr. Madrid—”

“We need to get that baby out of there. This is the best course—”

“But—”

“—of treatment.”

Joanna waited for a few moments to make certain he was finished with his tirade before speaking again. “Just for the record, I’m in total agreement with you.”

He frowned. “You are?”

“Yes, I am.” She was caught between wanting to shake him and kiss him. Ridiculous, at least the kissing part. “If you’d let me get a word in edgewise, then you might have realized that.”

At least he looked contrite, and much too cute. “Sorry. I’m pretty damn tired at the moment.”

“That will make one a little cranky.”

He sent her a crooked smile. “So you think I’m cranky?”

Cranky, and gorgeous. “Maybe just a little bit.”

“Could we settle for mildly out of sorts?”

Joanna couldn’t help but smile back. “I suppose we could compromise with out of sorts. As long as we drop the mildly.”

His grin deepened and he opened his mouth to speak but before he could, a harried middle-aged woman approached him. “Dr. Madrid, the Gonzaleses have no insurance. I need to make payment arrangements with them. If they can’t pay, we need to transfer—”

“She’s not going anywhere.” His voice brimmed with barely contained anger. “I’m going to do an emergency cesarean in about ten minutes, and her husband’s going to be with her. End of conversation.”

“But hospital policy states—”

“I don’t give a damn about policy.” He lowered his voice, his jaw clenched tight. “I know you’re just doing your job, but I don’t have time to argue. Have your supervisor call me after the surgery if there’s a problem. I’ll handle it.”

The woman walked away, shaking her head.

Joanna smiled. “Bravo, Doctor. I’m impressed.”

His grin came slowly and unexpectedly, but Joanna’s reaction was fast and hard to ignore. “The bureaucracy around here sucks.”

“I have to agree with you on that, too.” She glanced toward the cubicle. “Well, I guess I should wish the Gonzaleses luck so you can do your job.”

He rubbed a hand over his shadowed jaw. “Do you want to scrub in with me?”

Joanna was totally taken aback by the offer. “I’d love to, if it’s okay with the hospital.”

“I’m giving you my permission, and that’s good enough. Let’s get going.”

After Dr. Madrid had made appropriate arrangements, Joanna followed him to the labor and delivery unit to change. She dressed and scrubbed then found him waiting for her in the operating suite. Stopping at the head of the table, Joanna exchanged a few encouraging words with the nervous couple, then moved past the drape to join the crew at the table.

“I assume you’ve scrubbed in on one of these before,” the doctor asked, the scalpel poised in his hands.

“Plenty.”

“You’re not doing them at the center, are you?”

That might have made Joanna mad had he not said it with amusement. “Not hardly. But I have had several opportunities during my training.” More than a few in her checkered past. She’d put her career goals on hold when she’d become pregnant her second year of medical school, soon forced to settle back into the role of nurse because of finances. Then later, Adam had completely robbed her of her dreams of becoming a doctor. He had robbed her of a lot more than that.

Joanna tamped down the bite of resentment to watch the obstetrician in action. His skill was apparent with the first cut, his hands deft, his movements flawless as he worked quickly to deliver the baby. Joanna and the doctor smiled at each other in unison when the little girl released a loud cry of protest during her entry into the world outside the womb. A wonderful sound, Joanna thought. She would never get over the miracle of birth, no matter how many times she witnessed it. And from the satisfied look on Dr. Madrid’s face, she imagined he felt the same.

Joanna had done little more than observe until he held up the umbilical cord and asked, “Do you want to cut this?”

“Sure.” Joanna complied, pleased that he thought to involve her at least this much.

Before handing the baby over to the attending pediatrician, Dr. Madrid held up the infant for the new parents to see and said, “Usted tiene una ninña hermosa.”

Joanna couldn’t deny that, when she turned from the table to watch the pediatrician examine the child. The baby girl was beautiful with her thick cap of black hair and her round cherub’s face. She looked plump and healthy, her coloring good.

Children were truly a blessing, and that concept made Joanna think of her own son and how much she missed him, cherished him. How much sadness had been a part of her life over the past few months without him.

“Ms. Blake, please see Mr. Gonzales to the nursery while I finish up here.”

The concern in Dr. Madrid’s voice drew Joanna’s attention from the infant. “Okay.”

As she walked to the head of the table, Joanna noticed the doctor’s dark brows drawn down with concentration, and beads of sweat dampening the front of the blue cap covering his head. She heard him give the order for several meds, and other muttered comments from the staff about too much blood.

Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

Joanna instructed Mr. Gonzales to follow her, trying her best to alleviate his distress with a calm voice. He kissed his wife’s cheek, then stood. Once in the hallway, the pediatrician signaled the new father to come with her and they walked away behind the portable crib, leaving Joanna behind, hoping to find out what had gone wrong with Mrs. Gonzales.

Joanna removed her gloves and mask and remained outside the O.R. suite, glancing in the door’s window to try to discern the problem. She couldn’t see anything for the flurry of activity surrounding the table.

After what seemed like an interminable amount of time, Dr. Madrid backed away from the table, looking relieved. He stopped for a moment and spoke to Mrs. Gonzales, then headed for the exit while the staff prepared to move the patient.

He yanked the gloves off his hands, the mask off his face and raked the cap from his head, tossing them into the refuse container. He then pushed through the double doors to join Joanna outside the room.

“Is she all right?” Joanna asked.

“She had a bleeder, but I’ve got it under control.”

“You didn’t have to do a hysterectomy, did you?”

“No. I’ve managed to save her uterus. They’ll give her a couple of units of blood. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

“I’m glad. I was worried.”

“So was I.” He leveled his golden gaze on her. “Do you want to grab some coffee after I make sure Mrs. Gonzales is settled?”

That sounded like a plan, one she didn’t dare consider. “I really need to go. I have to call the center then get home. I’ll check on Mrs. Gonzales before I leave.”

His sultry smile crept in. “Not even one cup of coffee? Just ten minutes of your time?”

“Actually, I’m in a hurry.” In a big hurry to get away from those tempting topaz eyes, that drop-dead smile.

His grin deepened. “Are you always in a hurry?”

An odd question. “Most of the time I’m running on full speed. Aren’t you?”

12 3 След.

The Millionaire's Cinderella

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