Nothing To Lose

By Lavada Dee

Galynn Taylor is running from a violent domestic relationship. Injured, she makes her way across the country. When she decides to walk to the next town to throw off the pursuit, a storm catches her and she collapses on the side of the road. Freezing, hurt, and not sure how much farther it is to the next town, she is ready to give up. Cooper Blackhawk finds her and, after getting her treatment, takes her home.

At first Cooper is in protective mode, but all too soon that grows into something more. The attraction is mutual. He wants more, but Galynn is terrified that Mick will find her and hurt Cooper or his family in trying to get to her. She can’t risk that and runs again. This time she leaves her heart, but unknowingly keeps a part of Cooper with the baby she carries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lavada Dee
• Release date: Feb 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215298893

Lavada Dee

Lavada Dee writes Contemporary and Romantic Suspense. She loves to read and gained a love of the romance genre from sneaking her Mother’s True Confessions from under the bed. That was many many many years ago and she has since advanced into reading just about every genre out there. From a love of reading she naturally evolved into writing.She lives in the Pacific Northwest where they encourage friends to drop in. While's it's impossible for all of us to physically drop in to chat we can do it via cyburspace. She loves to get better acquainted with you and invites you to subsribe to her Blog/News on her website.

Book preview

NOTHING TO LOSE

LAVADA DEE

Nothing To Lose

by

Lavada Dee

Smashwords Edition

First Printing June 2012

Re-release June 2023

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, opinions, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is entirely coincidental.

No part of this text may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the author. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author and not encouraging piracy of copyrighted materials.

QUALITY CONTROL: We strive to produce error-free books, but even with all the eyes that see the story during the production process, slips get by. So please, if you find a typo or any formatting issues, let us so that we may correct it.

Thank you!

Review by Long and Short Reviews 4 ½ start

In Nothing to Lose Ms. Dee drops her reader straight into the center of a pending tragedy and keeps the pace going from start to finish. Even her tender moments carried an energy that gripped this reader. 

It's well known that the quest for survival will sustain a person way beyond their normal capabilities and the author uses this to good effect on more than one occasion. The pace and style of writing switches from fast and furious through sweet, sensual to spicy with a fluency and visual impact that drew me in. I read this through in one sitting; the author pulled me in and had me rooting for both her main characters. 

While every romance is about emotions, Ms. Dee’s presentation of Cooper’s emotions when Galynn keeps her promise to let him know when she's leaving is awesome. I appreciated the manner in which the author includes background information, thus breaking up the tension. 

While the bad guy was thoroughly bad, Ms. Dee’s conclusion and resolution to the conflict was both unexpected and liberating. 

I found Ms. Dee’s writing fluent and enjoyable and she is an author now on my ‘watch-for’ list

Chapter 1

With a whoosh of air brakes, the big bus shut down and settled like a fat sitting hen settling on her nest. Galynn Taylor had watched with a sinking heart as they pulled into the tiny town of Paxton Montana. She again rethought her decision to buying tickets for different stops instead of one for the whole way. She glanced at her watch, six thirty a.m., everything, including what passed for a bus station, was closed. She had hoped for a bigger bus station so she wouldn't stand out as a single woman when she bought a ticket, but the size of the town alone would make that impossible. If Mick did manage to track her this far, it wouldn't take much for him to guess which direction she was headed. Darn! This wasn't good, and just when she had thought she'd caught a break.

Galynn had been weaving across the states so she wouldn't leave a straight trail to her final destination for Mick to follow. She thought that she'd lucked out at the last stop. It had been a good-sized town and a friendly older woman had gotten her husband to purchase a ticket for her. It turned out to be the perfect foil as he was traveling to Paxton alone to help his son-in-law. The purchase of two tickets, simply made it look like a man and wife traveling. If a camera picked him up buying the ticket another camera in the station might again show him with his wife. There would be no evidence she had ever been in Paxton. It worked even more to her advantage because this was the most important stop along the way. From Paxton Galynn planned to take a direct route through Spokane and into Seattle, her last stop.

She reached up to the overhead compartment for her backpack and gasped as a sharp pain hit her back. A reminder that the injuries from the recent beating that she'd taken weren't healed. She sucked in her breath and looked around. There wasn't a bustle of passengers getting off like she'd hoped. The only other passenger to exit the bus was the man who had purchased the ticket for her. As he passed in the aisle he smiled and wished her luck. She nodded to him. It would take a lot more than luck. She made her way toward the front of the bus. Maybe she should talk with the driver and see if she could purchase a ticket to Spokane from him. She rejected the idea almost as soon as it popped into her head. That would draw attention to her for sure. Best to get quietly off the bus and walk to the next town. It couldn't be too far and maybe luck would be on her side and someone would again get a ticket for her. Maybe a woman with children or an older couple. Anyone who would throw Mick off the track of a single woman.

Galynn stood on the deserted sidewalk. The man from the bus wasn't anywhere in sight. Up the street she could see a country diner. He'd probably gone there. A cup of coffee sounded awfully good after a night of riding the bus, but again she didn't want to do anything that would draw attention to her.

A sign in the hardware store in front of her said, Bus Station. Next to it one read Closed. Thankfully there was also a bus schedule and map taped to the window. The next town, Blackhawk, had a bus station. Calculating the distance on the map it looked like it was about fifteen to twenty miles up the road. The morning felt crisp but not freezing and the sky was clear. Twenty miles would take the whole day, but she felt good and should be able to make it without too much trouble.

* * * * *

Galynn stumbled and fell to her hands and knees. The gravel on the side of the road bit into her palms sending sharp pains up her arms. She bit her lip and tried to stop shaking. She was so cold. What had started out as a mild sunny day had turned into a nightmare when an ice storm hit with a vengeance. It had been bad enough in daylight, but this time of the year it got dark early. Galynn tried to see ahead. The storm hid the heavens and no moonlight lit the long lonely road. She didn’t remember a night this dark.

Struggling she got to her feet. She shouldn't be this weak. It had been five days since she'd left home. Home? What a laugh that was. The little house she'd lived in with her mother had ceased to be home the minute her mother had passed away. Well, maybe not right away. Mick had continued to play the caring sweetheart and husband for the first few months. Looking back, she had to wonder if he had always been violent and controlling or if the steroids she'd discovered him taking had changed him from a caring man into the monster she now knew him to be.

Nancy, her best friend thought it wasn't that black and white. There wasn't a before and after with Mick. Nancy had grown up with Mick, knew his family, and even admitted to being attracted to his classic blond handsomeness. She'd been happy that Galynn had Mick to help her with her mother because he had always treated his own mother so well. She told her that Mick was always moody, but except on the football field she'd never seen him violent. It almost seemed like he had evolved into violence. No doubt the steroids contributed to his hair trigger that erupted into a physical assault at the least provocation. Whatever the reason, both women agreed that Galynn didn't have a choice. If she stayed, he would no doubt end up killing her. Of course, if he found her, he'd kill her too. Still, she'd had nothing to lose that night four days ago when she'd run away from the only world that she knew.

A branch broke off in the wind and sailed past Galynn, slashing her cheek. Tears burned her eyes, and she again stumbled. Instinctively she tried to protect the palms of her hands and instead took the brunt of the fall on her knees. How much farther to go? It didn't matter. She knew that she wasn't going to get there. This morning it had seemed so easy. She felt stronger, her back hurt but as long as nothing rubbed against it the pain wasn't too bad. In fact, it felt better walking then it had when she’d been leaning against the bus seat. If only the weather hadn't changed. If, if, if. She'd rest for a while then get up. With that thought she closed her eyes.

Galynn groaned when the bright light bore down on her. Was this it? People who talked about near death described a bright light. But did they hear a motor and a door slam? She didn't think so. Go away. She was finally numb enough to feel warm. She wanted to stay that way.

Lady? Wake up, come on stay with me here.

Mick? He'd found her. Her heart started pounding so hard she could feel it in her throat making it impossible to get the scream out. She pushed herself up and stumbled toward the woods. If she could get into them, she might be able to hide.

Hands grabbed her waist and white heat shot through her back when he pulled her against him. Her scream filled the night air. No. Then with nothing left she whispered, Please no.

* * * * *

One minute Cooper Blackhawk had a tiger in his arms and the next . . . she'd passed out. When he'd crested the hill, his headlights picked her up but she looked like a pile of rags that someone might have thrown out on the road. If he'd been thinking he'd have called 911 before he got out of the truck. But he hadn’t, and now the phone was hanging on a hook on the dash of his truck and he was standing on the side of the road holding dead weight. She fought him, until he touched her back. It didn't take a brain surgeon to know he needed to watch how he held her. Carefully he laid her down on the road rolling her so she wasn't directly on her back. Almost immediately her eyes opened and focused on his. This time, she saw him and not someone who made her crazy with fear. Hi. He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

The woman struggled into a sitting position and tried to get on her feet. She almost made it on her own when she grabbed air. Cooper immediately responded. Whoa, take it easy. You're hurt and you feel like you're running a fever. I'd guess at around a 101.

She shook her head. Are you a doctor?

No, but it doesn't take one. You're burning up.

Cooper stepped tentatively away. He needed to get to his phone but didn’t want to leave her for fear she'd fall or worse, manage to get into the woods. You're a little rocky here. Let me take your arm and I'll help you to the truck. You can lean against it while I phone for an ambulance.

Again, her eyes widened. He knew fear when he saw it and he'd say she looked closer to terrified. Holding his hands up in a surrender position Cooper tried to reassure her. Okay, maybe it would be better if you sat back down on the ground.

No, no ambulance. I'm okay; it can't be that much farther to Blackhawk.

Blackhawk? Is that where you're going?

She nodded. With an ambulance not an immediate threat, she visibly relaxed a little. Is it much farther?

About a mile maybe a little less. Do you know someone in Blackhawk?

No, I'm just passing through. If I can check into a motel for a night, I'll be fine in the morning.

I don't think so. . .

She interrupted him. Her voice sounded stronger than he would have expected. I'm not hurt and I'm not going to a hospital. With that said, she turned and started walking toward the truck. She'd gotten about six feet past it when she stumbled again. Cooper scooped her up before she could hit the ground. Yeah, sure. You're just fine. Look lady you aren't going to make it a block let alone a mile. I can't leave you out on this road. . . His voice trailed off. He should ignore her and call rescue. He wasn't some knight in shining armor that was for sure. Mumbling under his breath he reached in his truck for his phone.

That got her attention, and she again started down the road. Hey! He tried to soften his voice; he wasn't going to get anywhere scaring her. I'm just calling my brother. I hope he's still at the clinic.

Holding up his index finger he spoke into the phone. You still at the clinic? With relief he listened as his brother told him he was, and that his nurse was just getting into her coat.

I'm at my driveway and there's an injured woman on the road. She's scared half to death and won't let me call the medics. He held the phone away from his ear as his brother lambasted him with reasons he needed to do what he already knew he should. Then, like he knew he would, his brother told him to come to the back door of the clinic.

It took a few minutes to convince the woman to get in the truck, but finally they were on their way. He'd cranked the heat to high but she still shivered. He’d bet she had a high fever and to make matters worse she was soaking wet. She had on a hooded sweat shirt and it looked like you could wring water from it. Her tennis shoes and the legs of her pants were in the same condition. He hoped her backpack was waterproof and there were dry clothes inside. She would need them.

Are you taking me to a motel? She wasn't slurring her words but she shook so hard they were more of a stutter.

No, I'm taking you to a doctor.

Turning the woman grabbed the door handle forcing the door open. Cooper made a grab for her and barely kept her in the truck. What the hell do you think you're doing? Is this how you got hurt? Did you jump out of some guy's truck when he tried to help you? The door flapped open as he pulled over to the shoulder of the road. Stopping he turned toward her. Okay, go ahead. Get out! You're about two hundred yards closer to town but don't kid yourself. You're not going to make it.

Cooper gripped the steering wheel as he struggled to get his breathing under control. She had scared him more than he wanted to admit. A second hesitation on his part and she would have been lying on the