Free A Thrill to Remember by Lori Wilde

a slow afternoon in the emergency department. The nurses had been enjoying a welcome respite from earlier in the week, when they’d been deluged with nearly an epidemic of children suffering from high fevers related to a recent outbreak of a Lyme disease type illness. Meggie had been catching up on paperwork when Jenny singled her out.
    Mouth dry, and prepared to offer an apology, she followed Jenny into her office.
    “Have a seat.” Her boss indicated a chair and closed the door behind them.
    Meggie sat and nervously eyed the older woman.
    “Meggie, ever since you returned from your leave of absence, I’ve noticed a change in you.”
    “Mrs. Arbenoit, if I’ve done anything—”
    Jenny held up her hand. “Please, let me finish. Several of your co-workers have also commented on your new attitude. You’ve always been a good nurse—kind, caring, considerate of others—but until these last few weeks you have lacked the kind of self-confidence that would make you management material.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Your exemplary performance during this latest public health crisis has not gone unnoticed by the doctors. You’ve assumed more responsibility and presented yourself as a thorough professional.”
    Meggie’s head spun. She wasn’t being taken to task. She was being praised.
    “We were hoping you would accept a position on the community health education board. Do you think this is something that might interest you?”
    “Absolutely.” Ideas sprouted in her head. She loved teaching patients, and this was a marvelous opportunity to boost her career.
    “Excellent, excellent.” Jenny Arbenoit got to her feet and extended her hand. “I’m looking forward to working on the board with you.”
    “Thanks.” Meggie shook her hand, a sense of pride filling her chest. A new job offer because of her increased self-confidence. Just one more debt of gratitude she owed to Don Juan.

    CALEB STARED OUT the window of the ranger station at the vast white expanse of new-fallen snow. It had been six weeks since that fateful night he’d discovered his new lover was none other than his teenage fantasy woman. Six weeks since his world had been turned completely upside down. For the first time in his life, the wilderness he loved so deeply felt desolate and lonely.
    With Meggie gone, everything in his world seemed quiet, dull, empty. He got through his daily routine, but nothing brought him joy. Listlessly, he dug in the pocket of his crisp, hunter-green uniform shirt and pulled out a photograph he’d gleaned from an old album—a picture Jesse had taken of him and Meggie together on the rare occasion he’d visited them in Seattle.
    It had been Christmas Eve. He and Meggie were sitting on the couch together. He had on a Santa hat, and she wore a blue package bow stuck in her hair. They’d had too much holiday eggnog, and Meggie, with one arm thrown over his shoulder, was mugging cutely for the camera. He’d been staring at her with a look of such deep admiration it was a wonder neither Jesse nor Meggie had ever noticed. Hell, even Caleb had never realized before how much like a lovesick puppy he looked.
    And he’d told himself he’d gotten over his childhood crush. Ha! One glance at the photo and he knew he’d been lying to himself for years.
    The photograph was frayed now, the edges curled from wear. As he did every day since discovering Klondike Kate was actually Meggie, he traced a finger over the picture and murmured her name.
    He recalled how she’d looked the last time he’d seen her, dressed in that scarlet bustier and auburn wig. He thought of her sweet scent, and his imagination supplied the aroma he was searching for—jasmine soap, strawberry shampoo and a hint of Obsession cologne.
    His brain didn’t stop with scent memories. He thought about those cinnamon freckles that decorated her collarbone and those intelligent green eyes the color of verdant summer grass. He envisioned her soft, womanly curves, the