Diana Palmer: Blind Promises

Fall in love with Diana Palmer’s fan-favorite story, BLIND PROMISES!

Dana Steele’s new patient, Gannon van der Vere, is a tough customer. He had run off his last four nurses, but Dana’s determined she won’t be the next on that list. A powerful entrepreneur until a devastating accident left his future in doubt, Gannon raged at all who approached him. Dana hoped to light a candle in his darkness—and to escape from the shadows in her own past. But when she fell in love with her curmudgeonly employer, Dana’s challenge was no longer strictly professional. Could Dana and Gannon heal to find a true happily-ever-after?

Praise for the reigning queen of romance DIANA PALMER Praise Title Page Author Note Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Copyright

“Palmer’s talent for character development and ability to fuse heartwarming romance with nail-biting suspense shines in Outsider. ” — Booklist

“A gentle escape mixed with real-life menace for fans of Palmer’s more than 100 novels.”

— Publishers Weekly on Night Fever

“The ever-popular and prolific Palmer has penned another sure hit.”

— Booklist on Before Sunrise

“Nobody does it better.”

— New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard

“Palmer knows how to make the sparks fly…heartwarming.”

— Publishers Weekly on Renegade

“Readers who enjoy stories by authors who know how to pack an emotional wallop will add Palmer to their list.”

— Booklist on Renegade

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader Author Note Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Copyright ,

It is such a pleasure to see this book back in print again. I wrote it under yet another pen name—Katy Currie—when I started out in romance fiction, and it has been out of print for many years. It is very special to me because I was going through some painful experiences in my own life at the time, primarily the death of my mother. The book was a way for me to deal with her loss, and subsequent painful events in my life.

I know from my reader mail that many of you turn to fiction to escape from painful realities, to find something to take you away from the pain, even for an hour or so. It may surprise you to learn that writers also escape into novels for the same reason. It is yet another bond between reader and writer, this need for a breathing space that makes us stronger and helps us to deal with the problems at hand.

One of the most comforting passages in the Bible is, to me, “…and this, too, shall pass away.” Even the most painful things do, you know, and God is always there to catch us if we fall.

God bless all of you. Thank you for letting me share my own dreams with you.

Love,

Diana Palmer

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Copy Fall in love with Diana Palmer’s fan-favorite story, BLIND PROMISES! Dana Steele’s new patient, Gannon van der Vere, is a tough customer. He had run off his last four nurses, but Dana’s determined she won’t be the next on that list. A powerful entrepreneur until a devastating accident left his future in doubt, Gannon raged at all who approached him. Dana hoped to light a candle in his darkness—and to escape from the shadows in her own past. But when she fell in love with her curmudgeonly employer, Dana’s challenge was no longer strictly professional. Could Dana and Gannon heal to find a true happily-ever-after?

Praise Praise for the reigning queen of romance DIANA PALMER Praise Title Page Author Note Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Copyright “Palmer’s talent for character development and ability to fuse heartwarming romance with nail-biting suspense shines in Outsider. ” — Booklist “A gentle escape mixed with real-life menace for fans of Palmer’s more than 100 novels.” — Publishers Weekly on Night Fever “The ever-popular and prolific Palmer has penned another sure hit.” — Booklist on Before Sunrise “Nobody does it better.” — New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard “Palmer knows how to make the sparks fly…heartwarming.” — Publishers Weekly on Renegade “Readers who enjoy stories by authors who know how to pack an emotional wallop will add Palmer to their list.” — Booklist on Renegade

Title Page Blind Promises Diana Palmer www.millsandboon.co.uk

Author Note Dear Reader Author Note Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Copyright , It is such a pleasure to see this book back in print again. I wrote it under yet another pen name—Katy Currie—when I started out in romance fiction, and it has been out of print for many years. It is very special to me because I was going through some painful experiences in my own life at the time, primarily the death of my mother. The book was a way for me to deal with her loss, and subsequent painful events in my life. I know from my reader mail that many of you turn to fiction to escape from painful realities, to find something to take you away from the pain, even for an hour or so. It may surprise you to learn that writers also escape into novels for the same reason. It is yet another bond between reader and writer, this need for a breathing space that makes us stronger and helps us to deal with the problems at hand. One of the most comforting passages in the Bible is, to me, “…and this, too, shall pass away.” Even the most painful things do, you know, and God is always there to catch us if we fall. God bless all of you. Thank you for letting me share my own dreams with you. Love, Diana Palmer

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Copyright

Chapter One

Dana came to with Mrs. Pibbs standing over her, taking her pulse. For just a moment she was back in her student nurse’s class six years earlier, watching Mrs. Pibbs give pointers on nursing procedure. But when she felt the stabs of pain in her head and the bruises on her slender body, she realized that she wasn’t in class. She was a patient in Ashton General Hospital.

Her face felt tight when she tried to speak, and her head throbbed abominably. “Mother…?” she managed weakly.

Mrs. Pibbs sighed, laying the long-fingered young hand down on the crisp white sheet. “I’m sorry, my dear,” she said gently.

Tears ran down the Nordic face, misting the soft brown eyes in their frame of tousled platinum-blond hair. She’d known before she asked the question. Her last memory was of her mother’s unnatural position in the metallic tangle of the front seat. But she’d hoped…

“Your father is here,” Mrs. Pibbs said.

Dana’s hurt eyes flashed. “No,” she said stiffly.

The older woman looked shocked. “You don’t want to see Mr. Steele?”

Dana’s eyes closed. After what her mother had confessed just before the wreck, she never wanted to see him again. “I don’t feel up to it,” she said tightly.