Christmas Babies by Mona Risk Read Free Book Online

I’ll have fun too.” Her jaws clenched together as if she’d just
decided to undergo surgery.
    Nick made the resolution to do
everything on earth to keep her smiling and have her share his type of fun.
     “The other room is my office and
guestroom.” She walked him to the next room. Here a desk and computer sat under
the bay window overlooking the view of the Intracoastal and the intricate
pattern of canals crossing the main waterway. A couple of bookcases displayed
heavy medical books and stacks of journals. A sofa bed and TV completed the
furniture.
    “They’re all good size rooms,”
Nick remarked. “I would love something similar, on any level from the tenth and
above.”
    “Come let’s go to Mrs. Fontana. She
lives in a one bedroom and is my next door neighbor.” Madelyn led him to the
building corridor and knocked on a door.
    A white-haired woman opened and
greeted them with a smile. “Madelyn, my dear, come in.” A warm scent of
potpourri welcomed them.
    “Maria, this is my colleague and
new boss, Dr. Nick Preston.”
     “Just colleague and friend,”
Nick corrected. He hated when Madelyn insisted on the formality of their new
business relationship.
    “Ah a friend? Come in, doctor.”
Did he have the impression the old woman’s voice had cooled down several
degrees? “See I have this small apartment. Probably too small for you. I’ll
show you.” She rushed them through her bedroom, waved to the bathroom and stood
at the entrance of the kitchen. “Just enough for me. But probably not what you
want.”
    “Thank you, Mrs. Fontana. I
really appreciate you showing me your place,” he said when they came back to
the living room.
    “Maybe you can hang a painting
for me?”
    “Of course.” Anything to thaw the
frigid atmosphere around them.
    “Madelyn dear, can you get your
hammer and nails, please.” Mrs. Fontana almost shoved the young woman out of
her apartment.
    As soon as Madelyn was out of
hearing, the old neighbor turned to face him. “I saw the way you look at
Madelyn. She’s not your type, doctor. My niece’s son is in love with her and
can’t wait to marry her. His brother is already married to her sister Heather.
They are good girls. Not your type.”
    Nick almost scrubbed his ears to
make sure he’d heard her correctly. “Ma’am, I have no bad intentions toward
Madelyn. We just work together.”
    “She said you’re her boss. And
you call her a friend. But I saw how you look at her. In a workplace, that’s called
harassment.” The irascible woman jerked her finger in his chest. “She’s not for
you. She needs a good husband and children. Madelyn takes care of me and I’m a
friend of her mama. She comes from a big loving family.”
     That was a low blow. It struck a
raw nerve. He came from a small almost nonexistent family. “Rest assured I
respect Dr. Ramsay and I won’t bother you again.”
    Madelyn returned with the
required items. “Thank you, dear,” the old woman smiled. “Bert will be here
next week. He’ll hang it for me. Bert is such a nice guy. He can’t wait to see
you again, dear.”
    “Oh.” Madelyn pinched her lips
and hugged her neighbor. “Thanks you for showing your apartment, Maria. Don’t
forget to take your Lasix.” She rushed to the door as if she couldn’t wait to
get out and looked at him anxiously. “I hope she didn’t say something annoying
when I went to bring the hammer?”
    “She mentioned your friend Bert.”
He couldn’t suppress a twitch of his lips.
    “Drat. He’s my sister’s brother-in-law.
Nice guy, but... what can I say?” Her sigh spoke volumes and relaxed him.
    “Don’t say anything. Do you want
a few days off next week when Bert visits his aunt? Or do you want to be on
call?” He winked at her, and she burst out laughing.
    “I’ll be on call for sure.”
    Exactly what he wanted to hear.
He didn’t like competition around Madelyn. Not when he’d finally stepped in her
circle of close friends.
    “Let’s go