Edge of Betrayal by Shannon K. Butcher Read Free Book Online

hospital. Would you rather go there or to see Dr. Vaughn?”
    “Neither,” said Mira. “I’m fine. Really.”
    “Then you won’t mind proving that’s the case to the good doctor.”
    “It’s after ten. I’m sure she’s asleep.”
    “And I’m sure I don’t care. She’s paid well for her time—paid to be on call when we need her. The dent in your front bumper makes it clear that you need her.”
    “Just take me home, Adam.”
    Rain began spitting against the windshield. It was too warm for snow, but only by a little.
    At the next stoplight, Adam texted Dr. Leigh Vaughn. By the time he pulled into Mira’s driveway, Leigh was waiting for them.
    “You called her?” asked Mira, accusation in her tone.
    “I did.” He parked the car. “Do you need help inside?”
    “From you? No, thanks. I’m fine.”
    Mira made her way into the house without his aid, though he held an umbrella over her head, using that as an excuse to hover close enough to catch her if she’d overestimated how well she felt.
    “Thank you for coming,” Adam said to Leigh.
    She pulled a leather bag from her car and followed them in. “Sure. Glad to help.”
    Mira flopped onto the couch. “I’m fine, Leigh. Adam is just rubbing my nose in the failure of my first job.”
    That’s what she thought he was doing?
    Her thought patterns were so bizarre, he could hardly keep up. Maybe that was why she intrigued him so much.
    “I’m only making sure you’re not permanently damaged. Bella would kill me if I did anything less.”
    Leigh glanced between them, obviously trying to figure out what was going on. “Adam, will you please go make Mira some hot tea?”
    He was being sent away, but he accepted the dismissal and did as he was asked.
    Mira’s kitchen was like the rest of her house: tidy and small, with quirky decorations he couldn’t quite understand. There was a clay pot in the center of her kitchen table, and in it was a spray of antique glass doorknobs planted in the dirt. Her curtains were covered with cartoon images of flying squirrels. In the far corner was a one-armed mannequin wearing only a hot pink apron and what looked like a beret made of bacon. The remaining arm seemed to serve as some kind of white board for her grocery list.
    Like the woman herself, none of it made any sense at all to him.
    Adam made the tea and brought it out. By the time he did, Leigh was already packing her medical bag.
    “You’re leaving?” asked Adam.
    “She’s fine. No sign of concussion. Just keep watch over her tonight to be sure.”
    “What?” screeched Mira. “He’s not staying here.”
    “Someone has to, and it’s not going to be me,” said Leigh with a womanly grin. “Clay is waiting on me to get home.”
    “I’m surprised he didn’t come with you,” said Mira, sounding a little hurt.
    Leigh opened her mouth, but Adam spoke before she could. “I asked her not to tell him. I know how worried you are about his stress levels, and hearing you were injured would definitely be stressful for him.”
    “Oh,” said Mira, frowning. “That was nice of you.”
    Adam set the tea on the table beside her. “Don’t sound so shocked. I am capable of basic human decency.”
    “And this is my cue to leave,” said Leigh. “Call if you need me. If she shows any signs of concussion, take her to the hospital and I’ll meet you there.”
    Mira sighed. “I’m fine.”
    Leigh pulled out her keys. “Tell that to the bruise you’re sporting. And if you don’t want Clay moving you into our place for the foreseeable future, I suggest you use some good concealer before you see him next.”
    “I will. He has enough to worry about.”
    “He’s tough,” said Leigh. “Getting stronger every day. I’m honestly not even sure how that’s possible, but he keeps surprising me.”
    “Well, go home and let him surprise you some more. I’m good.”
    Adam walked Dr. Vaughn out and locked the door behind her.
    “You can go, too,” said Mira.
    He