Fated Love by Radclyffe Read Free Book Online

checking the tray to be sure that all the needles had been deposited in the sharps bin for disposal when Linda returned.
    "Nice job, Doc."
    "Great kid," Quinn observed. "How old is she? Eight?"
    Linda had to stop and think, putting her two kids and Arly in order. "Almost. She was born right at the end of Honor's fourth year in medical school,"
    "She looks like she was cloned. She's got Honor's eyes and just about everything else, too."
    "She does," Linda agreed, intrigued by Quinn's pensive expression.
    Quinn cleared her throat, "Uh, what does Honor's husband do?"
    "Honor doesn't have a husband." Linda delivered the statement calmly as she wrapped up the instruments, sneaking a quick peek in Quinn's direction to judge its effect. She smiled when she saw the quick look of pleasure followed by consternation cross the attractive surgeon's face,
Uh-huh, yes, she's interested.
    "Oh." Quinn leaned her shoulder against the door frame, considering the possibilities.
Separated? That would explain the wedding ring still Divorced? No, she wouldn 't still be wearing his ring, would she? Gay? Maybe, because Linda sure is, considering the hug she gave the redhead in the ER earlier.
Quinn gave herself a mental shake. Regardless of the answer, it didn't concern her, because that ring spelled unavailable. "I'd better get back out there. Are the charts piling up?"
    "The usual, Listen, we're having a barbecue at my place on Saturday afternoon. Most of the ER staff and some people from the neighborhood will be there. One o'clock."
    Quinn's immediate reaction was to make an excuse and beg off. She didn't particularly like social situations in which she didn't know anyone. On the other hand, Honor would be there.
Yeah, like that makes any difference.
To her surprise, she found herself saying, "Sure. Thanks. Can I bring something?"
    "How about wine? We never think to buy any."
    "No problem."
    "Excellent It'll be fun."
    "Thanks again."
    Linda stared after Quinn as she disappeared through the curtain, thinking of the way Honor had looked at Quinn as she had taken care of Arly. Appreciatively, which was understandable. But there had been more than gratitude in Honor's face; there had been something that she hadn't seen in her good friend's face in years. Something that looked a lot like attraction. That brought up the image of Quinn's expression as she had asked about Honor's husband. Curious and hopeful.
Oh yes, plenty of interest all the way around.

    * * * * *
    At a little before 7:00 p.m., Quinn looked up from the nurses' station where she was completing the follow-up instructions for a seventeen-year-old with a badly sprained right ankle to see Honor, in blue jeans and a faded red polo shirt, coming down the hall. The red of the shirt echoed the highlights in her hair, and her dark eyes shimmered with warmth and the promise of laughter. For an instant, Quinn allowed herself to simply enjoy the sight of her. Then she realized that Honor was regarding her quizzically and that she had been staring at the emergency room chief, very possibly with her mouth hanging open. For the second time in the same day, Quinn blushed.
    "Everything okay?" Quinn asked, trying to sound nonchalant, but feeling her heart race.
    Honor nodded, aware of Quinn's gaze and, despite her misgivings, enjoying it. "I left in such a hurry earlier, I forgot to finish some paperwork that's already late."
    "How's our patient?"
    "At the moment, she's ensconced in front of the television with an enormous ice pack on her eye and her grandmother fussing over her." Honor smiled softly. "She's fine. She's actually very tough, and she's already asking me if she's going to be able to go to soccer practice tomorrow afternoon."
    "Good." Quinn sat on one of the rolling stools a foot away from Honor, her face at about the level of the other woman's breasts. She tried very hard to cast her gaze elsewhere, but nothing could prevent her from sensing the heat of Honor's body so near. She could smell