Forever in My Heart by Jo Goodman Read Free Book Online Page A

unnecessary."
     
She wanted to crawl under the covers at his dry, cynical observation.
     
He must be aware of his own good looks, she thought, and probably just as aware of his female patients assuming, or hoping, his interest in them might be personal, not professional. She vowed to do better.
     
"Don't let me stop you," he said, pointing to the bath. "I have time.
     
In spite of her vow, she hesitated. If he had been on the wrong side of fifty with kind eyes and a gentle smile, she knew her response would have been different. It would have helped if he had a slight paunch or spindle legs. He had none of those things.
     
The man who had walked into her room was straight and tall, slender-hipped with a way of moving that reminded her of a sleek black cat staking out its territory. His eyes were very nearly black, reserved and watchful as they took in everything about his surroundings. Though it seemed he had paid her scant attention, she felt as if it were otherwise.
     
He was still in his evening clothes which supported her first impression that an ger was simmering just below the surface of his bored and weary look. There was a tightness to his mouth that did not invite a smile and the hollows just beneath his cheekbones were pronounced.
     
Obviously, she thought, he had been called away from some social function to tend her and was taking little trouble to hide how he felt about the inconvenience.
     
There was nothing about this man that made her comfortable.
     
"Go on," he said more firmly, indicating the bath. "It won't do you any harm and it may even relax you."
     
He was the doctor. She crawled across the bed while he sat down in the wing chair on the opposite side of the room. Apparently she wasn't moving quickly enough for his purposes because he added in a weary tone, "I'm not going to join you." She moved so quickly then that she bumped the dressing screen as she slipped behind it.
     
She was miserably disappointed in herself. It was not like her to be skittish. She blamed it on the laudanum that Mrs. Hall had given her, the lateness of the hour, and the doctor's less-than-encouraging bedside manner. She got rid of her nightshift and found pins in a drawer in the wardrobe. Once she pinned her hair so it wouldn't get wet, she eased herself into the tub. She had just closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth, when she heard him call to her.
     
"I was told you wouldn't talk much," he said, "but I didn't expect complete silence."
     
She swallowed and tried to say something, but nothing came out.
     
"Suits me."
     
She thought it was an odd thing for him to say. She hoped he had something in that black bag of his that would give her back her voice.
     
She had a few things she wanted to tell him about how he dealt with his patients. She slipped lower in the tub and let the mist touch her face and throat. She remained that way for several minutes, liking the experience too much to rush it.
     
"Fetching," he drawled.
     
She was so astonished by his intrusion that she sank even lower.
     
He was holding a towel above her, an indication, she supposed, that it was time to get out.
     
"There's no reason to act like a shy maiden in front of me," he said.
     
"This is professional, not personal." He paused, watching her closely.
     
"Isn't it?"
     
She blinked, returned his stare, then nodded shortly. She was thoroughly humiliated that he may have sensed some personal interest on her part. It was probably the very reason he affected such remoteness.
     
Caught in her thoughts, she barely managed to catch the towel when he dropped it.
     
"Red," he said.
     
She couldn't imagine that she had heard him correctly.
     
"Hmmm?" Grimacing, she touched her throat lightly with her fingertips.
     
She forced herself to speak no matter the pain.
     
"Pardon?"
     
"Your hair's red. There's not much light in here. I wasn't sure.
     
He paused. "May I?"
     
She looked at his raised hand, the fingertips just inches from her ear,