Her Doctor Daddy by Shelly Douglas Read Free Book Online

mad dash back up the driveway and headed straight for the automatic doors. Rushing into the emergency admitting area, she barreled head-on into a hard, muscular figure. Her vivid, sky blue eyes widened and finally came into focus as she saw who she’d run into.
    “Thank God you’re still here! Someone was following me out of the parking lot,” she cried, choking out the words.
    Dr. Morales’ hazel eyes were filled with concern as he placed his large palms on her shoulders. “Calm down, Lexi, and tell me what happened.”
    “A man drove his car down the driveway right behind me. I thought he wanted to pass, so I stepped aside.” Her hands were trembling and her voice started to crack. “But he just kept getting closer. I was afraid he was going to stop and pull me into the car.”
    His touch was warm and gentle as he led her to a chair. “You’re starting to hyperventilate, young lady. Take a deep breath in through your nose and blow it out slowly. I need to you calm down.”
    Lexi’s legs wobbled and her whole body began to shake as she attempted to sit in the orange vinyl padded chair. Dr. Morales lifted the fabric of his light blue pant scrubs and bent down to be at her eye level. “Take your time—I’m not going anywhere.”
    She drew in a deep, calming breath and was about to speak when Joanne Hurrell pushed through the double doors. “What happened?”
    “It seems that someone was trying to frighten Lexi in the parking lot. I’m going to take her into my office and call security. We can’t fool around with something like this.”
    “Would you be able to describe this person?” Joanne asked with keen interest.
    Lexi shook her head. “It was hard to see because the sun was so bright, but I could tell it was a man.”
    “Were you able to get a look at the car?” Dr. Morales inquired in a mellow, but concerned voice.
    She shrugged and her face reddened. “It was light blue… and I think it was a VW. I only saw the front of it.”
    “Do you want me to stay with you, honey?” Joanne asked, before checking the expression on the doctor’s face. “I can drive her home later.”
    “No, I’ll be okay,” Lexi continued, peering up into Dr. Morales’ warm, soothing eyes for assurance.
    “I’ll make sure she gets home safely. And I think she’s done walking to her apartment after work by herself. Come with me, Lexi. Let’s go into my office.”
    She nodded and walked with him down the hall. Though the doctor had a gentle way about him, it wasn’t the first time she’d noticed a firmness in his tone.
     
    * * *
     
    After security wrote down the information about what happened, Dr. Morales escorted both men to the door. “Maybe it would be a good idea for someone to be stationed outside the emergency entrance from now on.”
    “We’ve already started interviewing for a couple more guys to be on duty. With that lunatic out there, we all need to be on our toes,” Eddie Bozar agreed while nodding to the morning security guard, Jack Amick.
    “Thanks for your time, gentlemen.” Dr. Morales shook hands with each man and closed the door behind him before walking over to comfort Lexi, who was seated in a chair next to his desk.
    Covering her face with small fingers, she started to sob. “I should have paid more attention to details. You must think I’m an idiot.”
    “Look at me,” he said, kneeling in front of her.
    Lexi raised her face to his. She loved the how the edges around his eyes crinkled when he smiled.
    “You don’t need to apologize for anything. It’s hard to think when you’re frightened, but everything is going to be alright.”
    “What if that man who followed me down the driveway is the one who’s murdering young women?”
    Lexi figured Raul Morales was probably forty—at least twice her age. Searching his tanned handsome face for a reaction, she sensed something parental in his demeanor and wondered if he had children. As she watched him stretch his large hands, she made