Hired by Her Husband by Anne McAllister Read Free Book Online Page B

much. Well, no, that’s not true. But the rest is confidential. Patient privacy, you know? He’dhave to kill you if I told you.” He gave George a sly grin, then turned a far warmer one on Sophy, which was when George remembered that Sam always had had a thing for the ladies.
    “Cut it out,” George said with enough of an icy edge to his voice that Sam’s grin faded.
    His friend looked at him, then at Sophy, then back at him. “What?”
    George gave him a steely look, but didn’t speak.
    Sam looked at him curiously, gaze narrowing speculatively. But when George still didn’t say anything, he shrugged and made his move. Sticking out his hand he crossed the room toward Sophy. “Hi, pleased to meet you. I’m Sam Harlowe.”
    She took Sam’s hand, smiled warmly back at him. “George’s doctor.”
    “For my sins. And every once in a while—though not necessarily at the moment—his friend. And you are—?” He still had hold of Sophy’s hand.
    “I’m Sophy,” she said. “McKinnon.”
    “Savas,” George said flatly from the bed, loud enough and firmly enough that they both turned toward him. He raised his chin and didn’t give a damn if the top of his head blew right off. “George’s wife.”

Chapter Three
    “E X-WIFE ,” S OPHY corrected instantly, staring at George in astonishment. “You do remember that, don’t you?”
    George folded his arms across his chest. “I remember no one has filed for divorce yet.”
    “You said you would. If you don’t, I will,” she told him fiercely, then flicked a glance at Sam Harlowe. He was, of course, watching this exchange with the fascination of a man with courtside seats at the U.S. Open.
    “Well,” he said briskly, smiling as he did so, “I’ll just leave the two of you to discuss this, shall I? Nice to meet you, Sophy.” He squeezed her hand again, then raised a brow and gave her what could only be described as an “interested” look. The smile turned into a grin. “Let me know when you get your marital status figured out.”
    She didn’t blame him for being amused. From the outside it probably was amusing. From where she stood her marriage to George was anything but. But she managed to give Sam a wry smile in return.
    “I’ll do that,” she said, not because she intended to, but because it would obviously annoy George.
    “See you tomorrow,” Sam said to George with a meaningful arch of his brows.
    “Not here,” George said.
    “No,” Sam began.
    But George cut him off. “You said I could go home if I had someone to stay with me.”
    “You don’t.”
    “Sophy will do it.”
    “I—”
    George turned his eyes on her. “Payback,” he said softly. “Isn’t that what you came for?”
    “You said—”
    “I didn’t know, did I?” He was all silky reasonableness now. “I thought I’d be out of here today. No problem. But Dr. Dan here—” he gave a wry jerk of his head toward Sam “—thinks I need someone to watch over me, hold my hand, wipe my fevered brow—”
    “Kick your bony ass,” Sam suggested acerbically
.
    George didn’t even glance his way. He sat in the bed, the bedclothes fisted in his fingers, his unshaven jaw dark, his eyes glittering as his gaze bored into hers. “It’s what you do, isn’t it?”
    She’d certainly like to kick his ass right now. Unfortunately she doubted that’s what he meant. “What are you talking about?”
    “Rent-a-Wife. It’s your business,” he reminded her, as if she might have forgotten. “I’ll ‘rent’ you.”
    Sam goggled.
    Sophy gaped. She couldn’t even find words.
    George could. “It’s simple. Perfectly straightforward. Like I said, it’s what you do. I mean, you did come and offer, but if you’re going to renege on your ‘payback,’ fine. I’ll hire you instead.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous.”
    He gave her a perfectly guileless look. “Nothing ridiculous about it. It’s sane, and reasonable. A suitable solution to a problem.” George was in professor