Live-In Position by V.S. Tice Read Free Book Online Page A

open but didn’t look at who came in. I was still trying to understand why he was in my room while I was sleeping.
    How long had he been here?
    “Ah, Harold, Thank you for coming over so quickly.” He walked over to greet a black-haired gentleman with a black leather bag.
    “It’s been awhile since I made a house call,” the man chuckled.
    “Well, I appreciate it.” Dr. Bishop released his hand.
    “I take it this is my patient.” His steel gray eyes examined me.
    “Yes, this is Sophia, Victoria’s new nanny.” Dr. Bishop now laid his intense green eyes on me as well. Under their stares, discomfort filled my stomach.
    “So, my dear Sophia, tell me what’s going on.” He sat on the edge of the bed.
    “It’s just a cold.” I forced a smile. “I’ll be fine.” Looking at the alarm clock next to my bed, I threw the covers back, not caring that my shorts were way too short and I didn’t have a bra on. “Crap!”
    “Sophia? What are you doing?” Dr. Bishop moved to the side of the bed where I tried to climb to my feet.
    A wave of dizziness overtook me, making it impossible to answer. All I could focus on was not falling over. Hands grabbed onto my elbow and hip.
    “Sit down.” His tone was forceful and startled me. The warmth from his hands radiated through my clothing and deep into my skin.
    “I have to pick Victoria up from school,” I croaked as he sat me on the bed. I put my head in my hands to stop the room from spinning.
    “You are in no condition to drive, dear.” I heard the older man’s voice behind me.
    “Victoria is taken care of. William will pick her up.” Dr. Bishop’s voice sounded closer.
    “Please lie down.” I did as the older gentlemen requested. Cool hands rested on my head and opened my eyes to look up at him. “I’m Dr. Vaughn, by the way.” He had a large thin-lipped smile.
    “Pleasure to meet you,” I croaked.
    “Open up.” He held a light in my face and looked into my throat, ears, nose, and then took my temperature. “You said Victoria just got over strep, right?” He looked over me to Dr. Bishop. He must have silently answered him because I didn’t hear anything. “Well, dear, it seems Victoria has shared her germs with you.” He smirked down at me. “Are you allergic to any medicines?”
    I shook my head.
    “Alright, well I am going to give you a penicillin shot and leave you with some cough medicine. You can use Motrin or Tylenol for the fever.” I felt the pinch in my arm and then heard the bottles as he set them on the table next my bed. “If any other symptoms arise, please call me.”
    “Okay,” I rasped. Dr. Bishop answered at the same time. Too tired to even care about Dr. Bishop, I rolled over to my side and fell back to sleep.
    Waking at two in the morning with my first coughing attack, I rolled out of bed and got a drink of water from the bathroom. I stopped just before lying back down. Dr. Bishop hovered in my open doorway.
    “I, uh...I just got a drink of water,” I choked out and then started coughing horribly. Ignoring him, I stretched across my bed and grabbed the cough syrup. When I looked back towards the door Dr. Bishop was gone.
    The next morning, I woke to hot tea and toast, courtesy of Mrs. Baker.
    “Thank you,” I coughed.
    “Of course,” she smiled down and brushed sweaty hair off of my forehead.
    “Sophia!” Victoria ran in and jumped on the bed, crawling up to lie down with me.
    “Hey, you.” I pulled her into a hug.
    “You aren’t dying, are you?” She looked at me with concern.
    “No,” I coughed. “I feel like it, but I’m not. I promise.”
    She eyed me skeptically. “Nanny Swear?”
    “Nanny Swear,” I grinned.
    Mrs. Baker took Victoria when she left the room, and I drifted back to sleep.
    My off weekend turned into a weekend in bed. And the fact that Dr. Bishop stayed home all weekend was odd. I never knew what he did on my weekends off, but I certainly didn’t think he was much of a homebody.