Masquerade by Nicole Flockton Read Free Book Online Page B

“Alex and I slept together” with any of her looks toward Alex? She knew she had to brush these thoughts out of Phoebe’s mind.
    “Definitely not, Phoebe. Been there, lived the gossip headlines. Don’t plan on doing it again.”
    “I guess,” a beeping sounded down the line. “Oh that’s me, it’s probably sexy Dr. John calling.”
    Sophie felt it only right to warn Phoebe about getting involved with a work colleague. After all she’d done it twice, once intentionally, and the other unintentionally. “Be careful, Phoebs. You know John is only doing his residency here, he has plans to move on.”
    Phoebe’s laugh tinkled down the line. “It’s okay, it’s a bit of harmless flirting. You know me, I’m all about having fun. I’m not going to settle down for a very long time.”
    “Famous last words,” muttered Sophie.
    “I promise I’ll be careful, will that make you feel better?” Phoebe said. “Look I need to go, think about what I said, a fling could be harmless. Bye!”
    Sophie ended her call to Phoebe and made her way to the sliding door to step out onto her balcony. The sun had lost some of its bite. Closing her eyes, she lifted her head, savoring the heat from the soft beams of light. The warm rays reached out like tentacles, winding around and permeating her until her whole body glowed with radiant energy. The tension of the day flowed out of her and calmness filled her soul.
    She savored the feeling for a few more minutes before returning inside to get a glass of wine and put on some music. She reached for the remote control when the jangle of the house phone had the device slipping out of her hand and clattering loudly on the coffee table.
    She wasn’t expecting anybody but she knew that didn’t mean anything. She had an open-door policy for her colleagues, they could come over any time of the day.
    She picked up the phone. “Hi, Cliff.”
    “Good evening, Miss Franklyn, I have a Dr. Alex Scavoni here to see you. Do you want me to send him up?”
    Alex? What the heck was he doing here and how did he know where she lived? It wasn’t too hard to answer, he would’ve just looked her address up in the staff contact book, but why was he here?
    “Miss Franklyn, can I send him up?” Cliff’s voice penetrated her train of thought.
    “Ummm, sure.” She sounded so weak. Straightening her back, she injected confidence into her voice. “Yes, Cliff, that’s fine, please send him up.”
    “Very good, Miss.”
    “Oh, Cliff, before you go, Dr. Scavoni is a new staff member at the hospital. Please add him to my list of people you can automatically send up.”
    “Will do, Miss Franklyn. Have a good evening.”
    She murmured her thanks as she hung up the phone. She refrained from the desire to rush over to the mirror and make sure her hair was neat and her clothes were straight. This was her home, she could be whomever she wanted to be and Alex would just have to accept her as she was.
    She had no more time to think when her doorbell pealed loudly. Taking a deep breath, she went to answer its call.
    She was once again taken aback by his good looks. His hair was slightly damp and he was in different clothes from the ones he’d worn at the hospital. Either he lived close by or he’d changed at the hospital.
    She felt like a limp rag that had been wrung out time and time again. Her clothes were creased and she wished she’d told Cliff to give her fifteen minutes before sending him up.
    “Dr. Scavoni, this is ahh, umm a surprise.” She leaned against the door trying to act casual when her heart was racing ten to the dozen and her legs were starting to lose their ability to stand.
    “May I come in, Sophie?”
    Direct and straight to the point — it was what she’d admired about him the night they’d met and in the resus room. His confidence was unwavering.
    She stepped back and he accepted the silent invitation. As he walked past, his aftershave assailed her senses and she was immediately