Paging Dr. Hot by Sophia Knightly Read Free Book Online

of his peers. Maybe swimming is instinctual in dogs, but I don’t want to take any chances. Romeo hates to lose face.
    I’m enjoying a chat with Liliana, a sculptor and artist from Argentina who has a studio in the Grove, when an insect starts buzzing around us.
    I wave my arms frantically and dart around. Liliana starts laughing. “Francesca, what on earth are you doing?”
    “I’m afraid I’ll get stung. I’m allergic to insect venom. Let’s get away from those bushes,” I say, leading her in the other direction.
    “It’s only a mosquito,” she says, swatting it. “See? Relax.”
    “Okay, but last month I landed in the ER with anaphylactic shock from a sting.” It doesn’t hurt to be prepared. I have insect repellant on my body, but I didn’t put any on my face, and my scalp is unprotected too. I pat my pocket for the second time that morning, making sure that the EpiPen, my lifesaver, is there.
    Liliana is busy telling me about her latest exhibit when I hear a commotion. We turn at the same time to see Romeo flailing in the pool, gulping tons of water. OMG, he’s drowning! I race toward the little pool and trip over the edge, landing face downwith a splat next to him. The dogs in the pool yip and bark wildly as muddy water splashes around us. Romeo looks wild-eyed as I cradle him in my arms. Dripping wet, I pull myself up out of the shallow pool. My once white Capris and coral tank are clinging to me like plastic wrap.
    On dry land, I lay Romeo on his tummy and pat his back. “Cough it all up, baby,” I urge while he spits up water, his tiny chest heaving raucously. “There, there, you’re going to be fine. Who’s my big boy? You are, Romeo, you are.” I lift his drenched little body into my arms as he gives a feeble howl.
    Liliana rushes up and gapes at us. “What happened? How did he get in the pool? I thought you said he doesn’t swim.”
    “He doesn’t.” I sigh and hold Romeo close, feeling like a negligent mom.
    Just then Liliana’s cell phone beeps with a text message. “I have to go, it’s my husband. Are you okay?”
    “Yes, go on. I’m fine.”
    “Good. I’ll see you next week,” Liliana says. She puts a leash on her poodle, Henri, and waves good-bye.
    A blonde little girl comes up to me and points to a fat corgi. “That dog over there pushed your dog in the pool.”
    “He did? Whose dog is it?” I ask.
    “Mine. Hello, Francesca,” intones a deep voice I’m all too familiar with. I whirl around and stare into Devon Hamme’s penetrating silver gaze. No, not you!
    “Devon,” I say, unenthused. “Strange meeting you here.”
    He makes a tsking sound at Romeo. “More dog trouble?”
    Romeo growls and lunges at Devon, but I manage to restrain him.
    “Hey, Frankie,” another voice I recognize suddenly calls out. Noooo, this can’t be happening. A few feet away, I see none other than hunky Harrison heading our way.
    “Harrison?” I wail, hoping I’m in the middle of another nightmare and about to wake up. I squeeze my eyes shut and pinch myself, but I’m still here. I can hear Liliana giggling in the background.
    His mouth twitching, Harrison hands me Romeo’s soft blankie. “You left this at my office last night. I figured you, or Romeo, might be missing it.”
    “Thanks. How did you know where to find me?” I mumble, wrapping the blanket around bedraggled Romeo.
    “You mentioned you were taking Romeo to Kennedy Park, remember?”
    “Oh, that’s right.” I’m surprised he remembered.
    “What happened to you?” He stares at my wet clothes with a puzzled expression.
    “Romeo almost drowned in the pool and I had to rescue him,” I explain, wishing I didn’t look like a drowned rat.
    Romeo lets out an indignant groan and glares at me as if I’m a traitor. “What?” I ask Romeo. “Harrison knows you’re a northern dog. How could you possibly know how to swim?”
    Harrison grins. “How indeed?”
    “I thought you were sky diving today,” I say,