Sandy Sullivan by Doctor Me Up Read Free Book Online

know, sweetheart. Don't close your eyes or your heart to the
possibilities. Things happen for a reason. Only God knows what those reasons
are."
    "You
miss Mom, don’t you?"
    "Of
course I do. Every day. I keep reminding myself that
God took her from us for a reason although we don't know why. When it's your
time, it's your time in my book. It was His wish to have her by his side and
even though she's no longer physically here, she'll always be in my
heart."
    "Can
I ask you a question?"
    "Shoot."
    "Was
Mom the only girl you ever really loved?"
    Her
father dropped his gaze to the floor, shuffling his feet.
    "Dad?"
    When he
lifted his head and stared into her eyes, she knew he'd loved another.
"No. There was someone else early on, but she chose another over me."
    Elizabeth
hugged her father whispering, "I'm sorry. I don't know how any woman could
ever give you up for someone else. She obviously wasn't worthy of your love if
she could walk away from you so easily."
    "It
doesn't matter. She has her life and I have mine. I had a beautiful wife for a
number of years. One I loved very much. I have great kids who love me. Some awesome grandkids to love. If I could get a few more,
I'd die a happy man."
    "Someday,
Dad."
    "I
know, honey. I just want you to be happy. I know that asshole in Los Angeles
wasn't the man to make you happy."
     
    Now as
she sat outside the restaurant trying to get her nerve up to open the door, she
chewed her lipstick off for the sixth time. Why she felt jittery and jumpy, she
wasn't sure. After all, she didn't think of Marcus as boyfriend material, did
she? No. A friend. Nothing more.
    She
exhaled sharply and pushed open her car door only to have it wrenched out of
her hand. A small squeak escaped her mouth until she looked up into the blue
eyes of Marcus. His brown sport coat molded to his broad chest while his white
linen shirt emphasized the width of the pecs beneath. Brown tailored slacks and
boots completed the picture of the gentleman cowboy.
    "Sorry.
I didn't mean to startle you. I saw you sitting here for several minutes. I
thought maybe you'd changed your mind."
    "You
look nice," she said, locking the door, shutting it behind her.
    "Thank
you. It's not a tux, but it's not jeans and a T-shirt either." His gaze
raked her from the curls on her head to the toes of her heels. "You look
fabulous yourself."
    She
smoothed her black skirt down over her hips and adjusted her sweater around her
shoulders. Shivers raced down her back when his hands lifted the edges of the
material to help her settle it around her. "Thanks."
    "You're
welcome. I wouldn't want you to catch cold."
    "I'd
forgotten how chilly the weather gets here in the evenings sometimes, even in
the summer. Los Angeles never cooled off."
    "I've
been there a time or two," he said, tucking her hand into the crook of his
arm to guide her toward the entrance of the restaurant.
    "Where
did you get your degree?"
    "Why
don't we wait until we're seated before we talk shop?"
    "All
right," she replied as they stepped through the double doors of the hotel to
make their way toward the restaurant in the corner.
    As they
approached the gentleman seating people, the man nodded, addressing Marcus by
name. "Ah, Doctor Melton. Very
nice to see you sir."
    "Thank
you. We have reservations."
    "Yes,
sir. It'll be just a moment."
    The
warmth of his hand over hers where it rested on his arm, made her very aware of
the strength he harbored under his clothes. She could only imagine the steely
strength it required to wrestle animals all day.
    The
lights from the chandeliers overhead highlighted the soft browns of his hair. She
had to resist the urge to push the errant lock falling over his forehead back
in place. He had such a boyish charm about him. The sharp contrast to the cut
of his face seemed chiseled in stone but when he smiled, his whole face changed,
softening him to the most handsome man she'd ever met. The blue of his eyes
reminded her of a clear stream reflecting