Second Time Around by Carol Steward Read Free Book Online Page A

run my business. Okay?”
    Without responding, Emily rushed out of her office, and Kevin followed. Down the corridor, he saw a petite woman struggle to keep a stocky teenager,who’d obviously met up with someone’s fist, on his feet. From the lobby, he heard the receptionist trying to get the woman to wait for a wheelchair.
    â€œHere, let me get him.” Kevin wrapped his arm behind the boy’s back and followed Emily’s directions. Once the patient was secure on an examination table, Emily put on gloves and began to clean his cuts. Kevin backed through the door, right into the doctor Emily had brushed off earlier. Through the opening, Kevin heard Emily tell the nurse to bring in novocaine and a suture kit, then turn to soothe the upset mother.
    â€œLooks like Dr. Emily has it under control. Guess I’ll go grab some lunch by myself,” said the other doctor as he removed his stark-white lab coat and headed out the back door.
    Kevin looked back at Emily, then walked down the long hall to the lobby. “If nothing else, this should be an interesting few months,” Kevin muttered as he headed to his truck.
    The remainder of the morning was a chaotic combination of reviewing applicants’ resumes and ordering supplies. Always in the back of his mind was Emily, and the anger he’d seen in her expression when she saw him in the hallway.
    But there was no room for second thoughts. He’d just landed the deal that could make or break his business. Emily had already met her goals, despite what they had cost her personally. He had let her go then, determined he wouldn’t stand in her way.
    Now, he’d be certain she didn’t stand in his.
    After getting his day back under control, Kevin called Bryan to tell him the news.
    His friend bolstered his enthusiasm. “Told you they’d jump on your offer.”
    Kevin swallowed a lump of pent-up apprehension and felt a wave of relief, content that he’d done the right thing. “Yeah. They’re having some publicity shindig Friday night to get the deal moving. As a partner in the business, you’re obligated to attend, and bring your lovely wife.”
    â€œSounds great.” Bryan paused. “Hey, friend, don’t forget, you’re expected to bring a date, too.”
    A date. Sure, why not. After all, this is a reason to celebrate.
    Â 
    Emily zipped the crushed-velvet evening dress, then stepped into her black pumps just as the doorbell rang. “I can’t believe I have to go to this reception for Kevin.” She grumbled all the way to the front door. She tried to steel herself for a miserable night. Adding insult to injury, her car had had a flat tire when she’d left the office, and the first person to the rescue happened to be Bob Walker—Dr. Casanova.
    She opened the door and met him on the porch. “Hi, Bob. I appreciate the lift.”
    â€œIf I’d known a flat tire was all it would take to change your mind…” He smiled suggestively and lifted her hand to kiss it.
    Emily pushed him away, amazed that a man with such a brilliant mind could be such a loser. “I don’t want to go through this all evening. I won’t. If I had any choice in the matter, I wouldn’t even be going tonight.”
    â€œI wish you’d change your mind, Emily. All I ask for is a few minutes to explain.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to explain. I’m well aware of the facts of life. I think that was covered in basic premed, wasn’t it? Maybe you missed that year.”
    â€œIt was nothing,” he began, following her to his car.
    Emily opened her own door, ignoring his attempts to act like a gentleman. “One receptionist may have been nothing, the second one—”
    â€œWe never went out.”
    She dropped herself into a seat that barely cleared the ground. “Because she was married.” Emily looked at him. “You just don’t understand,