The Doctor's Secret Bride (1) by Ana E. Ross Read Free Book Online Page A

was as elaborately decorated as the rest of the house.
    The alabaster marble island in the center of the kitchen was trimmed in red oak to match the cabinets with decorated glass doors and gold handles.  His wife had definitely had good taste, which brought her back to her dilemma.
    By now Erik was probably back to his initial impression of her—a cheap tramp from the wrong side of the river.  If he did, she couldn't blame him.  She had offered herself to him, and he was only a man—one with huge needs.  Her skin tingled at the memory of his strong arms pulling her into him, his hot tongue ravishing her mouth, and the enormous bulge in his pants pressing into her heat.
    Whew .  She fanned her face with her hand and stood a little longer in front of the fridge before heading back into the dining room.
    She was a half-day on the job and she was already giving her boss permission to do with her whatever he wanted.  From now on, she had to be strong.  Tough.  His kind could hurt her.  Real bad.  She wasn’t the kind of woman men like Dr. Erik LaCrosse considered as permanent additions to their lives.  He went for the classy type.  The couth .  He would play with her like a little boy with a new toy on Christmas morning then he would toss her aside when he got bored.
    Not that she was looking to settle down with anybody any time soon.  She had to put her life back together.  She had to write her book and build a new youth center for the kids in Manchester.  Then if she was real lucky, she’d find the right man—one in her own league—settle down, have a few kids of her own, and live happily ever after like Cinderella and Prince Charming.
    Michelle chortled.  She should know better than to make plans and build castles in the sky.  The plans she’d made so far had been foiled so badly she was now living in the house of the rich and famous and clearing their dinner table like a maid.  Maybe she shouldn’t even make plans.  Maybe she should just take one day at a time and hope Fate eventually threw her a lifeline.
    Michelle carried the last pile of fine china to the kitchen and was in the process of stacking the dishwasher when the phone rang.  She glanced at the cordless extension on the counter, hoping it wasn’t anyone looking for the doctor.  He hadn’t told her where he was going, just that he was taking his daughter to see a play.  Worse, what if it was his couth lady friend?  Nah , she was sure he would have told his woman where he was.  She could be with him right now for all Michelle knew.
    Or… it could be Erik, calling to see if she was still here, or if she’d called her friends to help her clean the place out and left.  She smiled at the wicked thought.  Maybe she should just let the answering machine pick it up.  She was sure he had one somewhere in the house.
    When the phone just kept ringing, she snatched up the extension.  “Hello.  The LaCrosse’s residence.”
    “Hey, Mich.”
    Michelle let out a long sigh of relief at the sound of Yasmine’s voice.  She’d called her best friend earlier and left the house number since her cell phone didn’t work in this area.  Too many trees around.  God, she was going to miss the buzz of Manchester.
    “So did you get the job?” Yasmine asked.
    “I got the job.”
    “Excellent!”
    “Why, you happy to have your apartment back to yourself?”
    “Come on, Mich.  You know it’s not about that.  I’m glad you’re getting your break.”
    Michelle chuckled.  “I know.  Hey,” she added as she perched on a bar stool at the breakfast nook.  “Speaking of breaks, you’d never guess who the housekeeper is.”
    “Okay, so tell me.”
    “Mrs. Hayes.  You remember I told you I ran into her at Mama Lola’s about a month ago?”
    “Yeah.  Did she get you the job?”
    “She wouldn’t admit it, but I’m sure she had something to do with it.  She must have some clout with the owners at Ready Nanny Agency and asked them to