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

cancel the other candidate and send me on the interview instead.”  Michelle didn’t see the sense in telling Yasmine of the lie Erik had told Mrs. Hayes to tell her.  “Anyway, she said I’m here because God wants me here.”
    “Well, maybe she’s right.  I’m glad you have somebody looking out for you over there.”
    “Yeah, I guess.”
    “So how is the kid?  Not a rich spoiled brat, I hope,” Yasmine said.
    “She’s sweet.  I like her.  I think we’ll get along fine.”  She’d give Yasmine the facts about her and Precious’ first meeting later.
    “And her parents?  What are they like?”
    Michelle’s lips ruffled into a smile.   If Yasmine could see it, she’d probably slap the giddy out of her.  “Well, her father is nice.”
    “Mich, you holding out on me.”
    Her smile deepened into a grin.  Yasmine knew her too well.   “Okay.   He’s handsome, sexy, and he’s a brother.”
    “Really?”
    “Well—half of him is.  And he kissed me,” Michelle added as her pulse raced with the sweet memories of being in Erik’s arms.
    A short silence rang on the other end then Yasmine shouted, “What kind of man kisses his child’s nanny, especially on her first day at work?  Mich, you need to get out of that house, fast.  Just give me the address, and I’ll come pick you up, right now.”
    “It’s not like that, Yas,” Michelle corrected her friend who had been looking out for her since they were in kindergarten.  Yasmine had even offered to have her brothers beat the stupid out of her father for wrecking her life.
    Michelle hadn’t even told Robert what he’d done.  It was for her brother’s own good, because she knew he would find him and do something bad to him.  She didn’t want her brother spending the rest of his life in jail over their rotten good-for-nothing father.
    Robert still thought she’d lost everything because she’d lost her job, and had been living beyond her means, which was partly true.  But she’d been denied so much for so long, Michelle hadn’t seen the harm in spoiling herself a little.  In addition, she’d been buying clothes and other necessities for some of the kids at the center who had nothing.  She wanted to bring some happiness to their lives, see them smile.
    “And where was his wife while he was kissing you?” Yasmine continued.  “Don’t tell me they’re a swinging couple who hire innocent girls to fulfill their sexual fantasies.”
    “Yasmine, his wife is dead.  He’s been a widower for two years.”
    “Oh, okay.  Was she sick or something?”
    “No.  She was killed by a drunk driver,” Michelle said quietly.
    “Oh man, Mich.  That’s too close to home.”
    “You’re telling me.  The worse thing is they haven’t found him, yet.  As far as Dr. Erik LaCrosse is concerned, every drunk out there is a potential suspect, including my father.”
    “Did you tell him about your father?” Yasmine asked.
    Michelle sighed and picked up a crystal saltshaker from the breakfast bar and twirled it between her fingers.  “What am I supposed to say?  By the way, Dr. LaCrosse, my father is a drunk.  It’s possible he’s the one who killed your wife.”  He’d already formed an opinion about her the moment she stepped out of the cab.  She’d had to prove herself fit to take care of his kid, and that still didn’t mean he trusted her completely.   He didn’t know anything about her.
    “I see what you mean,” Yasmine said.  “But what are you going to tell him when he does ask about your family?  He will want to know.  I’m surprised he hasn’t already asked.”
    “I don’t know what I’ll tell him, Yas.”  Michelle set the saltshaker back on the counter.
    “You know, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again.  That man may not be your real father.  Neither you nor Robert looks like him.”
    “Yas, give it up.  Lots of kids don’t look like their fathers or mothers for that matter.  You don’t