The Procedure by Tabatha Vargo, Melissa Andrea Read Free Book Online

vicariously through them. I didn’t want them to go. Putting my hand on the window, I lifted up onto my tiptoes and tried to follow the retreating couple.
    Lost in their public display of affection, I felt the cool, but painful smack of glass against my forehead. I brought my hand up to rub my forehead.
    “Are you okay?” a whispered voice asked from behind me.
    Startled, I spun around to find Dr. Roman standing there with an amused look on his face.
    “How long have you been standing there?” I asked as my fingers still tried to rub away the slight sting.
    “I was about to ask you the same question, Mrs. Aldridge.”
    “Not long,” I lied, moving away from the window.
    His eyebrows pulled. “What were you looking at?” He came to stand next to me, looking out of the window. I knew the couple was long gone by now. “You were so transfixed that you didn’t even hear me come in.”
    “I was just watching. Sometimes, the most ordinary-looking people can be completely fascinating. Especially when they don’t realize someone is watching them.”
    “You’re definitely right about that.” His tone caught my attention, and I looked up to find him staring at me. Several seconds passed before he blinked and looked away. “Do you people watch a lot?”
    “Sometimes. Their lives are far more interesting than mine.”
    “Things don’t always seem as they appear.”
    “No, they don’t, but I can make them into anything I want. In my own little world, no one is ever unhappy or sad.”
    I was looking at his profile, watching the way his jaw moved and the muscles in his neck stretched when he swallowed. He turned to look at me again, and my eyes found his.
    “I’m glad you decided to come, Mrs. Aldridge.”
    His formality ruffled my nerves, and I was already nervous enough. I wanted the cool and collected man from the party to come back.
    “Samantha,” I reminded him and turned to face him. “Honestly?”
    He nodded and smiled. “Preferably.”
    Returning it, I cleared my throat. “I almost didn’t.
    His head tilted slightly to the side. “Why?”
    I shrugged but pushed the boundaries of my honesty. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I walked through the doors.”
    His expression shifted, saying he didn’t find that to be quite true. “But you came anyway?
    I flushed, heat filling my cheeks. “Yes.” It was almost a whisper. I knew what he was going to ask next. It was more out of curiosity than bravery that I blurted it out. “I thought you might… that you were going to suggest us… having an affair.”
    Something about Roman Blake made me feel like I could tell him everything and never have to worry about his reaction. Because silently, I had just told him two things: I was attracted to him, since last night I’d spent a great deal thinking about him, and I was currently entertaining the idea that he was equally or somewhat attracted to me.
    But he had no reaction to what I’d just told him. Not one that I could figure out anyway. Shoving his hands in the pockets of his white coat, he took a meaningful step toward me. When he closed the distance between us, we were nearly touching. Nearly, but not quite.
    “When the thought passed, did you decide what you would do?”
    “I don’t think I could be like Michael… but I want to be happy at the same time. It’s all very confusing.”
    “Do you think having an affair with me would make you happy, Samantha?”
    The sound of his smooth voice saying my name caused goose bumps to cover my skin.
    “I don’t know. We don’t really know each other. Well, I mean I know all about you…” I was rambling uncontrollably and before I could stop myself, the words were out. When our eyes met, humor was the only thing I could see there. “Got to love Google.” I laughed and twisted my fingers together. “The ironic thing is that I know more about a perfect stranger than I do myself. I don’t know what makes me happy anymore.”
    “You know your