Barefoot in the Sun Read Online Free PDF

with it, Zoe. Run fast and far.
    Damn it, why did the only person who knew her secret have to be a doctor committed to saving lives, making it utterly impossible for her to run, hide, and pretend everything was fine?
    Because everything wasn’t fine, and he was the answer to the problem that kept her awake and in a low-grade panic more nights than not.
    “Is it?” he asked again. “Are you the new family’s thank-you committee of one?”
    He was trying to be civil, even kind, and that gave her a little hope. Maybe their history was enough to get what she came for. Maybe she didn’t have to make deals with the devil—although she would have. Right now, she’d do anything .
    “It was no big deal,” he said after a few too many seconds had passed. “I’ve done a few emergency deliveries in my career.” Then he took a step closer, dipping his head almost imperceptibly, searching her face. “Zoe?”
    “Oliver, you are one of two people in the world who knows the truth about me.”
    It was his turn to blink, silent.
    “And once you said you’d do anything for me.”
    He still didn’t respond.
    “Do you remember saying that, Oliver?”
    “Of course.” He crossed his arms in a classic power stance. “What are you asking me, Zoe?”
    She took a slow, steadying breath. “My great-aunt, Pasha, is sick. Really, really sick. You know that she…she can’t exactly sally forth through the health-care system because she…” Is a kidnapper. “Can’t.”
    He stared at her.
    “I need you to treat her. And never report it.”
    His eyes narrowed as her demand sank in. “You’re asking me to—”
    “Do something illegal, yes. I know you are a big, important, successful doctor who shouldn’t take risks that would possibly hurt your booming business, but I don’t care, Oliver, because—”
    “Stop.” He was in front of her in one step, one hand on her shoulder, searing her bare skin, already too close.
    “Will you?” she asked.
    He was near enough for her to feel his warmth and the scent of air and woods, reminding her of the last time they’d kissed.
    Go ahead, kiss him.
    He dipped his head a tiny bit, not more than a millimeter closer, as if the voice in her head was loud enough for him to hear. “How could I do that?”
    “Quietly,” she said quickly. “Discreetly. Under the table, off the books, and away from the prying eyes of your witchy staff.” She raised her chin, hating that he could feel her tremble. Let him think that quiver was because she wanted his help and not because every cell in her was screaming kiss, kiss, kiss .
    Man, this might have been a bad idea. But she powered on. “That’s how you could do it,” she finished. “And you will. Because you…” Loved me once. “Always do what’s right.”
    “I can’t—”
    “You will .”
    “Be this close to you and not—”
    “I think you have a wife for that kind of thing,” she said, wrangling out of his grip. “I need a doctor, and you happen to be in the area, in the right kind of practice, and conveniently the only medical professional who will agree to treat my aunt without reporting her to the authorities.”
    He searched her face, his expression impossible to read. But that didn’t stop her from trying. And staring.
    “That could jeopardize my practice,” he finally said.
    “How about jeopardizing her life? Doesn’t that mean anything to you anymore? You used to care about people who were dying, Oliver.”
    He flinched so slightly she almost missed it. “I still do.”
    “Then help me!” She pushed his chest, fueled by frustration. He snagged her wrist and held it immobile.
    “I’ll do what I can,” he said.
    “What does that mean?” She shook off his fingers and he stepped back, sliding his hands into his trouser pockets as if to shackle himself.
    His gaze dropped over her, as hot as his hands would be and sending just as many chills over her skin. “It means I’ll do what I can within certain