Charlie's Last Stand Read Online Free PDF Page A

took a step toward
her. It left him only inches away. Her heart raced a little at his closeness
and the room seemed to heat up around them. She couldn't help but feel like a
teenager again, except the super-sexy, hot bad boy had never had any interest
in her back in high school.
    “Here's my card. Call my cell and let me know.” He held the
paper out to her but let his fingers slide against hers when she took it.
    She tried to maintain eye contact and not stumble over her
words. “I'll let you know.” She couldn't pull her eyes away from his dark
emerald gaze.
    She felt rather than heard Chris at the door. He focused on
the paper they both still held between them, Rob's finger just skimming hers.
    He looked to Rob. “Atkins. Today's not a good day for me.”
    Rob didn't take a step back but he did drop his hand. “I'm
not here for work.” He looked back at Charlie. “It's personal.”
    Chris's forehead crinkled before he looked back to her. “I
just came by to see what you wanted to show me. You can bring it by later. I
have patients waiting for me.”
    She didn't think she was imagining his frosty tone or the
way he stiffly turned and walked away.
    The man in front of her caught her attention once more when
he reached for her hand. “There's not some kind of policy against dating
pharmaceutical reps, is there?”
    “Oh, no.” She laughed awkwardly. “I would know since I would
have been the one to make it.” She looked down at his business card. “So...umm...I
guess I'll call you and let you know.”
    “Please and if you think it would be okay, I wouldn't mind
helping you babysit. We can watch a movie or something after your niece and
nephew are in bed.”
    She walked him out and returned to her office a moment later
still wondering what had just happened. She finally had the potential for a
real date. It just wasn't the one she was planning on.
    ****
    Jealousy was a three-headed dog that chewed on his insides.
He walked into the exam room, greeted Mr. Lincoln, and went through the routine
of washing his hands and listening to his patient's complaints.
    All the while, his mind was on Charlie and that too smooth,
too smiley dude in her office. So now he knew who her date was for tonight and
he couldn't help but be a little pissed that the guy had stolen her out from
under him at his own office.
    He refocused his attention on Mr. Lincoln, got through the
routine check-up, shook his hand, and then stepped out of the office for his
next appointment. On the way to his work station, he passed Charlie's office
and was relieved to see that Rob was gone. She had her head down, reading some
paperwork.
    She looked up at him as he was about to turn away. “Why was
Dr. Hi...Harris here?”
    “Lunch. Diane tried to cancel our appointment but she
insisted on bringing me food.”
    Charlie nodded, her face pulled down into a frown.
    “Something wrong?”
    “No. I was just curious.” Her voice was soft. It wasn't like
Charlie to not get to the point on work stuff.
    “You don't like her?” He leaned against the door frame. He'd
been working like crazy to see every patient that had called in for an
emergency appointment. He'd given each one the time they deserved. He could
take five minutes to see what was bothering Charlie.
    She dropped the pen she was holding and leaned back in her
chair. He noticed she had the sweater back on and buttoned to the top. He
started to apologize about his comments earlier when she interrupted him.
    “I don't dislike her. Like I said, I was just curious.”
    “Well, what about the pharm rep? Why was he here?”
    She pushed her shoulders back and he wondered why they were
both awkward with each other. That had never been the case. “He came to talk to
me about tonight.”
    “Oh.” He had kind of assumed that but it didn't stop the
sinking feeling in his stomach. “Okay. I have patients waiting for me.”
    He turned but Charlie's voice stopped him. “Did I do
something wrong?”
    “What